Page 153 of Faking the Goal

E for eye candy.

Luke is the first to break the silence. His grin spreads so wide it takes over most of his face as he points between us.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Ridgewater University's newest it couple."

"Hey, boys." I lift my spoon in greeting. "I thought you guys already went home for winter break."

Luke immediately wags a finger at me. "Uh-uh-uh. Don't try changing the subject, T."

"What subject? I asked a question."

"The subject of you"—he points at me, then dramatically swings the finger toward Kentaro—"and him."

Liam comes straight for Kentaro and throws an arm around his shoulders.

"You sneaky, grouchy bastard." He immediately hooks him into a loose headlock and ruffles his hair. "You didn't even tell us you and this gorgeous bombshell are dating? We had to find out from other people? Other people, Kent."

He presses a hand dramatically to his chest. "I thought we were closer than this. I'm hurt. Betrayed. Our friendship may never recover."

Kentaro extracts himself from Liam's hold with the practiced patience of a man who's endured this exact bullshit approximately nine thousand times.

"I prefer to keep my personal life private," he says, his voice flat. "That includes my dating life."

All three snort.

Cody steps closer, already pulling his phone from the pocket of his sweats. "Yeah? Because this doesn't exactly scream private, my man."

He turns the phone toward us, and oh god.

There we are.

Photo after photo from last night's party.

One shows Kentaro with his arm wrapped firmly around my waist while I'm tucked against his side. Another catches him leaning down with his mouth beside my ear, both of us smiling like whatever he's whispering is far more interesting than the entire party around us. There's even one from the whole Corey confrontation, Kentaro standing close enough to practically shield me from view, his hand planted against Corey's chest.

And then there's a picture of us walking away afterward, fingers intertwined.

Jesus.

If I didn't know better, I'd believe us.

Actually, forget believable. We look disgustingly good together.

The kind of couple people see and immediately resent because now their own relationship looks like it needs to put in more effort.

A ridiculous little swell of pride rises in my chest.

First night as a fake couple and we're already crushing this shit.

"These are everywhere, by the way." Cody scrolls through his phone. "Ridgewater Gossip already posted you."

He clears his throat and puts on a painfully serious announcer voice.

"Hard launch of the year? Ridgewater Warriors star goalie Kentaro Azuma has a girlfriend... and it's THE Taylor Lewis."

Luke whistles and claps Kentaro on the shoulder. "Our boy. Our grumpy, antisocial boy finally got himself a girlfriend." Then he gestures toward me with both hands. "And not just any girlfriend. You got the hottest chick on campus. How did this happen? What cosmic oversight allowed this?"

Liam leans in, his eyes bright with mischief. "Taylor, I have to ask—and be honest—how did this guy convince you? Did he threaten you? Because with his personality, I just want to make sure he didn't scare you into agreeing."