Page 53 of How to Prevent a Fumble

I’m not sure if he told her yet. I’m not even sure if he knows I still have it. But I’ve been putting off handing it over. Not that I use it frequently. I barely spend any time at her place at all, actually. And I definitely don’t barge in anymore. Not after… last time.

But this is a rare exception.

Now I just have to hope and pray her deadbolt isn’t locked.

Shooting Briar a glare, I head into the hallway, secretly praying the door is double locked. But when the door easily swings open, I panic.

And panic some more when the two of them are right there, watching me with wide eyes, a furry… thing behind them.

Great. There’s going to be puppy dates in my future, I can just tell.

Good thing I’m great at thinking of things on the fly. “Owen, I need your help. Right now. Isla, you too,” I tell them, already realizing I have no idea where I’m taking this.

What are they going to help with? The deed is already done.

Oh god,Leo, please don’t say those exact words to Owen.

I don’t need him worrying about whatthe deedis.

But to think Briar Crosby would lower herself to have sex with me is laughable anyways.

“What’s wrong?” Owen asks.

“I may have fucked up,” I tell him, opting to simply tell the truth.

Who could have thought.

“How? Just spill.”

“Well, I was talking to my PR team and they agreed that I had to do something to change my image. It’s pretty bad, if you couldn’t tell.”

The two look at each other, as if to sayno shit.

“Yeah?” Owen settles with, encouraging me to continue.

“Well, I may be entering a PR relationship of sorts.”

“Okay?”

“And they may have asked me to send them a list of people I think would be good for it.”

Which isn’t… totally a lie? I’m calling it a white lie. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right?

Remember when you were pissed at him for dating your sister behind your back and you were a total dick about it?my brain reminds me.

I do. But I push the thought out of my mind. That’s not what’s important at the moment.

“And?”

“And, well, I’m being forced to fake-date your sister. But listen, just listen, alright? It’s just for the press, nothing more. She knows what she’s getting into.”

It’s again, not a complete lie.

As Owen’s face gets brighter and brighter, my sister places a hand on his chest, her eyes glancing my way every couple of seconds as if making sure I don’t flee.

A knock on the door has us all turning around, and I open it to find Briar, who comes in with an angelic smile.

The second her eyes find Owen, she grimaces. “He told you?”

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