Page 40 of Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore

Penny: November 15th.

Me: Okay. Let’s wait until then.

Penny: Right, so we do this through the Fall Ball. Then, since all the fall activities will be over, and everyone basically hibernates in the winter, we can just be seen out and about less. After Christmas, we’ll quietly let everyone know we decided to go back to being friends.

I scowl at the words even as I force myself to agree.

Me: Deal. If my mother has her way, I’ll be back in New York by winter anyway.

Penny: Oh. Okay. Well, I guess I better get started on some lesson plans.

Me: Why does that sound so sexy?

Penny: LOL. No one is monitoring our texts Monty. You don’t have to fake flirt with me now.

Who said anything about faking? But I don’t push it.

Me: I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Chapter 15

Penny

Saturdays in small-town New England during fall mean one thing: football. Though I never played sports, or even tried out for the cheerleading squad, I love this tradition as much as everyone else in Hope Harbor. There’s something about the camaraderie of cheering on our neighbors. I also love the spiced apple cider, hot chocolate, and cinnamon churros that are served at every game. Okay, they’re my favorite part; my mouth is already watering.

Standing in front of my closet at home, I pick out a short-sleeve shirt in the golden color that represents our town and pair it with black jeans. Then, with gold face paint, I add a little firefly—the town mascot—to my cheek. A touch of mascara, some clear gloss, and after running my fingers through my bangs and teasing each section of my thick braid to make it look purposefully messy, I’m ready for an Instagram post.

I never show my face in the photos I upload to the page. My bangs have made appearances, but I normally cover the rest of me with a book.

Today, I hold up my favorite fake-dating romance. It involves a hockey goalie who convinces his best friend to pretend to date him so she can get revenge on her cheating boyfriend—who also happens to be his coach.

He calls her pumpkin because it’s her favorite fall flavor—just like mine—which means it’s the best book in the series.

I position the book so that only my cheek is showing and snap the pic. After hopping into the Instagram app, I blur the background and pick the golden filter before typing out my caption.

apennyforyourbooks: Living out my own romcom. Guess who got herself her very own book boyfriend.

Excited, I hit post and set the book down. Today is day one of convincing the residents of Hope Harbor that Monty and I are a real couple. And it’s also Monty’s first lesson. I spent far too much time over the past few days creating a list of the things Monty needs to know so that he can write the perfect romantic hero. I even included examples from my favorite books and book recommendations for him.

It’s probably overkill but it’s better than thinking about the actual fake-dating portion of this deal.

Because that also starts today.

***

Tally: Hi, hello, it’s me, your sister. You know the one you’ve been avoiding for the last few days. I want the dirt and I want it NOW!

I choke on a laugh. She’s not wrong, I am avoiding her. Only because I’m still not sure how the hell this is going to work. I need to see Monty and how he acts before I figure out how I’m going to play this with everyone else.

Me: I’m not hiding or avoiding you. I’ve been busy. But I just got to the game so I’ll see you soon. Monty’s coming. Don’t act weird.

The sound of the trumpets blaring “Tequila” by the Champs floats across the parking lot as I get out of my car. Glittering gold-and-black writing welcomes me to the first Hope Harbor Fireflies game of the season. The autumn sun warms my skin as I walk toward the field, which is already teeming with people: players, coaches, and cheerleaders mill about, as do parents and other students. The redbrick high school building is set back from the field and the entire area is surrounded by large oak trees whose green leaves are starting to transform into a burnt orange.

As the season progresses, firepits will be set up by the trees to keep crowds warm during the game, but today, that isn’t necessary since it’s a balmy sixty-eight. Perfect weather for an afternoon football game.

My first stop will be the food tent, where I know my mother is working with some of the other Liberty Ladies.

Even if I didn’t know where they set up every time, the smell of cinnamon and sugar would lead me there. And the scent of popcorn—I’d forgotten how they always salt it to perfection for each game.