Risking It
(Fake Boyfriend Duet, Book 2)
By
Madeleine Labitan
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2020 by Madeleine Labitan
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The characters in this book are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COPYRIGHT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
EPILOGUE
SNEAK PEEK: FAKING IT
SAY ANYTHING
TRUTH OR DARE
BOOKS BY MADELEINE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CHAPTER 1
Indie and Gray are at it again—making out, that is. Their lips have been glued to each other for what feels like an hour now. Specifically, around the time the three of us arrived at this lake party.
And Indie promised we'd go swimming. Instead, my butt is stuck on a beach towel, longingly watching the water and the kids frolicking around in it.
“We promise not to make you feel like a third wheel this time,” they said. “It's going to be fun,” they said.
Liars, that's what they are.
It's been weeks since my best friend and my brother got together. The initial weirdness I felt about the whole thing had been quickly replaced by frustration. It's not that I don't appreciate that Indie is doing her best not to make me feel left out—like making sure to hang out with me every chance she gets—but in times like this, I can't help but feel that way.
The dynamic between the three of us has changed. Gray no longer owns the role of the third wheel—it’s mine now.
So, yeah, I’m kind of jealous. And maybe a little envious, too.
Because as much as it's frustrating that I constantly feel like a third wheel to the lovey-dovey couple, I want what they have for myself, too.
And I have a particular boy in mind for that.
Only said boy is currently in the water, making out with a girl who isn't me.
Duane Hollis.
My brother’s best friend, our neighbor, and the boy I grew up with.
He’s the reason why I summoned the courage to wear the two-piece bikini underneath this loose shirt. Because I want him to notice me. I want him to see me as more than his best friend's geeky sister. I want him to realize that I can be sexy, too.
I even let Indie gather my long light brown hair up into a messy tail—because according to her, it would give me a sensual look. She wanted me to put on contacts instead of glasses so my "gorgeous deep green eyes would pop." But since I have every intention of swimming in the lake, I refused.
But how can Duane take notice of my efforts when his attention is being monopolized by Heather Nielsen? Freaking Heather with her gorgeous blonde hair and equally gorgeous face and perfect body.
Seriously, she looks perfect. It’s the main reason why she’s one of the Four Blondes, a.k.a. the hottest and most popular clique in Maple Grove High.
At first, I thought she was nothing but a fling. Duane only ever had that, after all. Like my brother used to be, he’s not the type to get into serious relationships. Except maybe back in middle school when he dated Hannah Smithson for all of three months.
But it seems like Heather shares a similarity with Hannah. By “similarity,” I don’t just mean the first letter of their names. I’m also talking about the fact that she’s the only girl he’s been with for the past few weeks. And it seems to be getting more and more serious as days go by.
My hope of him ever noticing me is starting to obliterate.
The truth is I haven’t always felt this way toward Duane. My feelings for him started from being platonic...until it morphed into something more.
The day he stole my first kiss...
“What are you doing there, Beanie?”
Startled, I glance up from my art work, my gaze connecting with a pair of cerulean eyes.
It’s our neighbor Duane. He must be playing with Grayson in the backyard again because he looks sweaty and his dark blonde hair is plastered to his forehead. His Spider-Man shirt even has grass stains on it.
I scrunch up my nose at him. “You stink.”
“I do?” He raises his arm and smells his armpit. “Oh, well, I’m just gonna take a shower later.”
I make a face. Boys are gross.
“So, is that a hotdog?”
I blink at him from behind my glasses. “What?”
He points at my paper on the dining table. “Your drawing—is it a hotdog?”
A scowl breaks across my face. “It’s not a hotdog, dummy. It’s a caterpillar."
Yesterday, Ms. Miller tasked the whole class to draw the life cycle of a butterfly for our homework assignment. Even though it’s only Saturday, I’ve already decided to work on it. I don’t want to be like some of my classmates who love waiting until the last minute to finish their assignments. Like Tommy Brown who never does his homework at home. I don’t want to be like him—I want to be a perfect student.
"Well, it looks like a hotdog to me," Duane laughs and pulls out the chair next to me, flopping down on it. "Here, let me help you."
I roll my eyes, but slide the paper toward him. "Fine. Do it yourself."
"Oh, come on, Beanie. I'm just going to show you how it's done."
"Whatever. And stop calling me Beanie," I glower.
He started the stupid nickname on my seventh birthday when I started wearing a beanie. It’s been two years already and he hasn't stopped calling me that. Ugh.
Although, to his defense, I still wear one.
"It's done."
"That fast?" I gasp, impressed. But then I glance down to look at his work, and the scowl is instantly back on my face. "What is this?"
His drawing isn't even nowhere close to a caterpillar. It’s just a freaking stick figure with numerous hands sticking out on either side. Duane is just messing with me. Aaargh!
