“That depends,” I tell her. “Give me a little spin, and I’ll let you know.”

“When did you turn into a pig?” she scoffs.

“The day you left.”

The soft fall of Parker’s face is something I know is going to stay with me even though I never want to see it again.

“Parker,” I begin. “I’ve got a million reasons why I can’t do this, and none of them are you.”

I hate that I have to lie. Parker is the only reason I can’t do this. I spent my whole life pretending I didn’t love her even long after she disappeared. And now, after returning like a ghost, she’s asking me to pretend to love her until death do us part.

Or until she flees again.

I’m struck by all the regret I felt back before Parker even left while she struggled, and long after she was gone.

I swallow. “But maybe I only need one reason to do it.”

Even against myself, I’m a competitive guy. I take detailed notes of the smile that blooms across her face, vowing to make it appear again and again, each time bigger and better than before.

“Us pretending to be married…” I lean against the counter only because in this small excuse for a kitchen I have nowhere to go. Parker is so close I’m one heavy exhale away from pressing my middle to hers. “It’s going to take some serious work.”

Like always, I try to give her an out from this wild idea. But this isn’t breaking onto school grounds or sneaking into a movie we shouldn’t be seeing. This is faking a marriage while her father is the president.

“You pump fakes for a living, Fitzy. I’m just asking you to read from a different playbook.”

And then it hits me. Parker might think we’re calling one play, but maybe, I can run another—the quarterback sneak. I can be the fake husband she wants while proving that maybe, I’m really the man for her after all.

“Fuck it. I’ll do it.”

Parker’s mouth opens with a gasp that isn’t even halfway out of her mouth before she leaps at me.

I slip my arms around her while hers tighten around my neck. “I’m warning you in advance. I probably won’t be able to top this gift next year.”

But I love a challenge, I think to myself. I’m sure as hell going to try.

Parker smiles, sighing as she slides back down onto the ground. “This is the best one yet. Way better than that one at the roller rink when I turned ten.”