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Suddenly, a ball of nerves fills my stomach. It’s not like we’re in a real relationship, but nobody else will know that. Once we’ve told everyone about us, it’ll be the real deal. Next will come her parents.

But I’m excited for that part of our agreement. It’s about time they learn what it takes to support their daughter, and I’m more than up for the task of being the one to teach them.

16

BRYCE

We didn’t leavethe school until long after the sun had set. Darren’s babysitter needed to be relieved at dinnertime, so he left hours before we did. I wouldn’t say it was awkward per se once he was gone, but there wasn’t a lot of conversation happening.

We went home exhausted and disappeared into our rooms the moment we could. I woke up this morning before I heard Daisy so much as stir in her room and went to the only place I knew she wouldn’t.

Steele Ranch. The guest house, specifically.

My furious knocking on the wide front door lasts for a while before finally, footsteps sound on the other side. The sight of a half-asleep Poppy wrapped in a puffy pink robe doesn’t shock me.

I push past her inside the warm house. “Is Garrison here?”

“He’s in bed. Like I wish I still was,” she croaks.

Good enough for me.

The guest house is bigger than you expect when you first hear about it. It rivals the size of the main ranch house but lacks the same rustic charm. Updated with gleaming gray woodfloors, white walls, and appliances that belong in industrial kitchens, it’s the second-newest building on the ranch.

Brody and Anna’s place makes this one look like a ramshackle cottage.

I turn into the living room and collapse on the massive sectional. My back sinks into the cushions as I slap my hands over my face and groan.

“What’s wrong? Not that I don’t love seeing your beautiful face, but I’d prefer not to do it so early in the morning.”

“I shouldn’t have agreed to this,” I say, the words muffled in my palms.

“To what exactly? You’re not prone to always making the best choices.”

I want to glare at her, but that would mean uncovering my face. “I kissed her hand.”

“You kissed her hand?”

“She kissed my cheek.”

“Oh-kay . . .”

“Do you think we should go to Peakside tonight?”

“Who? You need to slow down and look at me.” Suddenly, she’s tugging my hands down my face and sitting beside me, expression open. “Explain what’s going on.”

“Your brother knows and suggested me and Daisy make our couple debut at Peakside.”

“You told my brother?” she asks, nose scrunched.

“This isn’t the time for you to be jealous. He doesn’t know that it’s fake.”

Her entire face lights up. “Okay, he can know that slim bit of info, then.”

“This is serious. Do we go to Peakside or not?”

“Why wouldn’t you? There’s no better place to do it.”

I grip my knees and huff and huff like I’m trying to blow the goddamn house down. “My parents won’t be there. This is supposed to be for them.”