"We should—we have rules. Rule four specifically."
"I remember the rules."
"Good. Because if we break them, this whole thing gets complicated."
"It's already complicated."
"More complicated," I correct, and somehow my hands have found their way into his hair. "If we cross that line, we can't uncross it."
"I know." His hand tightens slightly on my waist. "So we won't cross it."
"We won't."
"We're just practicing."
"Exactly. Very professional practicing."
The moment stretches. We're frozen in this moment, close enough to kiss but not kissing, wanting but not taking, and I can feel my resolve crumbling with every second that passes.
Then Marnie clears her throat loudly from three tables over.
We jump apart like teenagers caught making out by parents, and I immediately busy myself with my coffee that I don't needmore of. Ryder's neck is flushed, and he's very deliberately not looking at me.
"That was—" I start.
"Practice," he finishes firmly. "Just practice."
"Right. Very convincing practice. I'm sure everyone totally believed we were a real couple just now."
"That's the goal."
"Mission accomplished, then." I grab my phone, needing something to do with my shaky hands. "So. We've got our story, basic hockey knowledge, and apparently we can do the whole 'almost kissing in public' thing convincingly. What else?"
"Social media rollout." He grimaces slightly. "Preston sent me a strategy document. At 6 AM."
"Of course he did." I pull up my Instagram, stomach twisting. "We should probably post something. Make it official."
"What do we post?"
"A soft launch. Nothing too obvious. Just—" I hold up my phone, angling it to capture both of us. "Smile, Lockwood."
"I don't smile for cameras."
"You're about to." I lean in, and he automatically shifts closer, his arm coming around my shoulders. I snap three quick photos, reviewing them.
In the photos, we look—we look real. His arm around me, my head tilted toward him, both of us caught mid-laugh about something. You can't tell we were arguing about smiling. You can't see the rules or the business arrangement or any of it.
We just look happy.
"These are good," I say quietly.
He leans over to see, and his jaw tightens, then relaxes. "Yeah. They are."
I select the best one and start crafting a caption. Something casual. Authentic. Real.
Morning coffee hits different with good company. #AshwoodFalls #NewBeginnings
Simple. Minimal. Just enough to confirm without being too obvious.
