Page 39 of Fall Fake-Out

Fly-fishing is really just casting, drifting, watching, adjusting, and repeating. Most of the time, nothing happens. It’s not peaceful. It’s work disguised as patience, with the occasional disappointment you learn not to take personally.

That’s what I tell the kids in the fly-fishing club.

Grim, I know.

In order to be a real fly-fisherman, you have to understand the process.

But today, getting out on the river is more about hanging out with my best friend than it is about catching fish.

Jaxon shifts beside me in the water, waders making that slow, rubbery sound I’ve grown to love. “When were you planning on telling me you and Ari were one step away from indecent exposure on the bleachers last night?”

I nearly miss my cast. “We were not one step away from indecent exposure.”

“That’s not what Instagram says.”

“That’s because Instagram is the worst.”

Jaxon laughs under his breath as he flicks his line out over the current. “Landrie showed me the videos this morning. Barb’s apparently organizing the troops to pray for her daughter to stay away from you.”

This makes me smile. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

“Seriously, she’s not thrilled.”

“No kidding.”

What mom in this town would be thrilled to see me like that with their daughter? When it comes to women, it’s not like I’ve earned anyone’s respect for being the best boyfriend in the world.

We stand in silence for a minute, water moving around our legs while the river hums low and steady around us.

Then Jaxon says, “So what was actually going on between you and Ari?”

“Bees.”

Jaxon stares at me. “Bees?”

“There was honey butter involved too.”

“That somehow led to Ari straddling you in front of the student section?”

“When you say it like that, it sounds suspicious.”

“Because it is suspicious.”

I laugh quietly, shaking my head.

The truth is, I don’t entirely know what’s going on with Ari and me. She said she wants nothing to do with my fake-dating plan, but last night, half the town watched her practically climb me like a tree. And somewhere in between all the posts and tags, I started liking the idea of people thinking she was mine—which feels like a problem. A problem that doesn’t make any sense. I usually try to avoid relationships at all costs, and now I like that people think I’m in one with Ari. It just doesn’t add up, other than as a way to get Ashtyn off my back. Yeah, that has to be why I like it. There’s no other plausible reason for a guy like me.

Jaxon adjusts his stance in the water. “Normally, I wouldn’t say anything, but she’s Landrie’s sister and my friend, so you know I have to.”

I already know where this is going.

“You can’t date Ari. We both know you have no intention of committing to her or any other woman.”

“Oh, you’re one to talk,” I huff back. “But since you’re about to get married, I guess you’ve forgotten that six months ago you were exactly like me and proud of it.”

A laugh slips out before he can stop it. “I haven’t forgotten. But Ari’s not like the other girls. You can’t mess around with her. It’s bad form to hurt a friend like her.”

“Bad form,” I mutter in disgust. “You act like I’m going to purposely break her heart just for the fun of it.”