Page 166 of Falling Backwards
My heartbeat picks up with the inherent stress that comes with confrontation, but also with more comfort and with relief that I’m not the only one who’s ready for Kyle to finally get the picture and leave me alone.
And Jesus, does protectiveness look good on Luke.
I’ve tried not to think about that since the beginning, honestly, considering how seriously we’ve been taking all this; our fake relationship hasn’t been for fun.It’s kind of hard to ignore right now, though.
For another long moment, the guys keep up their glares.Then Kyle looks at me again and says, “I still think you seem awesome and think we’d get along great.Could we just be friends, at least?”
…What?How can he ask me that?
I shake my head.I know my voice still won’t quite be stable, but I tell him outright, “No.I’m not interested in that either.I want you to leave me alone.”
“You don’t even wanna befriends?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
I’m torn between scoffing with disbelief and gulping with unease when Luke says almost warningly, “Back off and go away.She doesn’t owe you an explanation.”
“Well, I feel insulted that I’m being brushed off without—”
“I don’t give a shit how you feel.What’sinsultingis a dude thinking that what he wants matters more than what a girldoesn’twant.”I watch an even, angry stare overtake Luke’s eyes.“So accept you’re out of line and.Back.Off.”
‘I won’t let anything happen to you,’I remember him saying a few minutes ago.It sprinkles pleasant chill bumps over me.
Kyle looks vexed, but my guy doesn’t even blink about it.
Momentarily, Kyle breaks the eye contact and looks at me once more.I feel quick hope that he’ll apologize.He should do that.Even if somehow he truly hasn’t meant to make me feel afraid, I at least deserve an apology for him questioning my boundaries.
However, all he does is scroll that sharply displeased look over me too.
“You’re dating this guy, huh?”he asks.“He’s your boyfriend?”His tone is skeptical and it has me thinking back to how concerned I was in the beginning that he wouldn’t believe our act.
I wonder if Luke is remembering it, too, as he squeezes me again.
Trying not to let my nervousness return, I tell Kyle, “Yes.”
“And how long has this so-special thing been going on between you, exactly?”
I blank on how long Luke and I agreed to tell people we’ve been dating.
But Luke himself answers, “Eight years.”
My stomach flips hard at that.I work on not letting it show as I nod my confirmation to Kyle.
He blinks at me with slow, dry surprise.“Really?Because I didn’t see you acting like you cared about each other at all until after I asked you out.”
Uh oh.Oh no.He did notice our sudden forced camaraderie and that’s probably part of why he hasn’t stopped—
“Honestly, I—” he lets out an unamused laugh, “—I think it’s suspicious, Maggie.I’m not stupid, you know.It seems like you lied to me about not being single because you didn’t wanna give me a chance.You didn’t mention any boyfriend when I asked you to dinner the night before that.And I’m serious, you two didn’t get alonganyof the times I saw you together at Merritt’s before the night we met.You barely evenspentreal time together.You crossed paths all the time but snapped at each other and glared and acted like you got on each other’s nerves.And then I ask you out and suddenly you’re dating him and you’re happy with him?I don’t get it.”
It sounds like he really was watching me for longer than I realized.God, Iknewhe’d know Luke and I were putting on a show.Iknewit.
“Didyou lie to me?”he asks.“Did you say you weren’t single and then go find this guy and get him to pretend to be your boyfriend so I’d believe you?Or what?”
“No,” I lie again now.
“I’m starting to really feel like you did, and I don’t like the idea that instead of giving me a chance, you lied to my face to get me to go away.”He takes the smallest step forwards.
