Page 59 of Fractured Faceoff

“You don’t understand,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration. “She’s not going to believe you and I just happened to get together. She’s arrogant enough to think you ran off to be with me as a way to hurther. Not because you actually…” She let her voice trail off, her eyes dropping to the table. “If we’re going to sell it, we need to make sure she believes us or there’s no point.”

“What do you suggest?” I asked, leaning forward, trying to read her expression.

Isla sighed heavily. “I don’t know,” she said, looking up at me. “But I know my sister. She might test you.”

“Test me?” I echoed, raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize we were taking a class.”

“I’m being serious,” she snapped. “She might throw herself at you just to prove she can, just to make sure she still has power over you.”

I frowned at the thought. “You think she’d do that?”

“I know she would,” she replied without hesitation. She sighed again, her shoulders slumping slightly. “Look. I know this is supposed to be fake, and I don’t care what you do, but Jared, I’m asking you… if we’re doing this, do not get back with her.”

The fear in her voice stopped me cold. That protective instinct kicked in again, stronger this time.

“Isla, I?—”

“If you want that,” she cut me off, her eyes piercing mine with an intensity that took my breath away. “If that’s your endgame, we need to stop this right now.”

Her words hung in the air between us, heavy and final. I could see the sincerity in her eyes, the desperation behind her plea. This wasn’t just about getting back at our exes anymore; it was about something deeper for Isla.

I reached across the table and took her hand in mine. Her skin was warm and soft under my touch.

“I promise,” I said quietly but firmly. “I’m not doing this to get back with Ava. I just… I want to make her hurt."

Isla studied me for a long moment before noddingslowly. “Okay,” she whispered, squeezing my hand before letting go.

Her eyes met mine across the table, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of trust there—something fragile but genuine. It was enough to make me believe that maybe we could pull this off after all.

We sat in silence for a while longer, finishing our meal with an unspoken understanding between us.

I took a deep breath, letting the weight of what Isla said sink in. “If we’re serious about this, you’re going to have to understand that I like to touch what’s mine,” I began, my voice firm. “Ava knows that. If you want to make sure we sell it, you’re going to have to let me squeeze your hip or kiss your neck.”

Isla looked at me, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she nodded, surprising me with how quickly she agreed. “Yes,” she said, her voice steady but low. “I… I agree. I’ll make sure it looks real, that we look real without being too showy. Because she’ll see through that too.”

I raised an eyebrow, still processing her swift compliance. “All right,” I said slowly. “Anything left to go over?”

“Just… don’t get back with her,” she repeated, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my chest tighten. “I don’t think… I don’t think I could look at you the same way if you did. I won’t be used, Jared.”

“Understood,” I replied quietly.

We stood there for a moment, the air between us charged with unspoken emotions and a shared determination. The vulnerability in Isla’s eyes mirrored my own fears and insecurities, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a connection with someone that wasn’t built on pretenseor rivalry.

“Good,” she said finally, breaking the silence.

“Good,” I echoed.

We finished cleaning up the kitchen in relative silence, each lost in our thoughts but moving in sync as if we’d done this a thousand times before. It was strange how easily we fell into a rhythm together—like we’d been doing this dance for years instead of just starting out on this crazy plan.

As I dried the last dish and put it away, Isla turned to me. "Things are already in place at work. Maybe we should practice there, just to get comfortable with each other until this weekend."

I nodded. "Lunch, then? And you coming to my games?"

She nodded, looking both determined and slightly nervous. “Okay.”

I walked her to the door, our footsteps echoing softly in the hallway.

“Remember,” I said as she stepped outside. “We’re in this together.”

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