Page 39 of Faking It With the Small-Town Bad Boy

nods. I’m ecstatic to have her finally agree to put on a front that can

protect us from more humiliation, but she wipes the last, cold tear off

her face and walks back to the car.

“I can’t do that, Percy,” she says at last. “I’m sorry, but it’s not me. I

can’t do it. I’m sorry.”

My stomach falls, and while I do understand her hesitancy, I can’t

say I’m not a little disappointed. I needed a shield, something to help

me walk through this task with my head still up, but instead, I watch

my feet as I walk outside and give up my last ounce of hope.

It’s time to go face the music, I guess.

But does it mean I’m going to stop trying to convince Leah that this is

a good idea? No.

Even if she thinks she can handle this by herself, I know it’s not going

to be easy.

GRAY CLOUDS

Leah

I lay in bed for about a week.

Ryan’s save-the-date is on the nightstand, staring at me. Percy left it

behind when he was leaving the second time. I know he didn’t mean

to hurt my feelings when he asked me to join him in this false display

of moving on, but it did hurt.

I haven’t moved on at all. I won’t take Ryan Jones back, and I

wouldn’t even consider forgiving him to the point of being his friend,

but does that make the hurt disappear? No. Of course not. That

doesn’t mean the sting is any less sharp.

Still, I have work to do, and my debt isn’t getting any lighter.

Climbing out of bed, I drag my feet all the way to the garage and lift

the car up on a jack stand so I can slide underneath it. My body aches

with every move, but I have to pull this part and replace it just to get

this damn thing running. The bolts are rusted, the part is heavy, and

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