“Any word from lover-girl?” Kasey asks, tossing a handful of popcorn into her mouth.

I glance up from my cell to where she’s laid out on my couch in a pair of baggy-ass sweats and a hoodie. “Not gonna lie, I had my doubts about your plan, and while Azalea hasn’t outright admitted she’s jealous or that she still wants me, it’s been clear in those pretty green eyes of hers every time she’s seen us together.”

“Oh my God, right? Her cheeks get all pink and her eyes get glassy. Not trying to be mean, but it’s pure gold watching her fight her feelings and the urge to tear you a new one for flaunting me around.” Kasey laughs, but I struggle to see the humor.

For almost two weeks now, we’ve been playing cat and canary with Azalea, thanks to Myla Rose giving me the inside scoop. I hated putting her in that position—betraying her best friend’s trust—but now that Myles has Cash and Brody, she’s all about everyone getting their own happily ever after, and she’s hardcore Team Drazzy, so she begrudgingly agreed to help us once I told her our plan.

That’s not to say she warmed right up to Kasey either.

Hell. No.

She downright interrogated her, like a dad with his daughter’s prom date. “What are your intentions with our friend?” she asked, dead-fucking-serious. It was awkward, but so worth it when she and Kasey shook hands and parted on good terms. Not sure if they’ll ever be friends, but I can hope, because on the real . . . Kasey’s a cool chick.

“So, do you know her plans for this weekend?” Kasey asks, kicking her feet up onto my coffee table.

“Nah, no word yet. Simon might have everyone over. You think you can handle the entire group at once?”

“That depends, Drake. Are they gonna all gang up on me like catty bitches?” She quirks her brow, emphasizing her point.

“Well, you already know Myla Rose and Cash like you, now that they know what we’re really doing. And Magnolia’s so damn shy she’s about scared of her own shadow. Simon generally likes everyone. Seraphine and Azalea, though . . . I’m not so sure.”

“Then count me in. Now, shut up so we can watch the game.”

* * *

I lift my fist to knock on Kasey’s front door, but it swings open before I can make contact. “Do I look okay?” Kasey asks, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Sliding my eyes down her body, I take in her thick navy sweater and torn-up jeans with a pair of bright red Chucks on her feet. “Yup, you look fine,” I tell her, causing her to punch me in the shoulder. “Ow, woman! What the hell?”

“Were you this clueless with Azalea?” she demands to know, and I sputter. “Because lemme tell you, buddy, if you were—it was probably part of the problem.”

“I . . . Um—”

“Yeah, thought so. C’mon, let’s go. Pro tip. Try and act like you’re crazy attracted to me, or our plan won’t work.”

“Kase, I got this,” I tell her as she hefts herself up and into my truck.

“Ooh, look at us, nicknames already.”

The drive to Simon’s passes in a flash, and my once-confident exterior begins to crumble the minute I spot Azalea’s little death-trap parked in the driveway. Sensing my distress, Kasey nudges my shoulder and asks, “You okay, dude?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m good. It’s just that every time we’ve ‘ran into’ her, it’s been in a public place. A controlled environment, where we all just sort of existed next to one another—lots of looking, very little talking. Here, there’ll be no barriers or walls or anything.”

“It’ll be fine, Drake. Hell, maybe this’ll light a fire under her ass and get her back into your arms.”

I sure hope so, because damn, I’m not sure how much longer I can faux-date Kasey. Sure, she’s cute as hell and sweet, but hugging on her and being affectionate with her is about like cozying up to one of the guys. Hard pass.

I lead Kasey through the back gate to Simon’s huge deck. During our long Alabama summers, he has a badass mist system to keep it cool, and during our brief winters, he has a few strategically placed space heaters to keep it nice and toasty.

“Wow, this is amazing!” Kasey squeals, taking in the Christmas lights dangling from the beams of the pergola covering the shaded part of the deck.

“You don’t even know,” Myla Rose says, walking over to us with Brody on her hip. “This place was a dump, growing up. His daddy just about let it rot to shambles, and Simon worked his ass off every chance he got to make it what it is.”

“It’s . . . wow. Just wow.”

“Glad you like it,” Simon states plainly as he walks up to us. “And you are . . .?”

“Kasey Bonds.” She extends her hand toward him. “Drake’s date.”

“Christ Almighty,” he mutters under his breath before shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you, Kasey,” he says before turning narrowed eyes to me. “I hope you know what you’re doing, brother.”

Kasey swings her eyes between Myla Rose and me. “Well, that was awkward.”

Myla Rose reaches out and pats her twice on the shoulder. “Oh, honey, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

Together, the three of us make our way to where the rest of our little group is congregated around Simon’s big barrel fire pit. It’s like something you’d see a homeless dude using in a big city alleyway, but it sure is warm.

“Lookie what the cat drug in!” Myla Rose calls out as we approach, causing everyone to turn and look at us.

Four sets of eyes blink back at us—Cash’s crinkled at the corners in amusement and Simon’s narrowed under his heavy brows. Magnolia’s are more focused on her lap than on us, but occasionally, they flit up to Kasey and me. Azalea’s eyes, though—they burn. They’re filled with hurt and longing and fire, a deadly combination if there ever were one.

“Hi, y’all,” Kasey says with a weird-as-fuck curtsy.

“Hey there, girl, long time no see,” Cash calls out, trying to show that he knows her and that he’s cool with her. Probably hoping it’ll help the rest of the group warm up to her as well.

It has the complete opposite reaction though. Azalea cuts her eyes to him, directing the full force of her anger his way. “You know her?”

“Yup. Met her when Drake brought her to the house for dinner a while ago.”

Azalea balks. “I’m sorry, what?”

Myla Rose glares at her well-meaning husband before rushing over to her best friend. “AzzyJo, take a breath.”

“I. Will. Not.”

“You will. C’mon, let’s go inside real quick.” Using the hand that isn’t holding Brody to her, she grabs Azalea and helps her stand, ushering her through the back door.

With my hand pressed to the small of Kasey’s back, I steer her toward an open two-seater chair, snuggling her into my side. “Well, looks like tonight’ll be a good time.”

“Not to tell you how to run your life, but you could’ve went about this shit better.”

“Listen . . . Simon, is it?” Kasey says, shifting to face him. “What you think is happening, isn’t. Drake is more like a brother to me than anything else. So sit back, hush up, and let us go about our business. We don’t need any kinks in our plans.”

I can see the second her words click in his brain. He shakes his head, muffling his laughter with his fist. “You sly dog. Better be smart, though. Push too hard and you’ll lose that girl for good.”

“Trust me, I’ve got this,” Kasey rebuts, settling back into me.

“Don’t y–you think that you should just be hon–honest?” Magnolia asks quietly to no one in particular, but it’s obvious the question’s directed at me.

“I think,” I reply, pausing to carefully choose my words, “that we’ve spent so much time bullshitting and pussyfootin’ that we pushed ourselves past the point of honesty. But, I’m hoping like hell that this last little deception will get us there.”

Magnolia heaves out a weighted sigh. “A foundation built on lies is quick to crumble.”

I’m about to argue my point further when the back door flings open, and the girls, with Brody now in Azalea’s arms, make their way over to us. Azalea lowers herself into the chair furthest from where we’re sitting. Guess it’s gonna be like that.