“Really? Fuck. I should’ve paid more attention in English class.”
“On second thought,” he says, “youarepretty tragic. Let’s stick with Romeo.”
“Fuck you.”
He chuckles. “So what are you going to tell the rest of the guys about the date? You need to respond to the team text chain eventually.”
“I’ll tell them the truth. We had a nice dinner, then I dropped her off at home and kissed her goodnight.”
He groans. “Boring. At the very least you need to tell them about the wine. I bet you paid more for it than that piece of junk Fig drives.”
I think a moment. “Any suggestions on what I should say? I need just enough to appease them without telling them too much.” I pause before adding, “And I need to have a little conversation with the rookies.”
“I’ll help you with that conversation,” he says. “Please tell me we were never that bad when we were that age.”
I sigh. “I’m not sure about you, but I was probably worse.”
I hear his sigh as well. “Yeah. Me too. Thank God we’re older and wiser now.”
I chuckle. “By the way, is all still quiet on the Kingston front?”
“Yeah, it doesn’t look like he’s interested in Gray,” he says. “I brought her up casually around him earlier today, and he more-or-less ignored me.If he was interested, he would’ve made a move at the club.”
“He was focused on that puck bunny,” I say, playing devil’s advocate.
“And you don’t think he would’ve taken them both back to his place?” Kelsier asks.
“Touché.”
A small part of me is almost angry Kingston doesn’t consider Gray worthy of his attention, but the larger, saner part is relieved he doesn’t want her. Because fuck keeping the goalie happy. I’m not giving her up, even if Kingson implodes and it costs us the rest of the season.
Chapter 19
Ash
I feel like I’m flying rather than skating the next day at practice. Gray is in the stands watching, and I can do no wrong. Every shot I take finds the back of the net, and I weave in and out of players like I’m on the highway in the middle of a high-speed chase.
Kelsier and I have also checked the shit out of the two rookies who were the rudest on the team text chain, and I think they got the message.
If only I could play this way during games. Somewhere along the way I let the chirping get to me, and I need to find a way back to that Zen I used to have whenever I stepped onto the ice.
Oddly enough, this fake dating thing with Gray has given me a sort of peace. To be sure, I’m sexually frustrated as hell, but the idea that she and I have to spend time together to sell the dating story makes me stupidly happy. I’d almost consider Kelsier’s suggestion we date for real, except that I’m not sure how Kaladin would take it. He’s paying Gray to help me play, not date me.
Gray is waiting by the door to the locker room when I exit after practice, freshly showered, and I swear I see her run her eyes up and down my body.
I know now she’s attracted to me. The way she reacted at the club and her flirting at dinner last night confirmed it. She’s holding back for some reason, but I can work with that.
“Hey,” I say, smiling at her. I pull her gently against me and press a soft kiss on her lips.
All the guys know about the fake dating ploy, so we’re not foolinganyone here, but I don’t care. Call me a method actor. I just think staying in character is the safest bet.
Plus it conveniently lets me touch and kiss Gray whenever I want.
Gray let’s out a soft “Oh” when I pull back.
“You never know who could be watching,” I say. “Best to be safe.”
“Right,” she says, although she sounds unconvinced.