"Thanks for the help, Duane." Glaring at him, I grab the paper and crumple it in my hand.
"Any time, Beanie." He winks.
Ugh. He’s so annoying. Boys are so annoying.
The girls in my class always talk and giggle about boys. Honestly, I don’t see the big deal. Boys are both gross and annoying. Why would anyone put up with that?
With an eye-roll, I get up from the table to finish my assignment in my room where there isn't any obnoxious boy to bother me, but Duane grabs my hand to stop me.
"Wait. Uh, I have something to give you."
I fold my arms over my chest. "If it's another frog, I don't want it."
Weeks ago, he and my brother put a dead frog—which they'd found in the garden—on my bed to mess with me and my best friend, Indie, who came over to hang out. Indie and I had screamed so loud we got my mom's attention. She grounded Gray for a few days. It should have lasted a week.
"It's not, scout promise," he says, holding three fingers up. "But you have to close your eyes first."
I shake my head, my pigtails whipping my cheeks. "Then I really don't want it."
"Fine." His eyes gleam in that mischievous way
they always do. Then before I know it, he leans forward and presses his lips against mine.
My eyes are wide open, staring in shock at his closed ones. I freeze for a moment, so it takes me a couple seconds to push him away. I’m breathing fast, my fingers trembling on my lips as I gape at Duane. "Y-You kissed me!"
"Yep." He smirks then walks away like he didn't just turn my world upside down.
He never realized it, but that kiss had changed everything. It made me see him as more than the boy who loved getting into my nerves. Because of that kiss, I developed romantic feelings for Duane Hollis. Feelings that only seemed to grow over the years.
If only he knows.
But how will he know if you're doing squat about it?
Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I glance over at Indie and Gray—not even surprised to see them still wrapped up in each other.
Which means if I want to take a dip into the lake, I'll have to do it by myself.
"Fine," I grumble under my breath. Then with a deep breath and shaking fingers, I grip the hem of my shirt and pull it over my head.
Hoots and whistles ring out as I make my way toward the water, blushing hard from the attention I’m suddenly getting. I resist the urge to cover my chest, holding on to the confidence that I don’t have and mentally talking myself out of running back to where I came from.
It’s okay. You can do this.
“Looking good, Turner,” one of the guys by the dock hollers at me.
Cheeks reddening even more, I shoot a faint smile their way and wade into the water until it almost reaches my chest.
Now, what?
“Thought you’d never leave the lovebirds alone,” an amused voice says behind me.
I swing around to see Duane smirking at me. “Well, I thought they had plans to swim.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
I don’t respond to that. Instead, my eyes track the water dripping from his dark blonde mop of hair to his face and down to his bare shoulders and chest.
Duane is an athlete. Which means his body is toned and filled in all the right places. Which means I always try not to drool every time he sheds his clothes—despite the fact that most of his body is currently submerged in water.
It's his fault for looking so good.
Pink staining my cheeks, I clear my throat. "I know. That's why I'm here now."
"I'd ask if you want to try the rope swing, Beanie, but I don't think you're dressed up for it." His eyes flicker down to my chest for a split second before shifting them back to my face.
"I'll have you know," I huff, "I'm always up for the rope swing no matter what I wear."
Duane smirks. "Prove it then." Then he’s wading toward the rope swing at the dock, shooting a shit-eating grin over his shoulder at me.
I just shake my head and laugh, following after him. I still have a huge smile on my face when my eyes suddenly land on Heather Nielsen.
She's with her clique, but her eyes are on me. And she doesn't seem to look happy that I'm trailing after Duane.
In fact, she's glaring. Hard.
CHAPTER 2
I have to pee. I've been holding it in for the last hour. Mr. Radford, my AP History teacher, loves pop quizzes and his test questions are always based on his lecture, rarely relying on the book. Which means I can't afford to miss even a minute of it.
Thankfully, the stalls are all empty when I reach the girls' bathroom—I'm pretty sure I was the first one to get out of a classroom when the bell rang—so I quickly slip into one.
I just finished flushing and about to step out when a conversation starts outside. I'm not an eavesdropper, but the next words I hear stop me.
"Did you hear? Heather Nielsen just dumped Duane Hollis," the first female voice says.
My eyes pop wide. Did I hear it right? Heather has broken up with Duane? Heart thumping wildly in my chest, I press my ear to the stall door to listen closely.
"No way," a second voice gasps in disbelief. "I thought they were already getting serious."
That's what I thought, too. So why did Heather dump him? They were just together at the lake party last weekend, and they looked so sweet together. What changed?
“Maybe she caught him cheating.”
“Or she’s grown bored. Isn’t that the reason why she broke up with Mike Tanner?”
