Page 75 of The Fake Out Flex

With my mouth still full, I give a thumbs up.

My numbers have never been higher. Not even after my first viral video.

I downplayed it with Fraser last night because I don't want him thinking I'm enjoying this attention or milking it for career gain. I'm honestly not. It's nothing more than an unexpected bonus.

"What are you getting at, Levi?" Fraser takes up the question I was going to ask.

"What I'm getting at is that you two should date for a while. Fake date, I mean. Otherwise, that would be monumentally weird."

He pulls a face, and I have the sudden urge to fling another cushion his way.

"Let the media run with the story. Eventually, you'll lose a few games, they'll get over it, and then you can quietly fake break-up. And that'll be that."

"That'll be that." Fraser mutters the words under his breath, his expression darkening.

This is absurd.

Someone has to be the voice of reason here, and even though I have literally zero experience in that role, it looks like I have to be the one to put a stop to this.

"I don't think this is a good idea. You obviously don't want to do this, Fraser."

"That's…not true." His intense blue eyes swing my way. "My only concern is you."

I find myself choking slightly as a piece of donut goes down the wrong way.

This guy and his words.

His brow furrows. "You okay?"

"Yep." I smack my chest a few times. "All good."

He waits for me to fully recover before saying, "I'm serious, Evie. I won't even consider this unless you are completely comfortable with it. And also, if we do go ahead with it, I want you to know you can change your mind and back out of it at any time."

"How would it work?" I direct the question toward my totally non-meddling brother.

"Well…" he begins, glancing at the litany of newspapers covering his coffee table. "It seems you two already have some momentum established. So I say, keep it simple. Evie, fly out to a few games so the media can get some photos of you in full-on game mode. Fraser, take Evie out for food somewhere public where you're bound to be seen. Visit her a couple of times back home, and honestly, I think that should be enough to get the media to buy it. The one upside of declining media standards."

"I don't hate it," Fraser says, with a slight nod. "I mean, if we're going to do something as wild as fake dating, I think a low-key approach is the way to go. What do you think, Evie?"

Hmmm…Let's see here.

I get to spend more time with Fraser.

See a few more games, too.

My numbers are likely to stay high, so that's helpful on the work front.

Fraser remembers my two main food groups—burgers and donuts.

He's keeping my apartment well-stocked with my favorite flowers.

And I do owe him one for coming to Bryce's wedding with me.

Aside from all that, I actually want to do this.

Good thing, then, that I'm over my crush.

Yep, it's totally gone…I'm, like, seventy-three percent sure.

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