Chapter 20
Ari
I’ve checked my reflection in the mirror six times in the last ten minutes.
Not because I care.
Obviously.
I pause near the hallway mirror again anyway, adjusting a piece of hair that doesn’t need adjusting.
My eyes sweep over Landrie’s dress. Since she’s in Burlington, she doesn’t know I stole it from her closet, but how could I resist the black formal gown?
I own nothing this nice. It has sparkling floral embellishments and a slight V at both the front and the back neckline that make it feel fancy.
Plus, the tulle flutter sleeves give it a flirty feeling. It’s perfect for tonight.
“You know,” Dad says from the kitchen table, “if you look in that mirror any longer, you might accidentally fall in love with yourself.”
I shoot him a glare. I didn’t even know he was watching me.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come to the mayor’s party with Wade and me?”
Having my dad there might actually help me feel less nervous.
I’ve been involved in a lot of shenanigans in my life, but this fake-dating one in front of the entire town feels like the biggest one yet.
There’s no way we can play a convincing couple at a dinner table full of people who know us best. We’re doomed to fail.
And then what? I just have to admit to everyone that I lied?
No, thank you, I’d rather not.
So, yeah, I’m nervous.
My dad laughs. “I’d rather sit in my recliner and watch college football.”
“I don’t blame you. I’m not looking forward to it either.”
This causes his brows to drop. “I would’ve thought you’d be excited to get all dressed up and go to a fancy party with your new boyfriend. I thought girls liked that kind of romantic stuff.”
That’s just the problem. Girls do like that sort of romantic stuff. Yes, I’m nervous about whether we can pull this off, but I’m also nervous about Wade being Wade.
He’s a charmer, and I need to make sure I have my guard up tonight. There’s no room for error around him. My head needs to stay in the game at all times if I’m going to come out from this fake-dating scheme alive.
There’s a knock at the front door, making my pulse jump stupidly hard.
“Enjoy your football games,” I call to my dad as I walk to answer it.
The knock comes again—two quick taps.
I smooth my hands down the front of the dress one last time before opening the door.
Wade stands on the porch with one hand tucked into the pocket of his black suit pants, the other holding his truck keys loosely between his fingers.
The white t-shirt under his black sports coat should not look as good as it does.
It’s just a cotton t-shirt. But somehow, with the combination of a suit jacket, it looks dangerously upgraded.
His eyes drop down my figure.
And for once, Wade Stevenson doesn’t immediately say something.
His gaze moves slowly over the dress, the sleeves, the sparkly floral details, before coming to my face like he’s trying to get his brain to catch up to what his eyes just took in.
The silence stretches long enough to make me suddenly aware of every inch of exposed skin from that slight V in the front of the dress.
“It’s Landrie’s,” I say, as if that will somehow explain everything while simultaneously taking away my insecurities.
His mouth finally curves. “It’s you.”
Those two words come out softer than anything I’ve ever heard Wade say, and now I’m blushing.
“Sheesh, woman,” he says reverently. “I didn’t adequately prepare my head for you to look this incredible. I think you just ruined every other girl in Vermont for me.”
My stomach flips so hard it’s humiliating.
“Well, at least you have the other forty-nine states to choose from.” I bob my head back and forth, still entirely shook up. “And I guess the rest of the world too.”
His eyes stay on me another second too long. “You look really beautiful, Ari.”
Beautiful.
It sounds more intimate than it should. And it definitely means more to me than it should, especially coming from Wade.
Heat crawls into my cheeks before I can stop it so I immediately point at him instead. “You look nice as well.”
He glances down at his clothes like he forgot what he put on. “How about not wearing a tie to a black-tie event?”
“I hate how much I like that.”
“Me too.”
He steps aside, offering me the porch steps with a small motion of his hand. “Shall we?”
I close the door behind us and follow him to his truck, surprised when he gets the door for me.
This is not a real date, and I’d do well to remember that.
The second Wade climbs into the driver’s side, I’m ready with a carefully placed wall around my heart. “So, once we get there, I think it’s best if I do the talking. You know, because this is my territory. It’s Ashtyn and Lisa Ellis. My side of the bet.”
“Okay.” There’s an edge to his answer…or maybe there isn’t. I’m not really sure. Things just don’t feel as light as they did ten seconds ago.
“So, follow my lead. Just keep a low profile. I don’t even care if you come off as shy the whole night.”
His brows lower. “So, basically, you want me to do nothing?”
Exactly.
Don’t do anything that will blur the lines.
