Page 31 of Not Fooling Anyone

“Lexie,” Travis calls out as I open the front door to our apartment. “What was the name of that guy on our school bus? The one I had a crush on.”

Wow. What a way to be greeted. “Um…” I rack my brain, trying to remember. “Adam.”

“Oh my God, yes. It was on the tip of my tongue. I kept thinking Allen for some reason.”

“Must not have been a big crush,” Isaac says from his spot on the couch.

“I could only see the back of his head on the bus. Look him up. Adam Eldridge.”

I set my stuff down on the kitchen counter, peeking over at Travis and his boyfriend huddled in front of a laptop in the living room. “What are you doing?”

“Looking up our old crushes from high school,” Isaac says. “I want to see who Travis was into.”

Okay, that’s weird. I wouldn’t want to know anything about who my significant other formerly liked. If Ethan told me…

Whoa. Where’d that thought come from? I don’t care who Ethan liked. Or likes currently.

I mean, I’m assuming he’s not into anyone right now since he’s pretending to date me. That’d be awkward, otherwise. But I did practically strong-arm him into this. Am I putting his love life on hold? Should I ask him later?

What kind of girl would he be into? Probably someone outgoing and beautiful and kind. Someone he can laugh with. Someone who has their life together. Who isn’t struggling to make ends meet. Who isn’t prickly and stubborn.

I blink away the sudden moisture in my eyes, turning toward the fridge so the guys can’t see me. What the hell is wrong with me?

“Lexie,” Isaac says. “When are you coming into the salon again? I need to touch up your roots soon.”

I stroke a hand over my hair, studying the tips of my auburn locks. It’s still a little weird to see it this way after being a brunette for so long. “I don’t have the money,” I reply honestly, pivoting around to face him.

He gets off the couch and comes over to join me in the kitchen, reaching out to fan my hair forward over my shoulders. “You think I’d beg you to let me dye your hair and then make you pay for the upkeep? Besides, I’m still learning. You’d be doing me a favor.”

That first time in the chair had taken over five hours, but he needs the practice for his cosmetology program. I wanted him to like me, so I agreed, especially after Travis refused to let him bleach his hair.

If Isaac is happy with me, then Travis is, too. I need all the brownie points I can get to help me stay here.

“Just let me know when. My schedule is pretty open.” On account of the no shifts at work. I’d even called up my old bar asking if I could come back, but apparently, they hadn’t taken too kindly to me quitting in the first place.

“Who was your crush in high school?” Isaac asks me. “Please tell me someone better than this Adam guy. Your school had to have some hotties.”

I exchange glances with Travis, my stomach bottoming out.

“Lexie never bothered herself with immature high school guys,” Travis tells him casually. “She was too busy working or studying.”

“Like you should have been doing,” I remind him. I walk out of the kitchen, mouthingthanksas I pass him.

“Well, you have time now,” Isaac says to me. “Who was that guy I saw you on campus with last week? He was cute.”

“What?” Travis and I say in unison.

Travis stares at me, confused. He knows I don’t willingly talk to guys, much less hang out with them. Not after what happened with Cody.

“You didn’t tell me you’re seeing anyone,” he says, a hint of hurt in his tone.

“I’m not,” I insist.

“Tall, muscular, dark hair and beard,” Isaac elaborates. “He was carrying your bag and you got in an SUV with him. I saw you when I was picking up Travis from class…” His head turns between me and Travis. “Sorry if that was supposed to be a secret.”

Travis’s brows pop up further, just as mine relax. “Oh, that’s Ethan. He’s…” What is he exactly? How do I explain this? “He’s, um, my fake boyfriend for this psychology study.”

Both Travis and Isaac blink at me, dumbfounded. Yeah, it’s admittedly pretty out of character for me.

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