Technically, he’s not. It’s fake. I have to remember that. I have to brainwash myself back to normal because he’s too good at this. Messing with me and my emotions and every trauma I didn’t know could be touched until we made this deal. Until he came closer.
It’snotgoing to last forever. It’s just going to fade away. Like everything in life. I mean, I like to be around him. And I like his hair, his patience, his eyes, his voice, his personality-
Holy shit, I’m starting to like him.
My little rant caused me to zone out, again, and made me realize that I panicked the whole way home.
“Maddie!” Allison breaks my reverie. “Get your ass up and go get ready for your date!” Allison shouts, smiling.
Glad she’s in a good mood.
She’s not the one going on a date withhim.
24
I’m CONFLICTED While On a Bike
After taking a shower while being a nervous wreck, I come back to the bedroom and find Allison, goofy smiling at her phone.
“Mystery boy?” I ask, trying not to sound bitchy.
“What? Oh, no. Riden.”
“Hm.” I say smiling.
“You’re so annoying.” She rolls her eyes, and I sit on my bed.
“So who is mystery boy?”
She lifts her eyes from her phone to me and, for a few seconds, doesn’t move. Then she throws the phone out of the way and tells me.
“Tanner. Tanner Bors.”
Ah, every girl’s second crush in this town. Second, because usually the first wasJake.
“Familiar with him. Continue.”
She leans against the wall behind her and huffs.
“It happened the night you decided to announce to the whole town you were dating Jake. You went home, and Riden and I stayed behind. Tanner started dancing with me, and then he asked for my number, and then you got so busy with Jake and the whole plan of faking you were a thing that I just ended up spending more and more time with him. So yeah, I guess that’s about it.” She scratches the back of her head, waiting for me to be judgmental. Usually, I would be. But now I’m a hypocrite. Who says she can’t date Tanner if I’m “dating” Jake West. At this point,who even cares?
“Okay, thanks for sharing.” I get up and move to my nightstand.
“Okay? That’s it? No,He isn’t trustworthy, Alls. Don’t make me say I told you so, Alls.”
That’s how I sound? Damn, I should loosen up.
“Nope. You’re capable of making your own decisions. I should stop being such a pain in the ass to you.” I spray a little bit of perfume.
“No!” She shrieks, making me jump and turn around, scared. “This is the part where you tell me to break up with him! You can’t just have an epiphany and leave me alone to deal with these trashy men!”
“Is Tanner trashy?” I ask sincerely.
Everything I hear about him is mostly good things.
“No… But-” She jumps from the bed and grabs my arms. “Slap me. Force me to leave him.”
“Allison,are you having a stroke?”
