Page 65 of Faking It With the Small-Town Bad Boy

are squinted, his hands pale at the knuckles while he flexes them in

and out methodically. I can’t help but see the pale hue of his skin,

drizzled in sweat from the show, and wroth with unease. He shifts his

weight a few times, back and forth, adjusting his body like he’s in a

tight room, stuck between narrow walls.

“Are you okay?”

He only nods at first, chewing the inside of his lip methodically.

“Percy, talk to me. What’s going on?”

“We just told the most gossip-filled town that we’re engaged, Leah.

I’m a little bit distracted and upset right now. I just—I need space.”

I stand at once, inching towards the doorway. “Okay, I’m sorry. I can

leave.”

He looks up with his brows furrowed. His words may have told me he

needs space, but there’s a certain look in his eyes that tells me to

stay. I don’t want to be upset right now, not in front of him while he’s

obviously going through something, but he wanted support in this

arrangement.

So, I should support him.

Coming back to where he sits, I take my spot beside him, reach over

to his leg, and knit his fingers into mine. He squeezes my hand like

he’s giving birth, and I bite my tongue through the labor of bad

memories that flood us both of our prior relationships.

“You want to know something else about me?”

He glances sideways, his pulse quick and his grip still taut. “Another

getting-to-know-you game, car chick?”

I let the petulant nickname slide for now, given the current

circumstances. “Sure, if you want to call it that.” Steadying my tone, I

continue with, “When I was dating Ryan, my mother hated him. The

entire time we were together, actually. She couldn’t stand him in the

slightest. Said he gave off bad vibes or whatever.”

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