Page 80 of Fall Fake-Out

Liv glances over, and Reese and I exchange a look.

“Who’s watching who?” I ask with a smile. “Is Tate your bodyguard, or are you his?”

“Very funny.” Liv gives me her best pointed look. “It’s just kind of embarrassing having a babysitter everywhere I go.”

“I mean,” Reese says in between bites of lettuce, “the bodyguard situation is ridiculous, but the stalker situation is terrifying. So don’t be embarrassed about your cover.”

“Remember how we used to think Tate had a crush on you,” I say. “He always showed you so much attention when we were in high school.”

“He was a cop,” Liv defends. “And we were doing illegal things.”

“Semi-illegal things,” I correct.

“But”—Reese leans forward just to be sure he can’t hear—“Tate Walker was specifically your cop.”

“Not true.”

“Tate!” I call over my shoulder.

He slowly lifts his head. “Did you or did you not only call my and Reese’s moms—and not Liv’s—the night we tried to unscrew the ‘Welcome to Autumn Ridge’ sign?”

His expression remains completely blank, but there’s a small glimmer in his eyes. “I don’t remember.”

“Well, he told my brother, and that was probably worse,” Liv says.

“I specifically remember that you got away with just a little reprimand from Tate.”

Reese nods. “Same here.”

“Ari”—Liv points her fork at me, changing the subject—“how was the mayor’s party last night? I saw you across the room, and it looked like you were having fun, but you left before I could talk to you.”

The truth is, it was fun. Sparring with Wade—although embarrassing if I stop to think about my behavior—was the best time I’ve had in a long time.

“It was fine.” The smile starts before I can stop it, which is unfortunate because now they’re both watching me even closer, so I glance down, stabbing a beet. “Things got a little out of hand, but all in all, I’d say it was a fake-dating success.”

Reese takes a bite of salad. “So who’s winning the bet so far?”

That answer is easy. “Me.”

Liv’s brows rise. “Confident.”

“I’m serious. Wade hasn’t made any progress with my mom. And honestly, I don’t think there’s anything he can do to change her opinion of him.” I feel bad about that until my competitive spirit kicks in.

“So, is Wade’s aggressive student out of the picture?” Reese asks.

“Not entirely. She was there at the mayor’s party last night, but I definitely think I’ve contained the situation.”

“So I guess you are winning.”

“By a mile.” The words come out easily.

Too easily.

Because the second I say them, another image sneaks into my brain.

Moonlight.

Wade draping his jacket around my shoulders.