His tone is laced with regret and pain. It seeps into his expression, tightening his lips and wrinkling his brows. And the way he’s looking at me, I know we’re picturing the same moment. Me on the ground, surrounded by chaos, him with a bloody nose, running in the opposite direction.
This is the closest we’ve ever gotten to acknowledging that moment. There were times in high school when I thought we should, but the further we got from the incident, the less I wanted to. Icould see the heartache in Theo at school, and it always felt like the wrong time to bring it up. Why would I want to start a conversation about something that would only remind him of more pain?
I can’t even imagine what he must’ve been feeling that morning at the parade—he’d just found out about the abuse the night before and his entire life was falling apart.
At the time, that moment was humiliating for me and changed the trajectory of my high school years. The grudge was easy to hold on to.
But now... now I wish I could give that fourteen-year-old boy a hug.
I have so much to say about that day—both of us do—but it’s a bigger conversation than we can dive into right now. We watcheach other quietly for a few moments before I do us a favor by changing course. “So, I’m the chosen one?”
His grin is only a fraction of its usual size, but I’ll take it. “In a way, you’re the perfect candidate. One: This rumor has sort of fallen into my lap, so to speak. Two: You’re getting something out of it too. Ican help you with the A-frame. And three: You understand this isn’t real. We can fake date until Arthur believes I’m sticking around and feels comfortable selling me the practice. Then you’re free to dump me. In fact, that might be your favorite part.”
My stomach swoops with a feeling I can’t identify.
“I won’t be lying to him about the other aspects of this,” he continues. “I’m staying in Fern River and putting down roots in the community. Iplan to make this my home in every way that counts.”
A hint of jealousy trickles through me. It sure would be nice to have that kind of certainty about where I’m supposed to be.
I nod, processing his points. “Okay. I’ll do it.” Grabbing the pen again, I draw two lines across the bottom. Isign my name over one before passing it to him. “Sign here, please.”
He smirks, taking the notebook and tilting it up out of my view. He writes way longer than necessary for his name, then hands it back to me. Above his signature, he’s written:Do you want to be my fake girlfriend? Check yes or no. [ ] yes [ ] no
Something shifts in the air, tugging my memories back to that first day of fifth grade, when he came into school wearing a shirt fromHomeward Boundand green cargo shorts. His hair was sticking up on one side, he had scabs on both of his elbows (from what I later learned was a Rollerblading fall) and his backpack was half open, a notebook about to tumble out.
With all the confidence in the world, he turned and smiled my way. “Do you like Starburst?” he asked, offering me a red one in his palm.
My heart aches at the memory. I miss that kid more than I let myself realize.
Blinking away the image, I place a check next toyes.
Oaks Folks
Fable:Update for all my nosy family members.
Tessa:I’m waiting with bated breath.
Fable:Theo and I are pretending we’re together for now. If anyone asks, we’re a thing.
Millie:That squeal you just heard from Wilhelmina was me.
Mom:Do I activate the phone tree?
Dad:What kind of “thing”? Is this a newfangled term I don’t know?
Tessa:I’m freaking out. How long? Is there kissing involved? Can I see pictures?
Fable:NO PHONE TREE.
Fable:I won’t be taking any questions at this time.
Chapter 10
Fable
“What the fuck do I even wear?” I grumble to Knocks, tossing a jean jacket onto the Mount Everest of clothes on my bed. He immediately pounces, pawing at a button.
A text comes through on my phone, and I grab it off the nightstand to find a message from Theo.
