Page 25 of Accidentally Falling for My Fake Wife

I shake my head and chuckle. Is there anything that this small town doesn’t have? A gossip column? Really? Come on.

My phone vibrates, and I see a text from Darius.

Darius:Everyone is pretty sure Josh has a thing for Brie, even though he denies it.

Darius:He’s overprotective and gets defensive when anyone brings Brie up or if they talk about her wearing someone else’s jersey.

Darius:This is the first time everyone gets to tease him about it, though, and we plan to take full advantage.

I wonder what Susie thinks about this Josh and Brie theory. Next time I see her, I’ll have to ask.

A grin slides across my face at the thought of having a reason to talk to Susie again. Her brother and her best friend are the perfect excuse.

I glance toward Darius and mouth, “Hashtag Briosh?”

I can’t stop myself from rolling my eyes, and Darius immediately starts laughing.

“Stupidest nickname ever!” He mouths back, and I press my lips together as I work to keep a straight face just as Josh gets to his locker.

“I noticed she was wearingmyjersey,” Johnson yells, a teasing glint in his eye. “Maybe it’s me she really wants, and you’re just a replacement.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Johnson,” Josh throws back at Johsnon, a tightness around his mouth and a hardness to his eyes. There might be a little something to this rumor after all. “Brie has a soft spot for kickers. She feels like you don’t get enough recognition. Think of her wearing your jersey as pity, not desire.”

“WOOOOOOO,” comes a collective taunt from the entire room as I text Darius.

Me:Has he done anything else to make everyone think this way?

Darius:Have you seen them together?

Darius:They aredefinitelyinto each other!

Darius:I think I know who sent the video toTea Time.

My brows raise as I look up at Darius before texting.

Me:Seriously?

Me:Was it one of the guys?

If it was one of the guys who sent the video over toTea Time,it could put a whole other spin on this story. I look at Darius, who has a mischievous grin on his face as he slowly nods. My phone buzzes.

Darius:We can talk about my theories later.

I look back at him, and the grin on his face sparkles before he joins in teasing Josh.

“Owens throwing down fighting words. Sorry, Johnson, but I watched the video. I would say that the first part of hashtag Briosh only has eyes for the second part. Whoever recorded that video caught the heat coming off of those two. I was waiting for the video to burst into flames.” He blows on his fingers.

I shake my head and laugh out loud at Darius’s goading. Before turning back to my locker I glance slowly around to see if anyone looks suspicious, but no one seems to be doing anything except laughing at Josh’s expense.

“I’ve known Brie forever; there isn’t any—”

“Owens,” Coach McGee interrupts Josh mid-sentence. “In my office.”

With Josh in the coach’s office, the guys get quiet and turn back to preparing for our typical Monday after a Sunday game. I do an easy workout and then analyze game film. I place my phone in my locker and grab the team playbook.

I turn to walk away when I hear a buzz from my locker. I walk back and pick up my phone to see a text from Finn.

Finn:Hey, Adam.

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