Page 53 of Fall Fake-Out

And what about his arms?

The way they envelop me should be studied, dissected, and taught. I’m fully his, wrapped in this hug, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel amazing. I can’t remember the last time I felt this safe being held like this.

“See?” His whispers tickle my skin. “This isn’t that bad.”

It’s not good either.

Not for my pounding heart.

“That’s enough for the spying vultures.” I push off him, noticing how many pairs of eyes are on us, including my mother’s. “You gave good effort today, but I don’t think any of it will help you win our fake-dating bet. If anything, my mom is even more skeptical about you.”

His smile spreads, slow and charming. “Don’t worry about me, Miss Langford. I’ll get the job done. Just worry about yourself.” He turns toward his truck, calling back over his shoulder. “See you at school tomorrow. It’s showtime for you.”

I fight my smile the entire time I watch him walk away.

And suddenly, I am a little worried about myself, but not in the way he’s thinking.

Wade

I’m a sucker for a good Sunday afternoon with my family.

Always have been.

I love the natural flow from a big, traditional meal to hanging out in the backyard with no pressure from the week clouding your mind.

Mom pushes my niece, Mia, on the swing set. She giggles with her arms out as if she were an airplane.

Lily naps on a homemade quilt stretched across the grass, one hand resting on her stomach. Pregnancy seems to have turned my sister-in-law into one of those people who can sleep anywhere.

Sadie sits beside her, painting her nails bright orange for reasons nobody understands.

Ryan and I toss a football back and forth. He might be my older brother, but I was always the better football player. He’d give you a different answer if you asked him, but no one’s asking.

Rusty, our dog, lies in the shade like the few rounds of fetch we played with him took up all his energy.

And Dad sits in a lawn chair on the side, studying the weekly grocery ads like he only has forty dollars to spend on food this week.

“The market has ground round on sale.”

Nobody responds.

“Thirty-five cents off a pound.”

Still nothing.

Dad shakes his head. “That’s a good deal.”

Ryan catches my throw and immediately fires it back. “You seemed to be pretty cozy at church with Ari Langford.”

Cozy. What a nice word. And what a nice thing to be with Ari.

In our years of friendship, I don’t think we’ve ever touched as much as we did today at church, and I’m not complaining. In fact, I’m doing the opposite. I’m replaying in my mind how perfectly her tiny body fit against my side on the pew. The subtle flowery scent from her hair whenever I whispered in her ear. How good it felt to hold her in my arms. Have we ever hugged before? Maybe at graduation or something, but it wasn’t like the hug earlier today. It wasn’t a full-body, bear-hug thing. I need more of that kind of hug in my life. A lot more.

All fake, of course.

Because what’s happening between Ari and me is just a simple negotiation. Nothing more. That’s why I downplay it to my brother.

“We looked cozy because there wasn’t enough space on the bench.” I catch the ball then spin around and laser it back to him. “They really should make those pews longer.”