Page 151 of The Fake Out Flex

Evie frowns. "What's that?"

"I hear absolutely no details about anything romantic, romance-adjacent, or within a thousand-mile radius of romanceville."

"Deal," Evie and I say at the same time.

"Great. Now come in. Mom should have simmered down, but you don't want to be late."

I glance at my watch. We're thankfully still two minutes early, despite the unexpected conversation with Levi.

But he's cool with us.

That's one barrier down.

Now I just need to pull off my big plan, confess that I'm still a virgin, and who knows, I might actually be in with a shot of keeping Evie.

We follow Levi into the formal living room, where the rest of the Freeman clan are seated. I head straight for the matriarch.

"You look wonderful, Mrs. Freeman," I say extra loudly for Evie's pleasure, knowing full well she'll mock me mercilessly for it later.

"Fraser. So lovely of you to join us."

I kiss her on the cheek, and if she was in a mood before, I certainly can't spot any signs of it now. She's as polished and well-dressed as ever in a fitted black turtleneck sweater, tailored high-waisted trousers, and a belt adorned with a gold buckle.

I go over to Evie's dad-slash-hockey legend. "Mr. Freeman."

"Fraser." He stands and gives me a solid handshake.

The man is the epitome of California cool. He's still in great shape, with a thick head of sandy blond hair and warm hazel eyes. For how elegantly dressed Mrs. Freeman is, he's his usual super casual self in a plain white T-shirt, board shorts, and flip-flops.

He and Mrs. Freeman couldn't be any more different, and yet, they seem to be as happily married as my folks are.

"I was going to say we need to talk about your last game, but I assume you've heard anything I was going to say from Evie."

"About a hundred times."

She shoots me a faux-murderous look across the room. "Heard that."

"And I love hearing her notes every single time."

"Correct answer," Mr. Freeman stage whispers to me with a chuckle. "Also, call me Alex." He glances over at his wife. "But stick with Mrs. Freeman until she gives you the green light."

"Roger that."

I move on to the sisters next, giving them each a kiss on the cheek.

"How's the world of reality TV treating you?" I ask Harper since it's been a few months since I last saw her.

"Still as brutal, backstabbing, and cutthroat as ever. And that's what happens off-camera."

"Oh."

She waits a beat before adding with a grin, "And I love every single second of it."

"That's great." I turn to Laney. "I assume the world of hotel management in Comfort Bay is a little less cutthroat."

"You'd think that, wouldn't you? But let me tell you, there is a whole underbelly in the hotel world that would blow your mind."

"Oh."

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