“Mm,” was all Georgia said.
“Yeah. Okay. It’s not the perfect plan, but it’ll be fine.”
“I get why you lied to your sister. But are you sure you should leave Frasier in the dark?”
“I don’t want to complicate things.”
She barked out a laugh. “Not complicate things. Yeah. Right.”
“Come on,” I said. “You know if I told him the truth, he would’ve felt obligated to go with me.”
“When it comes to you, I’m pretty sure that man would say yes to anything.”
That wasn’t true, was it? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Frasier would do anything for me. And I would do anything for him. Because we were friends.
Georgia and I continued perusing the clothing racks, and I hoped that was the end of it.
“At least you picked a good one for your first—and hopefully only—fake relationship since Derek.”
I laughed, feeling lighter. “Fake, one-sided relationship. Do you think I’m pathetic?”
“No.” Her tone was firm. “I think you did what you had to do to protect yourself.” My shoulders relaxed. “And I’m sure Frasier would understand if you told him.”
Was that a not-so-subtle push to fess up?
I hung my head. “I’m sure you’re right, but he’s already doing so much for me. I just need to tell Allie the truth.” I straightened, resolved. “Iwilltell Allie the truth.” Before this gets even more out of hand.
“Sometimes I still don’t understand how Frasier’s single. You’ve seen what he looks like under the mountain-man aesthetic he’s currently sporting, right?” she asked. “Because I have. And Frasier is a total hottie.”
My sternum burned, and I wondered if you could get heartburn from oatmeal with a banana. I pressed my lips flat.
I had no reason to be jealous. Not that I was. Georgia was the team’s official hair stylist, and she sometimes traveled with the Hawks to away games. Considering how much she loved to change her own color and style, it surprised me that she’d taken a job cutting men’s hair. But she often used the off-season to take on other clients.
“I’ve known him since college, remember?” I’d watched him grow into the man he was today. “And besides, I thought you weren’t into hockey players.”
She wasn’t interested in Frasier; I knew that. But her words had certainly provoked a strong reaction in me.
“I’m not,” she said in a firm tone. “And even if I were, my brother would never allow it.”
One of Georgia’s older brothers, Daniel, was the general manager for the Hawks, one of the youngest in the league. Overprotective. A tad overbearing. A shark in business, but a softy when it came to his sister.
“So you’re not attracted to him. Like, atall?” Georgia asked as I looked through the dress options.
I kept my eyes firmly trained on the dresses in front of me. “He’s an attractive man. Objectively speaking,” I added.
Who was I kidding? Frasier was hot.
“Iknow he’s attractive.” She wagged her finger at me. “The entire world can see how attractive he is. But I asked ifyouwere attracted to him.”
I shrugged, returning my attention to the clothes and hoping Georgia would do the same. But I could feel her watching me, practically bursting.
“Come on,” I huffed. “Out with it. I know you want to say something.” I knew Georgia well enough to suspect she had something on her mind.
“You know why your sister didn’t question this surprise relationship with Frasier, right?” she asked.
“Because she wants it to be real.”
“Maybe, but you and Frasier have good chem. Are you sure you both want to be just friends?” Her amber eyes bored into mine.