This is me controlling the situation, making sure this fake relationship stays fake. And my mom thinks I’m not responsible. Ha! If only she could see me now.
I lift my chin. “There’s going to be a lot of people there tonight. It will take a lot to convince them that this is a real relationship, and it’s not like you’re a professional actor.”
“And you are?”
“No, but I did dabble in community theatre in sixth grade.”
“I remember that. You were a chimney sweep in Newsies, right?”
“Correct.” I purse my lips, not sure how to feel about the fact that Wade remembers the exact role I played in my two-month stint in acting fifteen years ago.
I would expect someone to remember Landrie’s history onstage.
Every pageant she’s won or talent show she’s entered.
But not me. Wade remembering this tiny detail feels big in a way that’s scary.
I can’t allow myself to get hung up on it, so I move on.
“So, yeah, less is more from you in this situation tonight.”
“Got it.” He nods. “Follow your lead. Low profile. Less is more.”
He pulls his truck into the church parking lot. The party is in the activity room attached to the church because we’re small town like that.
“Good.” I draw in a breath—this is going to be fine—and swing open my car door.
Within two seconds of entering the party, Wade completely abandons the plan.
“Mayor Monroe!” he booms like he’s arriving at a family reunion instead of a birthday party. “Brought this for you.” He hands the mayor a wrapped present from out of his pocket.
Noah Monroe looks delighted. “The invitation said no presents allowed.”
“It’s nothing.” He reaches for his daughter’s hand. “Juliet, good to see you again. It’s been a long time.”
“Good to see you too.” Juliet smiles at us both, I think a bit confused to see us together. She gives me a quick side hug. “Landrie said you’ve moved back home for the wedding.”
It wasn’t for the wedding, but sure, let’s let my sister’s friend think that.
“That’s my girl.” Wade puts his arm around my shoulder, hugging me to him.
He looks down at me with fake tenderness.
“That’s one of the things I love about her.
She’s such a good sister to Landrie.” There’s an overdone smile before he releases me and starts walking farther into the room.
“Let’s go find our table. I told Sadie to save us a seat. ”
I stare at the back of Wade’s head in horror.
Low profile.
I said low profile.
Instead, he’s operating at golden retriever-meets-political-candidate energy, shaking every hand in the room, high-fiving everyone. It’s like Wade is the most popular guy in the room, which is crazy. For someone everyone claims is trouble, people seem genuinely happy to see him.
Jaxon appears, carrying a drink. “There he is.”
“My guy.” Wade points at him dramatically before pulling him into one of those aggressive male shoulder-grab hugs that involve smacking backs hard enough to dislodge organs.
Sadie walks over too, grinning immediately. “This is so fun!”
“This,” I mutter to myself, “is a nightmare.”
No one hears me….because Wade is still performing as if there’s an Academy Award on the line.
He turns suddenly, looking at me like he just remembered I exist. “Baby cakes.”
That’s the exact moment my soul shrivels to nothing.
Before I can react, he hooks an arm around my waist and yanks me into his side so hard I practically bounce off his chest.
Air leaves my lungs. “Wade—”
“Don’t get lost in the crowd.” He squeezes me once like we’re a couple who’s been disgustingly affectionate for years.
My face instantly catches fire.
Because his hand is warm against my hip.
Because the entire party is staring.
And because, apparently, Wade’s version of fake dating is full-body contact and humiliation.
“Archer is saving us a seat at our table.” Sadie looks back and forth between us. “Should we sit?”
Wade’s smile is ginormous. “Let’s.”
Everyone starts moving, but not me. I grab Wade’s sleeve and yank him backward toward the hallway.
“What the heck was that?” I whisper-hiss.
Wade looks genuinely confused. “What?”
“The yelling. The hugging. Calling me baby cakes.”
“I told you I loved a good term of endearment.”
“You’re being obnoxious.”
“Hey”—he shrugs innocently—“any girl of mine deserves to be loved out loud.”
I narrow my eyes. “People will never believe this. Dial it back. Now.”
“I don’t know.” His face scrunches as if he’s really thinking about it. “Kinda looks like, between the two of us, I’m the better actor. Maybe you should follow my lead—unless you’re trying to lose this bet.”
“So that’s what this is?” I lift my chin. “You want to go toe to toe tonight?”
“Try to keep up, baby cakes.” He bops me on the nose then confidently strides to our waiting table.
I stand there, fuming.
Oh, he has no clue what he’s just awakened.
And suddenly, I no longer care what everyone thinks. I’m brainstorming all the over-the-top things I can do just to embarrass him.
I’m winning tonight, no matter what.