“No,” I reply. “I’m clarifying them.”
She studies me for a long moment. Then she straightens her sweater, regains that sharp edge she hides behind.
“Fine,” she says lightly. “We’ll revisit this clause later.”
I step toward the door.
“Where are you going?” she asks.
“To get air.”
She laughs softly. “You’re running.”
I look back at her.
“You wanted believable.”
“I do.”
“Then understand this, Hotshot.” My voice drops low. “This may have started as a game.” Her breath hitches. “But I don’t play to lose.”
For the first time since she walked back into my life, I see uncertainty flicker across her face.
Not fear. Not regret. Something deeper.
I open the door and step out into the cold mountain night.
Because if I stay in that room one more second—the fake part is going to burn away completely.
And what’s left?
That won’t be practice.
That will be war.
Chapter 4
Sadie
If this is what fake dating feels like, I’m not sure my heart is built for it.
The Devil’s Peak Miners stadium smells like hot dogs, sunscreen, and small-town chaos. The bleachers are packed. Kids in oversized jerseys run the aisles. Someone’s cowbell keeps clanging off-beat behind us.
And Levi Kane is sitting way too close to me.
His thigh presses against mine like it’s an accident but I don’t think it is.
“Relax,” I murmur under my breath as I toss a piece of popcorn into my mouth. “You look like you’re guarding classified information.”
“I am,” he replies calmly. “You.”
I nearly choke.
We’re halfway down the third-base line, perfectly visible to half the town. The church ladies are seated two rows up, whispering and watching like wildlife documentarians tracking rare mating patterns.
I lean into him deliberately, resting my elbow on his shoulder. “We need to sell it better.”
He glances down at me. “Better how?”
