Page 29 of The Fake Out

“I’m not.”

I didn’t look her way, but I didn’t need to in order to gauge her mood. I could hear the frustration in her tone. Once again, I wanted to tell Chris to back off. But he wouldn’t. He was the type that dug in full force. The dude had waited a year for his girl. Trust me, he didn’t let anything go.

“What’s the deal?” he demanded.

She sighed, and in a quiet voice I’d never heard from her, she said, “Jake uninvited me.”

I whipped around so hard I nearly fell off the sofa. At the same time, Chris pushed to his feet, glaring at her. “The douches did what?”

“It’s Doucette. Not douche,” she growled.

I wasn’t sure why she always pronounced the word that way. But every time Chris called the company a bunch of douches, she always corrected him.

“I’m fine not going,” she said, though she kept her focus on the scissors in her hand and shifted on her feet, looking anything but fine.

“What do you mean?” Chris crossed his arms under the black cape, puffing up in his typical overprotective way. “This event is to show off the new signs—that you made—and you’re telling me you’re not going?”

She swallowed, and for a second, I thought she might cry. The thought of it was like a knife to the chest. That wasn’t Gianna. She used anger to hide her emotions and always kept her head held high. But I knew how it felt to work as hard as everyone else yet not get the same credit. It was a punch to the stomach, and although I was used to it for me, I wanted better for her.

But like a switch flipped, she pulled her shoulders back, and that chin, which loved to lift in indignation, rose a fraction. Her eyes hardened, and any hint of vulnerability was gone before most people would have even noticed. “It’s to raise money for the zoo. This has nothing to do with me. The event was planned long before I agreed to paint a few signs.”

“No.” Chris shook his head. “You didn’t just paint a few signs. You practically rebranded the place. This is bullshit. Bambi,” he called over to me. “You’re taking Dumpty’s spot at the gala Friday, right?”

I nodded.

“Got a date?”

Gianna zeroed in on me. No, I didn’t have a date. I’d thought about asking her dad if he wanted to go. He was the type of parent who would like to see his daughter’s hard work celebrated. But I hadn’t gotten a chance yet. Hannah had only sprung the invitation on me yesterday at the relay race with the mascots. I was rarely invited to the big things, but since Mason was still recovering from his concussion, they needed another body.

“Dude, the question isn’t a hard one.” Chris shook his head.

“No, Dragon.” I cleared my throat to answer him, but I kept my eyes on his sister. “No date.”

Gianna’s shoulders relaxed just a bit, and though she was still scowling, the look softened a fraction.

“Great.” He lifted a hand from under his black cape and waved it between the two of us. “You two can go together.”

“No.” Gianna spit out the word fast.

My stomach sank. She was attracted to me. I had no doubt. But apparently I wasn’t the type of guy she’d want on her arm at such an important event.

“Why the fuck not?” Chris glared at her.

I lowered my head and rocked back on my heels. I didn’t need an explanation. I understood, and I couldn’t be upset with her for not wanting to bring the class clown to the formal event.

“It’s your thing,” Chris argued. “You will be there.”

“Well,” Gianna said, worrying her lip, “it’s dumb. But my temper got the better of me…”

What did her temper have to do with anything? She was cute when she was fired up. All glary and ragey vibes.

Though in this moment she was the opposite of fired up. My heart hurt as I watched her twirl a long strand of hair around her finger nervously.

“Just spit it out.” Chris frowned.

Her eyes flicked to me for one second before she looked down at her feet. “Jake was being an ass, so I might have told him I was dating someone.”

My heart clenched. She was dating someone. Already? When the hell had that happened? Fuck. My stomach sank, and a wave of anguish ran through me. I couldn’t have her. I knew that. But it hurt anyway.

---