Page 7 of The Midseason Fakeout

He smiles, blue eyes warming up. “Exactly.”

As much as his words hurt, he’s agreeing to what I asked and he’s being upfront with me about it. “Sounds like a win-win,” I tell him, even though I’m not totally feeling it. I don’t know what I thought would happen when I came up with the idea, but I was a bit hopeful he’d see me and be at least a little interested. I’ve grown up a lot since I last saw him.

He sighs in relief, then holds up his hand to give me a high five. I follow through, and the look he sends me makes my heart flip.

Aidan’s phone rings, and I jump, the harsh sound yanking me out of the moment, but he just casually reaches for it like nothing happened.

He chuckles, turning the device toward me so I can see who’s calling him.Darrinfills the screen.

A huge smile takes over his face and he winks at me, and I already know something smartass is going to come out of his mouth. “Dude,” he answers, “I thought we had a pact that we don’t cockblock?”

My mouth unhinges as a strikingly hot sensation races toward my thighs at the thought.

I can’t hear what Darrin says in response, but Aidan laughs. “Kidding, man. Get your ass up here. I’m in 327. Take the stairs on the left.”

He ends the call and continues to grin. “This could be fun. Are you guys staying on campus?”

I shake my head. “Please, Mom and Dad wouldn’t go that far. They rented us a house close by.”

“Sweet.” He shrugs. “He’s still nearby. I mean, you’ll both be nearby.”

I try not to take that personally. “Yeah, except I have to share with him.” I roll my eyes.

“Good thing you don’t need real privacy,” he says, jabbing me with his elbow while he slides off the bed.

I frown. I was hoping for exactly that, actually. This isn’t a plot to get Aidan to date me, but I was hopeful it could be a happy side effect. “You know, you should probably sleep over sometimes to make it look good,” I add, sure that’s what a couple in a real relationship would do without parental supervision.

He turns toward me, face pale, but he doesn’t get a chance to respond before Darrin barges into the room. Glaring at the two of us, he then scans the room like he can detect what we were actually doing in here. Nothing as damning as he thinks. Unfortunately.

“You asshole,” he growls, then punches Aidan in the shoulder.

“Not the goods, man,” Aidan replies, working his arm out. “I was only messing with you. Like I’d actually talk about your sister with you. I’m glad you’re here. This is awesome.” He pauses for a moment. “And Bails, too.” He holds out his hand for me to take. “It’s good to finally see her.”

His eyes are like homing beacons. Being this close to Aidan’s bubble has me crushing on him all over again.

I stand on wobbly legs and hold out my hand. He immediately closes his around mine and tugs me into his side, draping his arm along my shoulders, crushing me to him.

Across from us, Darrin shakes his head. “I don’t see it.”

“What?” I ask defensively.

“You and him. My best friend. It doesn’t make sense.”

My insides twist. This is what everyone is going to think. What is Aidan, starting quarterback, doing withthatgirl? I’m nothing like the type of girl I’ve seen him go for. I don’t have model-long legs. I’m not bare-my-midriff skinny. In fact, I’m a little on the short side with wider hips and a bubble butt.

“Which is why we didn’t tell you,” Aidan snaps.

My body freezes. I don’t understand why he’s mad. Like really mad. That wasn’t pretend.

I peer up, and his eyes are guarded. They’re no longer looking over at Darrin, they’re staring off into space, his fingers flexing against my skin.

“Dude, we’re cool,” Darrin says. “I was just surprised. I won’t say anything about it again. But I’m warning you two right now, if you break up, I’m not taking sides. That’s my sister, and you’re like my brother.”

“That’s kind of gross,” I answer, and Aidan says “gross” at the same time.

He pulls me in close, like we’re actually a couple thinking how cute it is that we end each other’s sentences.

Darrin makes a retching sound. In return, Aidan and I glare at him.

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