Page 103 of Fall Fake-Out

“Why?” she demands.

“Because Mom will⁠—”

“No,” she interrupts. “I mean why are you faking like he’s your boyfriend?”

I glance toward the window to make sure nobody is approaching. “It’s complicated.”

“Ari, you have exactly two seconds to tell me all the details before I slap you with a bag of marshmallows.”

“It really started because of Wade.” I lower my voice. “There’s a student situation.”

Her expression immediately changes, concern replacing amusement. “A student situation?”

“Nothing dangerous.” Hopefully. “Rumors. Gossip. A student who got the wrong idea. Wade needed help.” I keep it all very generic to protect Wade’s job, just in case Landrie can’t keep her mouth shut.

“And you agreed to help?”

“Yeah, and Mom was trying to set me up with every single man within a fifty-mile radius. I just thought if we pretended to be together, it could benefit me too.”

Landrie shakes her head in disbelief. “I cannot wrap my head around this. So, like, when you kissed him in the kitchen, that was all fake?”

“Yeah, and he kissed me last night at the football game.”

Her smile turns devious. “He kissed you?”

“The kiss isn’t important. It barely counts.”

“Ari, if he kissed you, that must mean that he likes you.”

“No, no, no. It was small and for a specific purpose. Over before it even started, definitely for the fake-dating scheme.” Ashtyn literally stood three feet behind us when Wade grabbed me and kissed me. The evidence is overwhelming.

Landrie folds her arms as if she doesn’t believe me.

“I swear it didn’t mean anything. He kissed me then immediately walked away.”

“He didn’t say anything?”

“Not a word.”

“Wade Stevenson voluntarily kissed someone and then immediately walked away without trying to go in for a second, steamier kiss?”

“Exactly.”

“Hmm.”

“See? Like I said, he doesn’t like me. We’re both just pretending to help each other out.”

“Did you like the kiss?”

“It wasn’t some big romantic moment. It lasted maybe two seconds. It was a tiny kiss. Microscopic.”

Her lips purse, further proof that she doesn’t believe me.

I don’t believe myself either.

Before Landrie can respond, Mom sweeps into the kitchen, carrying a stack of blankets.

“There you two are. Stop hiding and go outside.” She eyes the cider and the basket of supplies. “Bring those with you when you come.”