Page 159 of Fall Fake-Out

Edna B. scoffs. “You most certainly did not.”

“I absolutely did.”

“No, you said they were a poor fit. I was the one who said they were meant to be.”

Wade leans toward me. In a whisper, he says, “Are they really fighting over who gets credit for our relationship?”

I whisper back, “It looks like it.”

They both ignore us and keep arguing.

“I distinctly remember telling Barb those two belonged together.”

“I remember you saying Wade would probably ruin her life.”

Edna G. plants both hands on our table. “The important thing is this.” She looks at Wade. “You didn’t screw this up.”

Wade nods solemnly. “Thank you?”

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

His hand finds mine beneath the table.

Hidden from everyone else.

His thumb brushes slowly across the back of my hand.

Just once.

It isn’t for anyone else’s benefit.

It’s simply there.

“BINGO!” someone calls a few tables over. The entire room groans.

He squeezes my hand beneath the table again.

And somehow, a Thursday night in a church activity center playing bingo with Wade while the Ednas bicker about everything is exactly where I want to be.

Wade

SUNDAY DINNERS at my parents’ house have always been my favorite.

But today is even better because, for the first time in my life, I brought a girl.

Not just any girl—pretty much the love of my life.

It sounds cheesy to say that, but this is the new Wade. I do corny now. Cheesy too. And honestly, I kind of love it.

Ari sits beside me at the table while my Mom insists she take seconds before she’s halfway through her first helping.

“Thanks, Gina.” She smiles at my overly excited mother. “This is delicious.”

After about half an hour of Ryan and Sadie roasting me, the conversation drifts toward school.

Mom asks Ari how her students are doing.

“They're good.” Ari shrugs. “I really enjoy teaching older grades.”