Page 46 of Fall Fake-Out

Not my mom.

Not Landrie.

Not even Jaxon.

There’s a hefty chuckle from the recliner in the family room where my dad sits.

Leave it to Dusty Langford to find the whole scene funny instead of a detriment to his daughter’s future.

I grab Wade’s wrist, dragging him to his feet. “Feel free to tell anyone you want that we’re dating.”

And with that mic-drop of an exit, I force Wade out the side door with me.

Wade

“Well, that escalated quickly,” I say as Ari drops my hand and stomps across the Langfords’ property.

She doesn’t answer.

Just keeps marching as if she can somehow outrun the tense relationship with her mom.

A slight breeze rolls across the hills, carrying the smell of pine trees and freshly cut grass.

I follow after her, keeping enough distance that she knows I’m there, but not so close that she could turn around and take her anger out on me. Something tells me Ari needs room right now. Not questions.

It’s in that quiet moment that it actually hits me.

Ari Langford just kissed me.

Not a hypothetical kiss.

Not one of the hundreds I imagined in high school.

Not a flirty almost-kiss.

An actual kiss.

Granted, it felt less like romance and more like being assaulted by an emotionally charged, crazy woman, but still.

It happened.

And the worst part?

It happened so fast I barely got to enjoy it before she shoved my face away like she was trying to reset a broken jaw.

She finally stops near the edge of a rolling hill that slopes toward a line of maple trees beginning to turn orange and red in a few places.

Her shoulders rise with one deep breath.

Then another.

Wind pushes through her hair, lifting the dark strands off her neck. Afternoon sunlight catches freckles across her nose and cheeks; I swear they weren’t there five seconds ago.

She looks soft out here.

Not sharp-tongued.

Not defensive.