The girls continue to speculate and come up with other possible reasons while I impatiently eavesdrop. I want to get to the bottom of the whole thing, and listening to mere gossip won’t get me the answers I want. I need to get to the source.
Which means I need to find Duane and ask him myself.
Wait. Doesn’t he have lacrosse practice today? Guess I’ll have to wait for him to finish.
So that’s exactly what I do when the last period ends. I sit in my car in the parking lot for an hour, listening to The Runaways while I think about the conversation I’ve overheard.
Duane is officially single.
Heather is no longer in the picture.
All these years, I’ve always been on the sidelines, content with being his friend and keeping my feelings for him all to myself.
See, I've always been cautious and levelheaded. I'm known as the girl who doesn't take risks, preferring to stay on the safe side.
Well, I don’t want to do that anymore. I’ve wasted enough time living a safe and boring life. It’s time I take risks and get into crazy adventures.
Like letting Duane Hollis know how I feel, for starters.
And today’s a good day as any to tell him that. Maybe I'm being selfish and impulsive, but the last thing I want is for him to get into another "relationship" without knowing about my feelings. Besides, I have to seize the moment before I decide to chicken out.
Yeah, I can't give myself that chance.
Another hour later, I watch as Gray and Indie walk toward Gray's Jeep, holding hands and laughing about something. My best friend has been making a point to watch Gray practice—as if it's not enough that she's religiously present at the games.
Ugh. They look so cute together, it's not fair.
I'm thankful that my car is still sandwiched between two other cars so they don't notice me as they stroll past. Well, that, or they're too focused on each other to pay attention to their surroundings.
Still, I thank my lucky stars when Gray finally pulls out of the parking lot. And when I spot Duane coming out soon after, I hurriedly step out of my car with my bag slung over my shoulder.
He's staring down at his phone so he still hasn't noticed me.
Here goes nothing. "Hey, Duane."
He looks up from his phone with a slight frown. But the crease on his forehead disappears and a small smile forms on his lips when he sees me. "Beanie, hey. What are you still doing here?"
I shrug my shoulders casually. "I had to stay a little late in the library. Homework stuff." Liar. You're such a liar.
“Oh.”
“So, um, I heard something.” Way to start the conversation, Allie.
His smile disappears as he stiffens, an unreadable mask sliding in place. “What did you hear?”
His body language tells me his breakup with Heather is the last thing he wants to talk about. And something tells me he would be less thrilled to hear me blurting my feelings for him.
Forcing a smile, I say, “I just want to say that if you need to talk to someone, I’m just here.”
He stares at me for a long moment that it makes me want to squirm.
"Um, Duane?"
He lets out an audible breath. "Actually, Beanie, I need a favor."
I blink and push my glasses up my nose. "Um, sure. What can I do for you?"
"I want you to be my fake girlfriend."
*******
"Duane asked you to do what?" Indie's hazel eyes are flared wide as she gapes at me, almost dropping the baby pink nail polish onto the rug.
It reminds me of the reaction I had when she announced that her ex-boyf
riend, Brad McNeely, had dumped her. Which only happened, I don't know, over a month ago? Crazy that it feels like it's been longer.
"Careful," I blurt, motioning for her to hand me the nail polish.
What can I say? I'm a neat freak.
Smirking, she hands it over to me then rests her chin over her knees. "Tell me more about Duane's crazy idea."
Pushing up from my bed, I walk over to my dresser to put the nail polish down. Then lift an eyebrow at her. "You mean the same idea that made you ask for my brother's help?"
"That was different."
"Different how?"
"I wasn't secretly in love with Gray when I asked him to be my fake boyfriend."
I blink. Then blink again. "I-I'm sorry, what?"
Surely, she can't mean what I think she means. Indie might be my best friend, but there are still some things that I keep a secret from her—my real feelings for Duane being on top of those things.
Dread curls in my stomach. Did she somehow find out?
“I know you like Duane, Allie.”
Oh my God, she did. Suddenly, my knees feel like jelly. I walk back to my bed and flop down. “How did you find out?”
She gets up from the carpet and sits next to me. “You’re my best friend and I have eyes. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it’s embarrassing.” I groan and bury my face in my hands. “I did the most cliché thing. I fell for my brother’s best friend.”
Indie tucks a lock of hair behind my ear and tells me gently, “You can’t help who you fall for. You love who you love.”
I peek at her through my fingers. “Since when did you become philosophical?”
She just smiles, then turns serious a moment later. “So, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to help him.”
I was already tempted to say yes when Duane asked the question. But I was still having second thoughts then. Now, I’m a hundred percent sure that it’s what I want to do.
He's not just my brother's best friend, he's my friend, too. Which is why I can't leave him hanging.
Risking It (Fake Boyfriend Duet Book 2) Page 1