Page 83 of Summer Kisses

"We already knew about that one."

"But it gets worse. There's another one that found out about your video-game show. That reporter went on to interview people in the community who don't know anything about it. Brady, your family is going to find out. Your dad?—"

"He's already pissed at me about the other stuff. He's going to hate this." Brady's tone was disgusted.

"They even alluded to the fact that we were dating to get the family-friendly designation for the show. I have no idea how they figured that out." The line was quiet. "I'm so sorry, Brady. I never intended for this to happen."

"They know that we're fake," he said, his voice defeated.

"It looks like it. But I don't know how they could know. I never told anyone. Did you?"

"No," he said softly.

"Maybe they're just grasping at straws, trying to see if anything will stick. Because there's no way they could know." My heart rate picked up.

"It's true though. There's no point in pretending it's not."

It was like all the air was sucked out of my lungs. "What are you saying?"

"We have to tell everyone the truth. We got engaged for the show designation. Dad was right about everything. I make stupid decisions."

I felt like the ground was dropping out from underneath me, and I couldn't find solid footing. I wasn't even sure that I wanted to. "That's not true."

"Don't you see? We did something impulsive, and now we're paying the price."

"I'll stand by you. I'll tell everyone our feelings are real," I said desperately, hoping he'd listen to me.

"You don't have to do that. I got us into this mess, and it's time to deal with it. I've been lecturing Dalton how he needs to step up, and I haven't done the same."

"Can I come see you?" The hand that was holding the phone trembled.

"My dad's calling. I have to take this."

"Wait—" I cried, but he'd already hung up.

How did this get so out of control? Now everyone knew that our relationship was fake. I thought it would be a good thing to tell them our feelings were real. That we might have started out as pretend, but that at some point, we fell for each other. But that might have only been one-sided because he hadn't agreed with me when I proposed telling everyone that.

The phone rang. It was Ivy.

"Hello."

"Are you okay?" Ivy asked, her voice laced with concern.

I took stock of my feelings. My eyes were tearing up, and my muscles were sore as if I'd just run a marathon. Everything was falling apart, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. "Not really."

"I just submitted Dalton's contract for a house, so I have some time before I hear back. Can I come to you?"

"I should see Brady." I felt scatterbrained

"Why? What did he say to you?"

"He was going to talk to his dad and tell him everything about the video game show, our relationship."

"Is it true? You guys weren't actually engaged?" Her voice was incredulous.

"Yes. No. It's complicated." I sighed. "I'm debating whether I should go to Brady. Tell him how I feel."

"I'm calling the girls. Hang tight, and whatever you do, don't talk to Brady until we've had a chance to talk this out."

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