Page 49 of The Fake Out Flex

She laughs. Number five, is it?

"What's your code?"

I tell her the numbers, and she types them in.

"Scroll down, and you should see Spotify."

"Yep. Got it. I'm in the playlists section. Now let's see, what do we have here? The Fraser Loves the Ladies playlist. The Rademacher Burt Bacharach Hour of Love playlist. Catchy title. Ooh, I like this one—the I Secretly Love Taylor Swift playlist."

I grin. "You're making it all up. Those playlists aren't there."

"True. But I have two questions."

"Go ahead."

"How good is Rademacher Burt Bacharach Hour of Love? That just came to me. Completely out of the blue."

"That one was definitely my favorite."

She smiles. "And question number two. I need to know…are you a Swiftie?"

"Well, I do play for the LA Swifts."

She narrows her eyes.

"And yes, I'm a Swiftie."

Her eyes narrow some more. "Taylor's versions?"

"Naturally."

She pats my head. "Good boy. Now, what song would you like me to pick?"

"Okay. I'll pick the song, but first, you have to tell me—Bacharach or Swift?"

"Taylor. And just so you know, I will be judging your decision for months, possibly years, to come."

"Gee, well, good thing there's no pressure. Give me a minute."

"Your time starts now?—"

"'Sweet Nothing,'" I say before she can begin the countdown.

"That was fast."

"It's a great song. Do you know it?"

"Of course I know it. It's just…Why do you like it?"

"It's a soft, sweet song," I begin, feeling a little self-conscious as I delve deeply into this. I haven't really given it all that much thought. I just like it.

But then I remind myself it's Evie I'm talking to, and from out of nowhere, the words just come.

"It's a love song that's not about big moments but about the ordinary, beautiful, everyday aspects of being with someone. It's about finding your person and feeling safe. Settled. Like you're enough exactly the way you are. I…I like those lyrics, and the whole song feels like a soft kiss on your forehead from a person you love. Sorry. That was probably too sappy."

"No, it wasn't." She searches my eyes. "It was just the right amount of sappy."

She finds the song, and it starts to play. Her head rests against my shoulder, and I stand there, holding Evie in my arms, cherishing having her this close to me.

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