Page 12 of Break Out

Why couldn’t I keep my mouth shut?

“Are you serious?” Bri whispers.

I don’t have time to answer as we’re summoned to the back to try on our dresses. When I’m in my fitting room, I pull out my phone and send a quick message to Brody.

Me: We have a problem.

Chapter six

Brody

I pause the treadmill and take a sip of water while reading Aubrey’s text message.

Aubrey: We have a problem.

I’m not sure if my heart is racing from the sprints I was doing or because of Aubrey’s text message. I type out a quick response.

Me: Are you alright? Do you need me to come to you?

I get off the treadmill, pacing around the room. Should I get in my car and head toward her? Just in case? You don’t even know where she is. I’m kicking myself for not getting the name of the store she was going to.

Aubrey: I’m fine. But can I come over when I’m done here? In about an hour?

I heave out a breath and type a response.

Me: Yeah.

Aubrey: See you then.

I push off the wall of my home gym, grab my headphones from the treadmill, and walk down the hall to my bedroom. There’s enough time to shower and have a protein smoothie before she gets here.

As I’m finishing the last of my smoothie a little over an hour later, there’s a knock at my door. I set my empty glass down on the kitchen counter and hurry over to the door, glad I don’t have to wait any longer to find out what happened this morning at her dress fitting. My mouth drops open at the sight in front of me. Aubrey’s wringing her hands and shifting back and forth. I don’t say a word, simply open the door wider for her to walk past me. I follow her into the living room where she begins pacing.

“Aubrey,” I say, walking up to her and gently putting my hands on her shoulders so she’s forced to stop. “What happened?”

She huffs out a breath, looking everywhere except at me. Chewing on her bottom lip, she finally meets my eyes. “I told my mother we were dating. In a relationship. She wouldn’t stop trying to set me up with a date for the wedding. Some neurosurgeon named James. She didn’t believe me when I said I had my own date.”

I chuckle. That’s what’s got her in a tizzy? “So you told her I was your boyfriend?”

“It’s not funny,” she says, smacking me on the chest. Groaning, she pulls away and throws herself on the couch, then pulls one of the small throw pillows onto her lap and hugs it to her chest. “What are we going to do?”

I shrug and take a seat next to her. “I can be your fake boyfriend if you need me to.”

“Are you sure? This is more than you going as my date to a wedding. Which would have been bad enough if . . .” She trails off, clutching the pillow tighter.

“If what, Aubrey?” I prompt.

“If the news got out. Or someone snapped a picture and it got on the internet. You and I both know the rumors would fly,” she finally says with a resigned sign.

“I couldn’t care less about the rumors, Aubrey. Let them speculate all they want. Although I’m sure the press has got better things to do than speculate about who a random hockey player is dating.”

She chuckles. “You’re not some random hockey player, Brody. You’re, well . . . you.”

Now it’s my turn to laugh. “If you say so. I think you’re making this into a bigger deal than it is. I already said I’d go with you as your date. What difference does it really make if I’m your date or your fake boyfriend? Right?”

“Yeah.” She blows out a breath. After a few minutes of silence she says, “I feel like this fake relationship should benefit both of us. So what can I do for you? Any team event coming up you need a date for?”

“Besides a week in Key West with my best friend?” I ask, contemplating the question. What do I want? A light bulb goes off in my head. “The guys have been bugging me to go out with them. I didn’t go to Caleb’s end-of-the-season party and that’s made it worse. If I tell them it’s because you and I have been spending time together, that we’re dating, they’ll back off.”