I set my cutlery down. “Mom, Dad, there’s something I need to tell you. We aren’t actually—”
“Going to be here during bye week.” Tally cut me off. “Because Alec is coming to Lake’s wedding in Hawaii with me.”
I frowned at her. I’d been about to give her a way out. Why had she stopped me?
But she didn’t make eye contact, just sliced into her steak after jabbing her fork into a juicy piece of it.
“What a perfect way to spend the break,” Mom exclaimed.
“Just make sure not to let your training slip,” Dad added, his tone implying that he was being one hundred percent serious for once.
“I won’t.” I’d worked too hard to earn my place on the team to lose it over a measly few days off.
“Speaking of hockey,” he continued, pointing the tip of his knife at me. “Let’s talk about that righteous goal you scored today.”
The conversation shifted away from our supposed new relationship to focus on the game we all loved. Dad had opinions as always, and I listened to them with a grain of salt because while he was undoubtedly a legend, he’d also played in a different time—and a different position. Some things he said would be helpful, and others, less so.
Once we’d finished eating, Tally started clearing the dishes away.
“I’ll help,” I said, rising to my feet.
“No, no, I’ve got it,” Mom said, sending Dad a meaningful look and nudging him with her elbow. “You can clean up next time.”
I frowned. Clearly, something was going on.
I waited as Mom got up to help Tally. When Dad and I were alone, he leaned across the table, resting on his forearms.
“I’m glad you and Tally are giving this thing a shot.” He kept his voice low, so they wouldn’t hear him from the kitchen. “We really think she’s the girl for you; no pressure, but we’d love to have her as a daughter-in-law.”
The knife blade of guilt twisted again. I should admit the truth, but he looked so earnest and I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
When Mom and Tally returned, Mom and Dad exchanged the kind of speaking glance only people who knew each other inside out could. She tilted her head slightly toward me and he responded with the faintest of nods, then checked his watch and said they’d better get home before they turned into pumpkins.
“Do you need a ride back to your apartment?” Mom asked Tally as she fished the car keys from her pocket and twirled them around her finger.
Tally glanced at me. “No, thanks, Mrs. W. I brought my car over earlier. It’s parked down the block.”
Dad waggled his eyebrows. Mom looked delighted.
We walked them to the door and I watched as they got into their car and drove away, wishing that I could stand on the porch all night, where Tally wouldn’t be able to lay into me. Eventually, I closed the door and turned to face my fate.
Her arms were crossed over her chest, her foot tapping impatiently, and she gave me the evil eye. “Why did you make them think we’re together for real?”
“I didn’t mean to.” My cheeks were hot, and I had no doubt they were blazing red. I had the kind of complexion that showed my blushes easily. “I was trying to explain when you came back in, and they leapt to conclusions.”
“And you didn’t correct them because…?”
I shrunk under her glare. “They seemed so happy, and I didn’t want to ruin it.”
She sighed, and her arms dropped to her sides. “I don’t like lying to them, but they did seem really pleased.”
“Weirdly so, right?” I asked, scratching the back of my head.
She nodded and her gaze raked down my body as if she were evaluating me, wondering what made my parents think we’d be the “perfect couple”.
I drew in a lungful of air. “I hate to ask, but do you mind just going along with it for a little while?”
She nodded again. “If I minded, I’d have let you set the record straight when you tried to during dinner.” She shifted her weight from one leg to the other, the curve of her hip popping out and drawing my gaze. “Let’s just do what we can to make this as painless as possible.”
