Page 10 of The Fake Out Flex

Okay. So far, so good.

Operation Keep Things Normal is on track.

She thinks the flowers are sweet. I've regained control of my legs. Levi's staring at me.

Wait.

Why is Levi staring at me?

Did he catch me gawking at his sister?

Okay. Maybe I'm not as stealthy as I think I am.

I shoot him a friendly smile and deflect by asking, "Whatcha making there, buddy?"

"Spicy shrimp linguine."

I groan. "How spicy?"

The Freemans have a thing for spicy food. And not just a little spicy. I'm talking melt your tongue, make your eyes cry rivers of tears spicy.

"You should be fine," Levi says, cocking his head. "Unless you're a baby."

Another thing about the Freemans? They're all super competitive.

"Says the guy who lost the chili dog eating contest at the Comfort Bay Fair four years ago," Evie says, her eyes gleaming.

See? Competitive.

Levi bristles. "You cheated."

"Did not. You devoured the hot dogs like a madman, tiring out way too early. I had a clear strategy in mind, eating steadily and methodically, focusing on maintaining a consistent pace rather than speed. The results speak for themselves."

I chuckle as it hits me how much I love their fast-talking banter.

I've got two older brothers and one younger sister. We're all close, but I'm especially close with Dawn. She's just as guarded as I am, though, so while we do open up to each other, we're nothing like these two. When Levi and Evie get together, they generate enough energy to rival a wind farm during a tornado.

"So," Evie says, leaving a sulking Levi and plonking down on a stool next to me. "I've re-watched all your games from last season, and I have some notes."

"Of course you do." I drag a hand down the side of my face. "But take it easy on me. I'm still reeling."

Evie's expression softens. "From the breakup?"

"Yeah," I say, mainly because it's the right thing to say.

I don't want to sound like a heartless jerk who wasn't that upset when Tori broke things off with me. But we were incompatible. It wasn't going to work. The writing had been on the wall for a while.

The real reason I'm reeling?

"There's the breakup, but then that was followed by losing six consecutive games."

Talk about a bad run.

"The second half of the season was a trainwreck," Evie agrees. When she notices my pained expression, she throws in, "Sorry. Gentle. I'll try."

She'll try. She'll end up failing.

Like always.

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