Writing the Rules: A Fake Dating Standalone Mariah Dietz (best novels to read .txt) 📖

We pull up to the store, and I leave the engine running as I look at Poppy, realizing she’s been an integral part of my life, seeing me through so many milestones. My first and last high school games. When I found out I was accepted to Brighton on a full athletic scholarship, and then my first college game. When I learned my dad was having an affair and so many other moments, she witnessed and experienced where I overlooked the significance of her presence.

Poppy stares at me, tucking her dark red hair behind an ear. “I’ll be right back.” She opens the car door and slides out of the car as the realization hits me like an eighteen-wheeler that this lie feels like the most honest and authentic part of my life.

21

Poppy

“Friendsgiving is now officially my favorite holiday,” Raegan says as I drive home with her in my passenger seat. “Tonight was so much fun. We need to do this more often. The games, the food, the conversation—it was just so much fun. I much preferred doing this to a college party.”

It was fun—too fun. It was comfortable and easy, and everyone got along so well without the constant need to impress anyone or act jealous or offended. The problem was that as good as it felt, it also felt like a taunting reminder that I was an outsider as I realized my invitation was because they all think I’m dating Paxton.

“You and Pax were killing it in Catch Phrase,” Rae continues. “Poor Nessie. She was ready to strangle Cooper.”

“He was the opposite of MVP tonight,” I say.

“Without a single doubt,” Rae says, scrolling through her phone. “Okay, let’s talk details for the road trip this weekend. I know we haven’t had a lot of time to talk about it. I know we talked about driving, but the Snoqualmie Pass is supposed to get snow, so I was thinking we should maybe fly. It’s only a thirty-minute flight. The only drawback is that we won’t have a car while we’re there, but I don’t think we’re going to go anywhere besides the hotel and the stadium.”

I glance at Rae, wondering if this conversation seems strange to her when everything about it feels unbalanced to me. She’s on her phone, which is probably for the best. She’d likely feel my nerves and know something’s wrong otherwise. “How do these trips go?” I ask. “I mean, do you stay in the same hotel as the team? Are people going to think it’s weird if I get my own room?”

Raegan shakes her head. “The team has rooms booked in pairs, so no one is going to think anything about you having your own room.”

I wait for relief to lighten my mood and make this feel like a mini adventure after claiming that’s what I’ve been wanting, but the emotion that has my shoulders sinking feels a little too much like disappointment, and I don’t want to entertain the idea or reasons, so I simply nod.

“Here’s a flight that would get us there on Friday night at seven, and then we could leave Saturday night at ten, which is probably the same time the guys are going to be leaving on their private jet. Or we could go a little earlier on Friday and just have some girl time at the hotel. Maybe we’ll be close enough to do something in Spokane?”

“I’m up for whatever. I have a class in the morning and one in the afternoon, but I could skip it.”

“Are you sure?”

I nod. “The professor’s never there, and his TA doesn’t take attendance. Everything’s online.”

“Want to leave at one?”

I nod, excitement drowning my jitters. “This will be fun!”

“Poppy!” Dominic greets me by name as I enter Mario’s Pizzeria. I’m beginning to think the guy sleeps here because he’s literally always here. Rae and I have stopped in a few times to pick up dinner, and he was here every time. “You want something to eat or drink while you wait for Paxton?”

“I’m here,” Pax says, coming through the doorway behind me.

“You were almost late,” Dominic tells him.

Paxton saunters over to me, and my heart begins its descent like a skydiver. These moments always leave me second-guessing because though we agreed to kiss and act like a couple while in public, we usually don’t share much affection while here. This is a neutral zone where we talk and study. Pax stops when he’s just inches from me the full impact of his smile and attention somehow still more distracting than any kiss. “How’s your day going?” he asks.

“Garlic knots always make it a great day,” I say with a smile as I move to take a seat at our table.

Paxton follows me, stopping on the opposite side, his blue eyes nearly as hypnotic as his grin. “Garlic knots mean seeing me, so I’ll take that as a compliment.” His smile turns devious, like he’s teasing me. It’s moments like this that keep me up at night, working to decipher if he’s flirting with me or just joking around.

I laugh, and the sound is equally confusing. I’m no longer certain if I’m flirting or not either. “Are you ready for the last game of the season this weekend?”

Pax nods. “I’m not too worried about this game, but it’s insane that college football is nearly over.” He pulls up his sleeves and sets both hands on the table, eating the space between us so that there’s only a couple of inches. He could easily cross that distance but doesn’t. Paxton’s forearms are wide, his muscles and veins each visible like the constellation guides Chloe had shown us this past weekend during Friendsgiving. I trace over several of the patterns on his arms and wrists and then his hands, which are relaxed, his fingers loosely woven. I’ve always paid too much attention to people’s hands. Maybe that’s because here in