Page 40 of Fall Fake-Out

He pins me with his stare.

And as much as I’d like to pretend like Jaxon’s exaggerating, I know I didn’t get my reputation by being the good guy.

There’s what women say they want. What women think they want. And then what women actually respond to.

I’m the guy they respond to.

And then regret later.

Fun for a few dates. Good for a laugh. Exciting for a Friday night.

Not the guy you build a future around.

But things with Ari aren’t like that. Half the time, I don’t even think she likes me. She acts like I’m one bad decision away from ruining her life.

Which, to be fair, might be accurate, but I hate thinking she might believe that.

“You know what I mean,” Jaxon says. “Ari’s different.”

My jaw tightens slightly as I cast again. “I know she’s different. We’re all friends, remember? I don’t know why you’re acting like you know her better than I do.”

“Maybe I do from Landrie. Ari actually feels things deeply. She jokes around and acts as if nothing fazes her, but she takes things hard, especially rejection.”

Now I’m thinking about the football game and the exact moment Ari found out I dated Landrie. The hurt in her eyes lasted maybe two seconds before she covered it up with sarcasm.

She laughed.

Smiled.

Acted normal.

But something shifted, like it cut deep that I dated Landrie in the past.

I saw it. And now I can’t unsee it. I have to know what’s behind that reaction.

Because liking Ari Langford has never been the problem.

Commitment is the problem.

Jaxon continues, oblivious to the spiral currently happening in my head. “Landrie said Ari was weird this morning.”

“Weird how?”

“She won’t talk about the game or the viral videos, which probably means she’s embarrassed.”

“Or it means it wasn’t a big deal. Just a clumsy accident. Nothing serious is happening between us.”

His eyes narrow slightly. “You sure about that?”

Honestly, I’m not sure about anything now. Or how the events of last night will affect our friendship, my job, my proposed fake-dating plan.

Thankfully, something splashes farther downstream before I have to answer.

Jaxon immediately perks up. “Was that⁠—”

“Don’t get excited,” I interrupt. “You’re not catching anything today.”

“Neither are you.”