Page 36 of When the Fake Snow Falls

Just thinking about my time with Chase makes my chest warm, and I know Miles is right. Maybe not knowing enough about Chase is just making me like him more. Because without concrete facts to shape him as a person, I’m left only with how he makes me feel. And for whatever reason, the amount of fun I have around this man is unmatched. Blowing out a breath, I relent. “I do.”

“And you’re going to get wrapped up in this.”

“Or,” I say, perking up. “Maybe this will get rid of whatever illusion I have.” Sitting up, I turn to face him and tuck my feet beneath me. “I mean, I barely know him. You know howsomeone always seems great on the first few dates, but then they aren’t.”

He looks unconvinced. “Yeah.”

“Well,” I say, getting more eager to share my theory. “This is a great way for me to realize he isn’t as great as he seems without having to dump him. We’ll go on a few fake dates, I’ll get to know him, and I’ll probably find out I don’t want to be with him anyway.”

“You might . . .” he says with a slow nod.

“I will.” Ihaveto. Because if I don’t figure out what will turn me off for good, Iamgoing to get wrapped up in this. I might be good at guarding my heart, but Chase has already broken down the barricades, and I’ve only known him for a few days.

Miles stares at me for a moment. When he speaks, his words come out slowly, like they’ve been carefully chosen. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this.”

To be fair, I’ve never felt like this, but Miles doesn’t need to know that. I open my mouth in a pathetic attempt to defend myself when my phone vibrates on the couch between us.

Miles arches an eyebrow. “Him?”

Reaching for my phone, I turn it over and look. “Yeah.”

Chase:

Let me take you out this week.

“What did he say?”

I glance at Miles before looking back down at my phone. “He wants to get together this week.”

Pursing his lips, Miles takes another sip. “Of course he does.”

Candace:

For practice?

Chase:

Of course. Strictly practice.

“You look disappointed.”

Miles’s voice makes my head snap up. “No,” I say too quickly. “I’m just trying to figure out my schedule.”

“Mhm,” he mutters, seeing through my lie.

Candace:

Does Tuesday work?

Miles watches me closely, but I also know Chase will answer in a matter of seconds, so I keep my eyes trained on my phone.

Chase:

Tuesdays aren’t good for me. My boss always makes me work late.

How about Thursday?

Candace:

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