The second the words leave my mouth I internally groan.
That’s the explanation you went with?
“As in, youlikelike him?” He asks.
I nod, because I can’t come up with anything else. “Yeah.”
Noah lets out a slow breath, like he’s processing that answer carefully. “That’s… weird.”
I hum softly in response, keeping my gaze out the windshield while I brace myself for what’s coming next.
“I mean—” he pauses, clearly choosing his words carefully. “Ryan doesn’t date. Like… ever. And you were pretty firm about being done with guys.”
“Yeah. I guess that changed.”
Noah glances at me once more before looking back at the road. “But,” he says, tapping his fingers lightly against the steering wheel, “I’m okay with it.”
Wait, what?
I turn toward him, genuinely confused. “You are?”
“Yeah,” he says. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m gonna need some time to wrap my head around it.” He pauses, then adds, “And don’t expect me to say yes when he asks for your hand.”
A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “That’s fair.”
“I trust both of you,” he adds, with a warm smile.
“Thank you, Noah,” I say quietly.
“But if he hurts you, I’ll kill him.”
I snort. “You’re not going to kill him. He’s your best friend.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Noah says simply. “I’ll feel bad about it, but I’ll do it.”
I shake my head, smiling despite myself, not wanting to think about what would happen if we found out about the deal. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Yeah, well,” he says, glancing over at me briefly, “we share the same genes for a reason.”
I smack his arm lightly, laughing as the car keeps rolling, relief washing over me.
10
RYAN
I’m going to die.
One thing about Baylin; trip in one corner of town and someone at the bakery across the street hears about it before you even stand back up. Tonight, that actually works in our favour. Because tonight is theBaylin Bonfire. And if we’re going to sell this whole fake-dating thing, or whatever you wanna call it, this is the night to do it.
I pull out my phone and shoot Maddy a text.
ME: want me to swing by your place? we can walk down together.
A second later, the screen lights up.
MADDY: yeah that’s good. Dad and Noah will leave in a little.
Good. That gives me a minute to mentally prepare in case either of them decides to murder me on sight.
