Page 38 of Revved up & Ready

Something else I didn’t consider—Allie loving this idea. Now I feel guilty for getting her hopes up. At some point, I’ll have to tell her—tell her what? That this was fake all along? Or do Cam and I justkeep pretending forever and say we broke up at some point?My gut twists.

“And you went from being nervous about living with him to what—moving down the hall within a few days? A week?” Devon asks, nonplussed with the pile Allie’s made of the rest of us.

Truth. There’s something true that will satisfy her skepticism. There has to be.

“I want to hear this too,” Allie says, crawling back to her seat, propping both hands under her chin.

I’m grateful for the distraction the dogs provide as Spaghetti immediately ducks her head into the space Allie’s arms create and demands attention again. Taking a steadying breath, I try to remember what Cam and I practiced. “It was almost immediate,” I say. “It started that first night he moved in. I’d never really sat and had a conversation with him before then—”

“Exactly,” Devon interjects.

“Exactly,” Allie repeats, with the emphasis of someone who’s made a point that Allie definitely has not.

I continue with another truth. “He’s so easy to talk to—”

“So am I,” Devon cuts in.

“Not right now, you’re not,” Bea says lightly, amused. “Let her finish, for fuck’s sake.”

“Fine,” Devon huffs.

“He makes me feel safe.”A truth I didn’t realize until it came out of my mouth.“And we just make sense together.”A half-truth. We make sense as a pretend couple, but in reality, I could never love someone I was constantly in fear of losing to a motorcycle accident.He deserves someone better for him than me.

“All they needed was some time alone to get to know each other properly,” Allie picks up where I left off, filling in blanks I couldn’t have pulled off. “They’re both these delightful sweethearts. Cam has so much to give, and did you know he’s never had a girlfriend before?” Allie looks to Bea and Devon, who both shake their heads. “Women throw themselves at him constantly—”

I flinch, hoping no one notices, but Devon eyes me in a way that shows she did.

Allie continues, “I’ve seen him turn down at least a dozen, and I’ve only known him a year. He wanted someone he could have a life with, and hefoundher. Right here.” She reaches across Bea again to squeeze my leg. “Obviously, they make an incredible couple.”

Devon considers for a long time before asking, “And this is a good thing for you?”

“Yes,” I say, knowing it’s the right answer. But when I think about it, I realize it’s another surprising truth. I’m having a great time with Cam. “I’m really happy.”

Devon narrows her eyes, holding my stare for a long moment before nodding. “Okay, let’s watch this movie.”

Did I do it? Did I pull it off?

Bea queues up the movie, and Allie heads to the kitchen for the cookies.No one’s asking me questions anymore. I think I pulled it off.I check my phone.

Cam: Hope that wasn’t too much.

Me: You were great. They’re thrilled.

Cam: All of them?

Me: Okay, Allie is thrilled. Bea is intrigued, and I doubt Devon’s on board yet.

Cam: Sounds like a perfect start. Told you you’d be amazing.

Me: Did you? I feel like I would’ve remembered being told I’m about to be amazing.

Cam: If I didn’t, I should have.

“Is that Cam?” Allie giggles, overjoyed about us in a way I should’ve seen coming.“See if he’ll send you a gym selfie with Luke.”

Devon curls her lip. “Eww.”

“Don’t be such a downer,” Bea giggles, pressing play onThe Shining.

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