Page 34 of Scarlett and the Fake Boyfriend (Scarlett #2)

“Sophie took one for the team. And apparently it was Henley’s first kiss ever. So he’s officially off the suspect list.” I was down to four. Plus Axel and Mr. Halifax.

“So who’s left on your list?”

“Luis the Cheater, Leo the Rugged Thief, Eli the Halloween Henchman, and Zach the Shy Spy. I’m going to dance with them at homecoming to get an idea of heights and all that. If that’s okay, of course,” I quickly added.

Jacob shrugged. “I can’t control who you dance with.”

I pressed my lips together. Did that mean he didn’t want me to dance with them? Why were guys so confusing? “Just like I can’t control who you have class projects with.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” It was none of my business. Even though it felt entirely like my business. “Speaking of homecoming, it seems like my dad has some juicy stories about his homecoming senior year. But he won’t tell me any details.”

“All our uncles are here. I’m sure they can fill in the blanks.”

“Oh my God, you’re brilliant.” I grabbed Jacob’s hand and pulled him back into the family room. I knew exactly which uncle would give me all the details. “Uncle Rob,” I said.

He was staring at the TV.

The game was tied. Normally I’d be just as into it as he was, but I was so freaking curious about my dad’s high school experience. “Uncle Rob.” I lightly nudged his shoulder.

He looked up at me. “What’s up? They’re going for it on fourth down...” He groaned and melted back into the couch when the Giants were short of the line. “Trash.”

I laughed. “Uncle Rob, my dad was telling me about his senior year homecoming.”

“Was he really?”

Well, that already seemed juicy. “Yes, but he left off a few details.”

“Like...what?”

My dad said he’d kissed someone he’d been wanting to for a while. But I doubted I would recognize the name. I was more curious about the fight. “He said he got into a fist fight?”

“Oh, that was hilarious. Matt! Mason!” Rob called over to his friends.

Uncle Matt and Uncle Mason walked over.

“I can’t believe they didn’t get the first down,” Uncle Matt said.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Uncle Rob said.

I don’t think I’d ever heard him so dismissive of the game.

“Scarlett wants to know the story about your senior homecoming,” he said to Uncle Mason.

Uncle Mason took a long sip of his beer instead of responding.

“I don’t really remember it that well,” Uncle Matt said.

“He was super wasted,” Uncle Rob said. “Matt and I were sophomores at the time. And way cooler than Mason and James, obviously. Matt showed up late to homecoming that year. And get this. He brought James’ girlfriend as his date. That little shit.”

Oh my God, why ?

“That is not the complete story,” Uncle Matt said. “I was trying to get them back together.”

“That’s not how it looked,” Uncle Rob said. “And James was so pissed. And obviously I was pissed too. You know I always have James’ back. But then James kissed...”

“What are you guys talking about?” my dad said.

Crap, where did he come from?

“Your homecoming senior year,” Uncle Rob said. “And how you kissed...”

“Can we maybe not talk about this, Rob?” my dad said.

“But...”

“I think our kids don’t need to be privy to everything that we got up to in high school. We weren’t good kids. They are.”

I mean...we just broke into Axel’s room. And I had a hole in the floor of my bedroom leading to a secret lair. And I had kissed a lot of guys recently...

“I think we need to hear every single sordid detail,” Sophie said as she sat down next to her dad on the couch.

Uncle Rob nodded. “Smart girl. And it’s such a good story, James. Come on. A little walk down memory lane. The kids want to hear it.”

Liam and RJ had walked over too.

“It’s really not a good story,” Uncle Matt said. “And I’d appreciate it if you stopped talking. All you kids need to know is that none of us were on our best behavior. And I hope you have a better homecoming than we did that year.”

Uncle Matt and my dad were being so lame!

“We all would have had a great homecoming that year if you hadn’t been acting like such a dick,” Uncle Rob said.

My dad cleared his throat.

“Bro, come on. How are our kids supposed to learn from our mistakes if we don’t talk about our mistakes?”

My dad shook his head.

Gah!

Uncle Rob sighed. “Fine. I’ll tell you kids later.”

“Absolutely not,” my dad said.

Uncle Rob winked at me and my dad hit him in the back of the head.

“Ow.” Uncle Rob rubbed the spot. “What was that for?”

“At least tell us who you got in a fight with,” I said. “Please.” I tried to give my dad my sweetest smile.

“Oh it was all four of us,” Uncle Rob said.

Really?

