“He needs to be genuine.” He points his barbecue-covered spoon at me. “He needs to be a part of the town. He needs to try to fit in.”
I nod. “It will just take a little time.”
“Yeah, well, we don’t have a lot of that,” Bruce says, going back to stirring.
No. No, we don’t.
I turn back to my friends. “I need to tell you something,” I say, letting the kitchen door swing shut behind me.
I need to tell them what is going on with me and Alex. We can’t let the town find out we’re faking our relationship, but I also can’t let my best friends think this is real. And I need to tell them before they see us together. They’ll hear about that within about ten minutes of my smiling at him.
I lean my forearms onto the counter across from where Everly, Thea, and Andi are sitting. Ruth has gone back into the kitchen with Bruce. I glance around to be sure no one else is close.
“Alex and I are dating. Pretending to. So that the town will give him a second chance and focus on hockey and the Revelers instead of making him miserable for what happened with Harley.”
They let that sink in.
Thea nods. “That makes sense.”
“It does?” I ask.
“Sure. Everyone loves you. If you love him, they’ll all love him.”
I groan. “It’s notlove.”
“You know what I mean.”
Everly grins. “Good for you jumping onthatopportunity.”
I smile. That’s Everly. She’s always telling me that I should go out withsomeonefor no other reason than to scratch a few horny itches.“It was Astrid’s idea.”
“You didn’t fight it too hard, I hope,” Everly says. “You’re a smart girl. Take a good deal when you see it.”
Did I fight it at all? I think I said something about it being crazy, but I really mostly remember my thoughts spinning and my body feeling really hot and thinking about how I would probably get to kiss him again.
I should not be this hung up on that one spontaneous kiss at the airport that wasn’t even a real kiss. I should deny that this is anything other than a PR stunt. There will be no itch-scratching or enjoyment.
But my brain instantly rejects that.
Why can’t I enjoy hanging out with Alex?
And I don’t like the word stunt. It’s a PRtactic. I’m not trying to fool anyone into thinking Alex is something he’s not. I do actually like Alex, and he’s going to be great for the team, and I think once people give him a chance, they’ll think he’s a good guy. So this is just a way to cut through the noise and make people shut up andlistento him. Get to know him. Want to come buy a ticket and watch some hockey. I’m not asking them for much. And I’mnottricking them into anything.
Plus, this will be good for Alex. His sister is here, but otherwise he’s alone in Rebel. I can be his personal welcoming committee.
Why that makes my stomach flip, and my cheeks heat, I’m not going to get into.
“You sure that’s a good idea?” Andi asks.
Andi is the most practical of all of us. She definitely no longer believes in true love. Not since her ex-husband cheated on her after emotionally and financially abusing her for five years. And she definitely doesn’t trust instalove, which is what this would have to be between Alex and me.
“I’m just getting to know him and helping him transition to living here and playing for this team. It’s pretty different for him.And in the process, we’ll actually be essentially dating. And if that helps the town give him a second chance, all the better.”
Yeah, that sounds good.
“Just be careful. I don’t want you to get your heart broken.”
I shake my head. “It’s not serious. It’s not evenreal.He’s already told me that he’s going back to Portland at the end of the season.”
