Page 55 of The Midseason Fakeout

My mind catches on that one moment where she acted funny, but I don’t want to think about that right now. “You guys got along well.”

“She’s funny.” For a few beats, Bailey’s quiet, then she asks, “What did Darrin talk to you about while you were in the bathroom?”

My fingers tighten on the steering wheel. “He said not to get used to having you two around.”

Bailey nods. “Yeah, I think he is finally starting to see what I’ve known all along.”

“What’s that?”

“That we really don’t have our own lives.” She says it so sadly…but then busts out laughing. “It’s not funny, but it kind of is. I mean, by almost all metrics, we’re adults, but we can’t make our own decisions. If I didn’t laugh at it, I’d spend every day crying.”

My mouth goes dry. “I don’t like it.”

“Me neither. I can guarantee you I wouldn’t have won a couples contest at the other school.”

I picture Bailey running an obstacle course with some faceless dude, and I automatically hate him. What would he think about her to-do list? About leggings being her new favorite piece of clothing? Would she even be the same girl she is with me at this other university with some stuck-up rich dude who’ll probably want to control her life too?

“Tell them no.”

She laughs and starts to change the subject.

“Why are you doing that?” I snap. “Darrin did the same thing. Why don’t you just tell them no?”

She peers over at me, gaze discerning. I realize I’m balled up tight and try to relax. I probably look half crazed. “Fear of letting them down. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of not having any money,” she states, shrugging. “To name a few.”

“If you really want something, you should go for it. You’re young. Who cares if you make a mistake? If you end up not liking Warner, go back to the other university. Try it out. Or go to a whole different school altogether. There’s more than one way to be successful.”

She gives me a small smile. “It’s nice that you care.”

I straighten up, caught in this weird position. I do care, but not sure I should as much as I do. “I’m worried about you guys,” I concede, but in my heart of hearts, I know that’s definitely not all of it. There’s more here.

I pull into their driveway, and as soon as I put the car in park, Bailey pushes her door open. “Thanks for the ride. I’ll cherish my non-existent power couple trophy forever.”

Instead of just dropping her off, I get out with her. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” I search for an excuse. “I have to make sure you get into the house okay.”

“Aidan, I’m good. You have a game tomorrow, you should probably go get some sleep.”

“Let me make sure there’s not an axe murderer waiting for you inside.”

“Fine,” she sighs, shaking her head. I follow her to the door, and she opens it, switches the lights on, and then walks in. “No axe murderer.”

Still not getting rid of me that easily. I close the door behind me, even though I really should be going back to my room and getting some sleep before the big game tomorrow.

“What are you doing?” she asks, backing up.

“Darrin probably wants me to stay with you to make sure you’re okay. That’s what a boyfriend would do, right?”

“Well, maybe, but my fake boyfriend is a really famous, really amazing quarterback who needs rest for his game tomorrow.”

“I can rest here.”

She eyes me. “If you want. I guess.”

Turning, she walks down the hallway, and I watch her ass in those leggings. Crazy that I was the one making up rules for her, and now I feel like I want to break every one of them.

The smart thing to do is say goodbye and go back to my dorm, watch some game tape, and fall asleep.

“I’m going to change,” Bailey says, slipping into her bedroom. She leaves the door open a crack, and I stay outside, watching her move around in there. She peels off her shirt, and my legs start forward before I can tell them not to.

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