Page 101 of Faking It With the Small-Town Bad Boy

His lips tuck inward as he pulls me into another firm embrace.

Brushing his palm down my hair, I melt into his hold and sink into

the comfort he exudes so easily.

“I can guarantee it was not an easy thing for him to do,” he whispers

into my scalp. “I promise.”

“So, why did he do it?”

After a long, lengthy pause, I realize how unfair it is for me to bring

this up with Percy, but he doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, he replies

without sounding insecure, hurt, or even uncomfortable.

“Because some people can only patch their holes with another person

for so long before they just end up feeling empty again.”

I lean back, tears fresh all down my face. “Wh-what?”

Offering a meek nod, he only forces a smooth grin and uses his shirt

that I wear to dry my face once more. “I’ve done the same thing, and

it doesn’t get anyone very far. But you can’t be his plug forever, Leah.

You’re an amazing woman, and you deserve someone amazing.”

“Someone like you?”

The shop goes quiet except for the whistling wind.

“Let’s get back to work, Leah.”

I want to press further on my remark and get his opinion on it, but

it’s useless.

We work on the car until my eyelids are heavy, my arms are sore, and

my face is covered in muck. Even then, Percy looks at me like a

goddess, and I can’t help but wonder what he sees in me.

DON’T FRET, NOT YET

Leah

I jolt upright suddenly. The creaking sound of the garage door made

me burst out of my sleep like I’ve just run through a glass wall. My

head spins as light floods through the back windshield of the car. My

yawn managing to wake up Percy, where he hooks his arm around

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