Page 45 of The Fake Out

The door flew open, and Doug tore into the room, his face a storm cloud. With a huff, he threw himself in his seat next to Piper. Chris followed, looking for all the world like he’d just been on a leisurely evening walk. He took the seat beside me.

Ooo-kay.

“Let’s get this over with,” Doug snapped and slid a packet of paper down to me.

I grabbed it and read the top: “Non-Disclosure Agreement.” A pen came flying down next.

“Doug, knock it off,” Piper said, and I liked her even more.

“Sign it.” He wagged a finger in my direction. “Remember, it’s legally binding. You break it, you’ll pay for it.”

“You’re a real charmer,” I muttered. I picked up the pen and began scanning the document. Unsurprisingly, I’d never even laid eyes on an NDA. It was four pages front and back. “This is a lot. Am I signing over my firstborn child?”

“Keeping all this a secret is very important,” Piper said. “You won’t be able to tell anyone. Not even your family. Everyone needs to buy it.”

I glanced at Chris to find him studying me. He appeared relaxed but one of his hands rested on the table and he was rubbing his thumb across his fingers repeatedly like he was nervous. Was he worried I’d back out? Should I back out?

“Am I the right person for this? I’m sure there are any number of Brazilian swimsuit models who would mud-wrestle for the chance.” Swallowing, I put the pen down. “Or actresses who are, like, professionals at, you know, acting.”

Doug threw his hands up in the air. “That’s what I told him. But he won’t listen.”

Chris shook his head. “I choose Mae. She can handle it.”

“But why? Who would believe it? You with someone…” Doug waved his hands in my direction “…who looks like her.”

Chris leaned forward. “What does that mean?”

I knew exactly what he meant. I held up a hand. “I got this.”

“Go for it,” he said, amused. “Let me know if you need to tag me in.”

Then I turned my attention to the weasel at the end of the table. “Someone who looks like me?”

Doug glared at me. “Like you said, you aren’t exactly a swimsuit model.”

Piper sighed. “Doug.”

I pushed my chair back. “You know what? You’re right. I sure as hell am not the right person for this. Because if it means spending another second in your presence, I might end up in prison for twisting you into a pretzel trying to stick your head up your ass.”

From my vantage point, I could see Piper roll her lips together, dark eyes dancing.

Breathing hard from anger, I stalked to Doug and towered over him until he had to tilt back in his chair to see me. “I’ll have you know, if I wanted to be a swimsuit model, I would be. I know you weren’t implying there was anything wrong with my body, were you? Because I sure don’t need your approval.”

Everyone’s eyes were on me, including the stuffed bobcat, two of the three mice, and a bird I’d just noticed in the corner. Twenty whole minutes, and my mouth was already getting me in trouble.

As much as I’d have loved to walk out the door and pretend I’d never given this whole plan a second thought, the truth was I needed that money. Not for me but for Mama and Iris. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before turning toward Chris. Time to save face. But the look on Chris’s face surprised me. He looked almost… proud.

His smile unfurled slowly. “Like I said, I choose Mae.”

EIGHTEEN

I hope our love will be like the number Pi: irrational and endless.

—DERNA

“Who doesn’t like Monopoly?” Chris asked, outrage in his voice.

“Me. I hate it,” I replied.