Page 35 of Faking It With the Small-Town Bad Boy

Percy

The air is cool out here, the night coming down over the hills that

surround the large property the Reese family has passed down

through the generations. Everyone knew them in town, and everyone

loved them as a family unit. They had a perfect life.

Mr. Reese was a good man with a lot of wisdom. He worked hard,

and even though his typical clients were people with classic cars, he

would pull over to help change a tire downtown if someone needed it.

He was generous and kind. He was a helping hand.

I don’t know much about Mrs. Reese. From what I know, she was

heavy in the gossip corners in town. She knew everything and

everything about everybody, too. She was a predominant figure on

the school board, so I’d see her in the halls of our high school quite

often.

I never really had much interaction with Ainsley Reese. She was a

rambunctious little thing, always wearing the wildest outfits I’d ever

seen. Prints and colors, platform heels in the dead of winter. It was

impractical, and I think that’s the best way I can describe her.

Impractical—but in a very harmless, frilly kind of a way.

I’ve known Leah Reese for the longest, and I’d like to think I know

her the best. We never interacted in school, but I saw her every day

before fourth- and fifth-period classes. We would take the same route

every day, and sometimes Ryan would be with her. On the days he

wasn’t there to escort her to and from class, she would smile and

open the door for everyone.

She was kind and selfless.

I could be honest here, or I could keep walking to my car, letting

Leah think I’m an asshole.

Turning back around, I storm back into the garage to see her back is

towards me now. She’s leaning forward, crying as her palms are laid

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