Page 40 of The Purest Fake

“Well, I grew up a preacher’s son, so I guess I was passionate about my faith.”

“You said ‘was.’ Does that mean you no longer are?”

“My faith hasn’t changed, but I no longer attend church—unless I’m visiting my parents. Then I feel obligated to attend.”

“What made you stop going?”

I pause, considering how to answer. It’s not something I often talk about, especially with someone I haven’t known for long. But there’s something about Scarlett that makes me feel comfortable opening up.

“It’s complicated,” I begin, setting my plate down. “I still believe in God, but I started questioning some things. The rigid structure, the judgment I sometimes saw and also felt myself. It didn’t always align with the loving, accepting God I believed in. The more I learned about the world, the more I realized that things aren’t as black and white as I was led to believe.”

Scarlett nods thoughtfully. “That makes sense. It’s normal to question and evolve in your beliefs as you grow up.”

“Right,” I agree. “Plus, now with my current schedule, Sundays are usually game days. But I still pray and try to live by the core values I was raised with.”

“That’s admirable,” she says with a smile. “It’s not easy to forge your own path while still honoring your upbringing. Especially being the preacher’s son.”

I feel a sense of relief that she understands so well.

I nod. “It was. There was a lot of pressure to be the perfect son. I think that’s the main reason why football became such an outlet for me. Out on the field, I could be myself without worrying about living up to anyone’s expectations.”

Scarlett leans back on the couch, tucking her legs beneath her. “That makes a lot of sense. Did your parents support your football dreams?”

I smile, remembering. “They did, actually. My dad especially. He saw how passionate I was about the game, and he always encouraged me to pursue my goals. He’d say that God gives us talents for a reason, and it was up to us to make the most of them.”

“That's beautiful,” she says. “It sounds like you have a good relationship with your parents.”

“I do.” I nod. “We don’t always see eye to eye on everything, but I’ve never questioned their love for me or their desire to see me succeed.”

Scarlett’s smile is warm. “You’re lucky. Not everyone has that kind of support from their family.”

I’ve always known how fortunate I am. “You’re right, and I’m grateful for them. So what about you? Are you close with your family?”

Her smile falters slightly. “It’s... complicated. My parents and I have a strained relationship. They’re very focused onappearances and success, and I think they’ve always been a bit disappointed that I didn’t follow a more traditional career path.”

The area between my eyebrows wrinkles as I frown. “I’m sorry to hear that. It must be tough not having their full support.”

She shrugs, trying to appear unaffected. “It is what it is. I’ve learned to find my own path and surround myself with people who do support me. Like Autumn, and as strange as this may sound, my podcast listeners. They’re like members of my extended family. They support me by showing up week after week, and they encourage me when I need it most.”

“I understand that more than you realize. The fans of every team I’ve played on have done the same for me.”

“Would you like some more tacos?” she asks.

I glance down and notice there’s still half of one on my plate. I finish it in two bites, and when I’ve swallowed it down, I say, “No, thanks.”

She scoots to the edge of the couch and angles her body toward me. “You didn’t really think I was going to let you get away with not answering my question, did you?”

No, but I was hoping.

“What question would that be?” I say, trying to stall.

She presses her lips together and tips her head, silently sayingreally?“Why you never had a girlfriend.”

Placing my plate on the coffee table, I shift to face her. “With my dad being a preacher, there was a lot of importance placed on saving yourself for the person you marry. As a result, I didn’t really date in high school. I focused on football and getting a scholarship.”

“What about in college?” she asks.

“I focused on football. All I’ve ever wanted to do is play for the pros.”

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