Page 33 of Fall Fake-Out

“Absolutely not.”

“I saved you yesterday with your mom. You owe me.”

“You didn’t save me. You were trying to save yourself.”

There’s some truth to that. I saw Ari walk out of the cafe with Archer Kade while I was loading the back of my truck. I won’t pretend that I didn’t feel a tinge of jealousy, but that’s beside the point. I heard the conversation between her and her mother. It seemed like she could use a fake relationship as much as I could. A mutually beneficial arrangement to solve both our problems. So I stepped in.

Never did I dream that Ari would hold her ground and be this stubborn about it.

I sit on the side of her desk, crushing a stack of ungraded homework. “I don’t understand why you’re so against this plan. Don’t you want your mom to leave you alone?”

“It’s not just my mom. I’m being set up left, right, and center, but there are better ways to handle that instead of hitching my wagon to you.”

Others might be offended. Not me. I breeze past her comment. “By having an adult conversation with your mom and setting boundaries?” My tone is mocking, clearly throwing her own advice back in her face. I witnessed yesterday how much of a failure her attempts were.

A tight smile pulls across her lips. “I don’t need your scheming and lying to handle my mother. I’ll take care of her myself.”

“You know, Ari, I’m disappointed in you.” My head shakes. “What happened to the girl I grew up with? The girl who was up for anything, even if it wasn’t completely above board?” I add a heavy shrug just for dramatics. “I miss that girl.”

“Nice try, Wade, but I still don’t want any part of your fake-dating scheme.”

Wow. She’s like an iron wall over there.

“But I will come to the game with you tonight. Not to put on a show or be all over you, but because I am your friend, and you’re right. You need to be two people deep everywhere you go until Ashtyn backs off. That mustache of yours can’t handle prison.”

This makes me laugh. “I disagree. I feel like my mustache makes me look more like a man. You don’t mess with a guy with a ‘stache.”

Her gaze flicks to the said mustache, and her lips flatten. “We’ll agree to disagree.”

Hmm. Is there a world where I’d ever shave my mustache if I know Ari doesn’t like it?

Nah.

She’ll grow to like it.

“Fine.” I hop off her desk, realizing that if I keep pushing, I might end up going to the game alone. It’s a delicate balance. “Meet me in the school parking lot at five-thirty sharp. And wear your school colors. I can’t be seen with someone who doesn’t show their school pride.”

I flash Ari a winning smile before completely disappearing into the hall, and man, I love the look of playful annoyance she’s throwing back at me.

Ari

The weather in Vermont in early September is warm sun, crisp edges, and cooler nights.

Layers matter.

That’s why I bought a new Autumn Ridge High hoodie and a school blanket, specifically to use at sporting events, which seem to be taking over my weekends. Plus, I have my wool gloves and wool beanie. I’m prepared for every temperature.

For the second Friday in a row, I’m headed to a high school football game.

I guess it’s not so bad. What else would I do?

When I had a fiancé, Friday night plans were built into my life. Even staying home wasn’t a big deal, because you were staying home with someone.

But not anymore.

I walk across the parking lot toward Wade. He’s leaning against a white van with a Autumn Ridge High School logo on the side, looking down at his phone. One foot is lifted, resting against the tire, while the other holds his weight. He’s all blue jeans and Carhartt, with a backward baseball hat, and long, lean legs that look too good in his pants.

Can’t say I blame the girls for having a crush on him. He’s way too handsome to be a high school principal. It would make more sense if he were a player’s cool older brother who’s coming to the football game as a supportive fan, not a faculty member.