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She blinked

"Your fictional husband Your real-life boyfriend"

"My … you roaned She slid her hands into her hair, clutching her head like it ached "He is not my boyfriend"

"Oh, really?" I crossed my arms and sat back to listen to this one

"Have you ever seen us holding hands? On a date? A real, official date that wasn’t church-sanctioned or a school event? No, you haven’t Because we’ve never been on one"

"Then what’s the deal?"

"I’irlfriend"

I alirlfriend?"

"She’s a very nice, liberal, feminist Christian named Ellie froo"

"Do they make liberal feminist Christians?"

Gracie rolled her eyes "They make all kinds"

I understood why Shelby would need to use Gracie as an alibi The father of a good old Southern boy would lose his mind if his son dated someone from New Jersey, let alone a liberal feminist from New Jersey

"If you’re just a cover, why is he so protective? Protective to the point of being an ass"--I quickly corrected myself--"mean to anyone who looks at you?"

"He feels brotherly towarda volunteer bedazzle the gift box that held the myrrh for baby Jesus "What’s Shelby ever done to you, anyway? I know he’s a football player, but he’s not a stereotype He’s not cornering you in the bathrooies, is he?"

I shook my head

"Does he stuff you in lockers? Duct tape you to flagpoles? Put Bengay in your jock … er … yeah That kind of thing?"

I grinned "You’re cute when you blush"

"Don’t change the subject" She was forcing herself to keep her eyes on mine "Why don’t you like Shelby?"

The conversation had coh to the end "The fact that he had you seeh"

"Oh"

I stared at her foa in the roo if I asked you out, your father wouldn’t exactly be okay with that I’m not a liberal feher"

"Have you forgotten that Dad went to court for you?"

Look at the wootten But there’s a big difference between bailing sohter date the troublemaker"