“Arizona wasn’t lying.” Alex turns her amused gaze toward me, hands on her hips. “You are a slob.”
I don’t have time to answer her because Mags is bending to clean up the tape, athletic wrap, and thawed ice pack scattered across the coffee table. I vault over the back of the couch, beating her to it.
“I got that, Mags.” With one broad hand, I sweep everything into my shirt, using it as a little pouch. “Please”—I snatch two discarded shirts and a Waves hoodie from the cushions and fluff a pillow for her—“make yourself at home.”
I’m vaguely aware of Alex unpacking the groceries as I whirl around like a human cyclone. When I finally reenter the small kitchen, she’s got a pot of water to boil and the oven preheating.
“I’m sorry.” I lean against the refrigerator, wiping my sweaty forehead with the back of my hand.
Alex’s lips twitch as she chops romaine for our salad. “Honestly? It’s kind of endearing. You’re so obnoxiously confident on the field. It’s nice to see you don’t have it all together.”
“Wait, did you just say something nice about me?”
“I wouldn’t get used to it,” she tells me, focusing on her task. “I’m sure it was a one-time thing. Clearly, I just had a ministroke.”
“Still.” I splay my hand over my heart. “I’m touched.”
Alex uses the chef’s knife to point at me. “This is why I don’t compliment you.”
I know I’m playing with fire—or rather, extremely sharp cutlery—but I press forward. Right until the tip of the knife is a mere inch from my chest.
The way Alex shakes her head as she smiles makes the potential impalement completely worth it.
“Why are you like this?”
“That’s a long and complicated answer that we should probably discuss over the next few dates.”
Her lips dive into a frown. “What dates?”
Glancing over my shoulder to make sure Mags is still playing Sudoku on her phone, I lower my voice. “The ones we should probably be going on after games the next few days to convince your grandmother we’re in love.”
Alex’s eyes snap wide. “I said we were dating, not that we were in love.”
“Semantics.”
Her jaw ticks.
“Speaking of sweet grandmothers, I should check on yours.” Before Alex can answer, I spin back into the joined living room and lay a hand on Mags’s shoulder.
“Can I get you something to drink while you wait? Unfortunately, I can only offer water or a protein shake.” I give her a playful wink. “Not that you need the shake. You look pretty strong already.”
Mags grips my fingers as she laughs. “You and your kind words.”
“It’s not hard when they’re the truth.”
She winks right back at me. “Water will be fine.”
I’m halfway to the kitchen when I catch Alex’s gaze, smirking while I take a large step backward.
Knowing I’m up to something, she sets down the knife and lunges forward, but…just like last time, I’m much quicker.
I drop into a crouch beside Mags. “I was hoping to ask you a favor. I’m loving this time with you tonight, but I had plans to take Alex out tomorrow—just the two of us. Would that be okay with you?”
My fake girlfriend barely restrains her groan as she buries her face in her hands.
“Yes, of course.” Mags sets her warm hand on my forearm. “I didn’t even consider how surprising Alex with a visit would impact your plans.”
I cover her fingers with my own. “How could you? She kept you in the dark.”