“Rob,” my dad said sternly.

“What? They should know that the Hunters kicked the Caldwells’ asses.”

I laughed.

“For the record, that was not at all what happened,” Uncle Mason said. “Matt and I kicked the Hunters’ asses.”

“I don’t recall that,” Uncle Rob said. “Pretty sure James and I won that fight.”

“Wait,” I said. “Why were you fighting? I thought you said Uncle Matt was trying to get my dad and his girlfriend back together?” And my dad had said earlier that he did get back together with his girlfriend that night. So...what was there to fight about ?

Uncle Rob laughed. “So Matt claims. But Matt was hooking up with James’ girlfriend,” Uncle Rob said. “That violated bro code.”

My eyes grew round.

“That’s not what happened,” Uncle Matt said firmly.

“Wait,” I said. “Wasn’t Aunt Brooklyn there? She can tell us what really happened.”

“This conversation is over,” my dad said.

“But...”

“Scarlett,” he said. In that tone that meant I was toeing the line of being grounded.

I sighed.

Uncle Rob laughed. “Homecoming. Those days were the best. Maybe we should all sign up to chaperone the dance this weekend.”

“Can you please not?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine all my uncles being there. That would be so awkward. I had so many people I had to dance with. And if they were there that would look very suspicious since they all thought Jacob was my real boyfriend.

“I’m already signed up to be a chaperone,” my dad said.

“WHAT?!”

“Yeah, I’ll be there. Did I not tell you that?”

“No, you definitely didn’t tell me that,” I said.

Liam just laughed. As if my father wasn’t ruining his life too.

Uncle Rob laughed too. “Well, I was just kidding. Boundaries, man.”

“Well, I remembered my homecoming senior year,” my dad said. “I want to make sure the kids stay safe.”

So now his homecoming wasn’t safe? I knew I was still missing a lot of details here.

“Homecoming sounds like it’ll be fun this year,” said Henley. “Sophie, do you want to go with me?”

“Sorry, I’m already going with Axel,” she said.

“Freaking Axel,” Henley muttered.

“Touchdown!” Uncle Tyler yelled.

My mom and Axel cheered too.

Everyone else groaned as the Eagles took the lead.

“Henley’s right,” Jacob said. “This should be fun.”

I looked up at him. “I don’t think so. And what is he even still doing here?” I whispered.

Jacob laughed and put his arm around my shoulders. He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “It’ll be fine. I’m sure your dad won’t be watching you every second. He trusts me to keep you safe.”

“Then why did he sign up to be a chaperone?”

“He probably did it before we started dating.”

I sighed. “Yeah. I guess.” But this definitely would make it harder to do all the dancing I needed to do. Especially with Mr. Halifax. What would my dad think about me dancing with one of his colleagues? That was not supposed to be part of the equation.

Jacob cleared his throat. “Speaking of dating...”

I looked up at him.

“When did you want to practice third base again?”

“Jacob Miller. Are you propositioning me for sexual favors?” I whispered.

“I’m just trying to help you out.”

I laughed. “Sure. I think you loved it.”

He smiled. “I think you loved it.”

“I did not love my nose being on fire. ”

He laughed. “Which is why we should try it again. How about tomorrow after practice?”

I shrugged. “Sure.” But I was internally screaming. The fact that he was asking me had to mean something, right?

“You two make such a cute couple,” Aunt Ash said. “I’m dying to know how this whole thing happened.”

“Yeah, tell us the whole story, grandson,” Mr. Tanner said.

Ah! They were the last people that we could tell Jacob’s crazy fabricated tale to.

“Go head,” Jacob said. “How about you tell everyone the story?”

It seemed like everyone had turned in our direction.

Including Axel. Who we’d told the fake story to.

So we couldn’t change it now... And I swear Axel looked entertained.

Like he knew the whole story was a lie. Even though I knew that he couldn’t possibly know that.

My head was scrambled. I hated all these lies.

“It all started with spiked lemonade,” Jacob said. “But I won’t steal the show. Scarlett loves telling this story.”

Traitor! “I actually need to use the bathroom real quick.” I ducked out from under Jacob’s arm and practically sprinted out of the room.

“Didn’t she have a bathroom emergency earlier?” I heard Aunt Bee ask as I ran away. “I hope she’s alright.”

It was better for her to think my stomach was sour than for her to know my whole relationship was a sham.

But...was it? Because Jacob seemed awfully eager to hang out with me tomorrow after practice. And I was looking forward to it too.