Page 46 of The Fake Out Flex

"There's room for one more," she says, patting the jacket.

"It's fine, I can just sit on the sa?—"

She flicks my calf with her purse and yanks me by my shirt sleeve. I land beside her with a heavy thud.

That's one way to get me to sit next to her.

We both stare out into the ocean for a few moments.

It's funny how something so simple, so mundane as sitting next to someone can make me feel so at peace. I've always felt good being around Evie…and it looks like I still do.

"How are you feeling about jerkface?" I eventually ask.

"Better, actually." She darts her gaze to me and smiles. "How come you don't say his name?"

"Excuse me?"

"You hardly ever refer to him by his real name."

"Who? Jerkface?" I retort. "I thought that was his real name. I found it quite handy actually, how it's both his name and it captures his whole personality."

"You really don't like him, do you?"

That's putting it mildly. "Nope," I say, popping the p.

"Why?"

"Who breaks up with someone on live television?" I spit out, then, noticing the surprise on her face, tone it down a notch. I shake my head. "That's not a real man."

"Ah, so that's where I've been going wrong this whole time. I've been dating fake men."

"Maybe you have."

"So how would a real man break up with me?"

I turn so I'm angled toward her and lift her chin so that our eyes connect. "A real man would never break up with you in the first place, Evie. A real man would be smart enough to realize what a precious gift it is to be with you. A real man would do whatever he could to keep you happy and safe and would always keep two shovels in his car for any unexpected no-questions-asked moments that might arise."

She laughs—number four, by my count—making her hazel eyes glimmer in the late-afternoon light.

Something passes between us.

I can feel it. And I think she does, too.

Compartmentalize, man. That's the plan, remember? It's a good plan. A solid one. But a plan only works if you actually stick to it.

I need to control my feelings.

I need to lighten the mood.

I need to show her a good time…remember? That's what I promised, and it's time to deliver.

"You know," I begin, "I'm actually a little upset with you."

She frowns. "Why?"

"You rejected me."

"I did? When?"

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