Page 111 of Faking It With the Small-Town Bad Boy

best show of the year—or ever for that matter—but I’m confused,

man. You proposed to a woman we all know you’re not dating.

Unless you are dating her, and you’ve lied.”

I jump off the stage and take a seat at the nearest table, the guys soon

filing in to follow. The bartender is all the way across the bar, taking

inventory so the bottles are clanking, making sure she can’t hear

anything we say right now. “I’m going to say something, but it’s a

band secret. No one can spit a word of this anywhere else, or to

anyone else, not even your mothers.”

“Sounds good,” Storm and Reggie say in perfect unison.

Julius leans in, interested beyond measure. “Let it out.”

Exhaling at last, I feel like I’m about to start unloading bricks off my

chest. “So, with Farrah and Ryan getting married, I thought I could

just find support with Leah Reese. You know, it’s kind of similar

what happened to us, and the wedding is going to take place in Rally.

I went over to talk to her about getting through this wedding with a

little bit of grace. Besides, we want to save face, and the best way to

do that is to show people we’ve moved on.”

Storm purses his lips, holding his hands up like he’s trying to make

me yield. “I’m a little confused. So, you and Leah are, or you aren’t

actually—”

“We’re not,” I say firmly.

Reggie takes it the best, offering a shrug and a smile as he says,

“Well, whatever helps you cope. We have to play the wedding, and we

all know that’s uncomfortable for you. I think it’s great you and Leah

are going to be able to talk and work through this time together.”

“Thank you,” I say, surprised he’s so receptive to the idea.

It still sounds crazy in my mind.

Julius has his hand over his mouth for a long moment, his light eyes

drifting between the other guys before landing on me. “I call

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