Page 42 of Fractured Faceoff

I opened my mouth, ready to brush off the encounter with a nonchalant comment. But something inside me shifted. If I was going to commit to this wild plan with Jared, I needed to start somewhere. My gut churned. I hated lying, but this entire proposal was based on deception.

“I went on a date,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. “With Jared Crowder.”

Autumn’s eyes widened even more, if that were possible. “You... what?” Her tone was a smothered in disbelief. “Isla, you need to tell me everything.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I dropped my bag onto the couch. “It’s... complicated.”

“Complicated how?” She moved closer, her curiosity palpable. “Jared Crowder? The Southern Serpent? The guy who’s always in the tabloids?”

I nodded slowly, trying to find the right words. “Yeah, that Jared Crowder.”

She plopped down next to me on the couch, her expression expectant. “Spill.”

"It started with dinner," I began, my voice steady. "We went to The Red Dragon."

"Your favorite," she pointed out.

I nodded, feeling the weight of my own deception. "It was his idea. He remembered I liked it from a conversation we had once."

I might have embellished the details, but she didn’t need to know everything. I ignored the twist of guilt in my stomach for lying.

Autumn’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So, what happened next?"

I hesitated for a moment, trying to weave a believable tale. "We talked a lot. About work, life... you know, the usual stuff."

"Usual stuff?" She raised an eyebrow. "Come on, Isla. You went on a date with Jared Crowder. Give me something more thanusual stuff."

I forced a smile, playing along. "Okay, okay. He asked about my work with the Serpents and I asked about his career. He was surprisingly... open."

"Open?" She leaned in closer, hanging onto every word.

"Yeah," I continued, trying to sound natural. "He talked about his injuries and how they’ve affected him, both physically and mentally."

Autumn’s expression softened slightly. "That sounds... intense."

"It was," I agreed, taking a deep breath. "But also kind of refreshing. He wasn't putting on an act or anything."

She studied me for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read between the lines. "And how did it feel? Being out with him?"

I swallowed hard, my mind racing to find the right words that wouldn’t give away the truth. "It felt... different. Not like any date I've been on before."

"Different how?" she pressed.

"More genuine," I said quickly, hoping she wouldn’t probe further. "He wasn’t just trying to impress me; he was being real."

Autumn nodded slowly, as if considering my words carefully. "So, do you think there could be something there?"

I forced myself to laugh lightly. "Who knows? It’s too early to say anything for sure."

"But you’re interested," she said softly.

I paused for a moment before nodding again. "Yeah... I guess I am."

She reached out and squeezed my hand gently. "I'm happy for you, Isla. You deserve someone who sees you for who you are."

The sincerity in her voice tugged at my heartstrings, making me feel even more guilty about the lie I was spinning.

"Thanks,"I replied quietly.

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