Page 55 of Faking with Three

Ethan steps forward, grinning like he’s just been asked to explain his favorite movie. “Simple. Jax and I each get half the afternoon to plan the ultimate winery experience. Wine tastings, food pairings, maybe even some grape stomping. And at the end, you tell us who nailed it.”

I glance at Jax, who’s watching me with that infuriating mix of cocky and charming, and then at Ethan, whose enthusiasm is so genuine it’s almost contagious. Despite myself, I’m intrigued. The idea of two guys competing for my attention would have mortified me a month ago, but now…it’s almost like I’m a different person now, and I can’t tell if my confidence should scare me or not.

“So, who goes first?” I say.

“Let’s not fight about that,” Marcus says, his tone exhausted already. “We can’t waste the light.”

The sun-drenched vineyard stretches out in every direction, and the fresh, earthy scent of grapes fills the air as Jax and I stroll between the rows of vines. The winery staff had set up a smallpicnic for us under a sprawling oak tree, complete with a basket of cheeses, crackers, and a bottle of chilled rosé. Jax, carrying the basket, looks unusually at ease, his broad shoulders relaxed for once.

"Wow," I say, taking in the setup. "This is… really nice."

Jax grins, setting the basket down on the checkered blanket. "I told you I’d go all out. Ethan’s probably overthinking his plan right now. I figured I’d keep it simple."

“Simple but effective,” I say, settling down onto the blanket. “Points for you.”

He sits across from me, pouring the wine into two glasses. His movements are easy, practiced. “So,” he says, handing me a glass, “what do you think? First impressions?”

I swirl the wine a little, pretending to analyze it like a sommelier. “Decent bouquet. Notes of… competitiveness and male ego.”

Jax bursts out laughing. “Touché, Chase.”

“I did my homework,” he says, a touch defensive but mostly proud. “Wanted to impress you.”

I stop mid-step and look at him with a teasing grin. “Jax Thompson Studying. For a date. Stop the presses.”

“Hey, don’t make a big deal about it,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just… didn’t want to look like an idiot.”

We eat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the quiet hum of nature filling the space between us. Then Jax leans back on his hands, his gaze drifting over the vineyard.

"Did you ever think this is where you’d end up?" he asks suddenly, his tone casual but his eyes searching.

"What do you mean?" I ask, popping a grape into my mouth.

“I mean your company—being back in the city and all this attention,” he says.

I laugh softly. "Not exactly. But life has a funny way of surprising you."

He nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah. Funny how that works."

There's a moment of quiet again, but this time it's heavier, like he's holding something back. I tilt my head, studying him. "What's on your mind?"

Jax hesitates, then sighs. "I guess... sometimes I wonder if I’ve peaked, you know? Like, everyone remembers me as the guy stereotypical jock who dated hot cheerleaders. That’s great and all, but it’s not... enough."

The vulnerability in his voice catches me off guard. Jax is always so confident, so sure of himself. Seeing this other side of him feels intimate, almost disarming.

"Peaked?" I echo, setting my plate down. "Jax, you're on a successful channel with your friends, reaching thousands of people. You’re more than just the guy who played hockey.”

“Yeah, but what do I really bring to the table than just being the eye candy,” he says, breaking a tuft of grass.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

“You’re not just that,” I say firmly, my gaze meeting his. “You’re thoughtful, and kind, and… okay, maybe a little too confident for your own good. But there’s so much more to you than people think. And if they can’t see that, it’s their loss.”

He looks at me, something soft and unspoken passing between us. For a moment, the world seems to quiet, the only sound the distant rustle of leaves in the breeze. Then he smiles—small, genuine, a little shy—and it’s like the sun breaking through the clouds.

“Thanks, Chase,” he says quietly. “That means a lot. But there’s many occasions but I was definitely stupid.”

“Like what?” I say.

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