My words die on my tongue, my brain train already moving down a completely different track. One that just might benefit both Camdenandme.
“What?” Bailey asks.
“I just had a really bad idea.”
“Can’t be any worse than telling the girl you’re in love with that you’ve been hooking up with the guy you hate so she doesn’t find out you’re in love with her.”
I wince. Hearing the mess out loud makes it sound so much worse than I originally thought. And, frankly, makes the idea in my head sound even more insane.
But desperate times…
“Depends. Is actually pretending to date him worse than just saying I am?”
Bailey blinks a couple times, processing the question before coming back with one of his own.
“Wait, you want to keep up the ruse?”
“I think it could work?” I say, though it comes out sounding more like a question.
I lay out my thoughts, the words sounding more and more ridiculous to my own ears as they leave my lips. But despite how nuts it is, by the end of my explanation, my best friend is nodding his head in agreement. It’s not just the kind of nod you give someone who is about to make a massive mistake, but you’re still trying to be supportive. No, it’s one of thoseshit, you might be onto somethingnods.
Which gives me hope.
“Honestly, man…this is a long shot, but it might work. I can corroborate the whole relationship thing around the girls, youjust need him to agree to the terms.”
I’m fully aware this is the most insane thing I’ve ever done, and there’s about a one in a million shot of this going as planned, but if I frame it the right way, he might just say yes.
And if he doesn’t…then I’ll have a whole new mess on my hands.
I try to shove that way of thinking aside, only to hear the distinct sound of a car door slamming outside. Bailey must hear it too, because he rises from the bed and peeks out my window.
“Well, he’s home,” he states before turning back to me. “I better get out of here so you can talk to him.”
I nod, already mentally preparing myself for this conversation, making sure to note all the important bullet points.
Bailey starts for the door, then glances back at me to ask, “You got a handle on this?”
God, I hope so.
I sigh, shooting him a pained smile.
“Guess we’re about to find out.”
Four
Camden
My study session with one of the team tutors goes by relatively quickly, and with him excelling at maintaining my focus, I don’t have any time to let my thoughts linger on whatever that scene at the house with Logan was about. I’m too busy trying to make heads or tails of the material and the questions my tutor is asking me to have a wandering mind.
The second I get back home, on the other hand? All bets are off.
My mind reels as I open the front door, having no idea what I might be walking into. But to my surprise, the main floor is empty, the only light coming from the kitchen.
Making my way up the stairs, I notice there’s a faint glow coming from beneath Logan’s door when I pass by. I have the briefest thought to stop and knock; maybe ask him what was up earlier. But my wounds are still a bit raw from our last encounter, and I’m not really looking for a repeat. So, despite my head wanting answers, I continue to my bedroom and open the door as quietly as I can manage.
Either I must not be quiet enough or Logan was waiting to hear me get home, because I’m halfway over the threshold when I hear his voice behind me.
“Camden?”
