Page 11 of Faking With You

I’m usually pretty good at navigating around subjects I don’t want to talk about, but right now my mind seems to be drawing a blank. The smell of the flowers in my hand is invading my senses, and I can still feel the dusting of Mac’s lips on my cheek. And it’s in this exact moment that I know I need to push this situation into strictly accomplishing the plan. If I’m already getting distracted by small acts like this and blushing at a simple kiss on the cheek, that means that somewhere in my mind I’m interested in Mac and that can’t be the case. I’ve always found this man attractive—how could I not with the perfectly symmetrical features and eyes so dark and deep you want to fallinto them—but I can’t allow myself to have ridiculous fantasies and notions about what’s going on here. We’ve literally only had one date.

“We went out for dinner last night, nothing big. We talked, he dropped me off at home. That’s all.”

“So you’re saying you had a date planned for an entire week and didn’t tell us?” Hannah asks.

I shrug, wanting this whole situation to blow over. I don’t want it to be a big deal, but I know my friends and since I haven’t dated anyone seriously and I haven’t told them about any dates in months, they’re going to run with this.

“I’m happy for you,” Bailey says. “I think you and Mac are a good fit.”

Something in my stomach turns. They don’t know that this is all for show, that we’re justdatingso that his father will let him inherit the position of CEO and in return he’s going to sleep with me so I’m no longer a virgin.

I offer her a tight smile and say, “Thanks, Bailey.”

The guys come out and take the ice for warm ups, and I immediately notice that my friends aren’t focusing on their own men but rather are watching Mac. It’s like they’re inspecting him. I shouldn’t expect anything different from them. We’re all close and will do anything to protect each other.

I watch him in his stretches that have me questioning how someone can be so flexible. Before I can let myself fall into indecent thoughts, I turn to Liv and ask, “So, how’s owning an NHL team?”

She practically snorts. “I don’t own the team, Josh does.”

“What’s his is yours,” Hannah says.

“As much as I’m a Cyclones fan and always will be, I don’t really want to be going around boasting about owning the team that’s fighting for the worst spot in the league. This team needs a complete rebuild.”

“So why doesn’t Josh do that?” Zoey asks.

“It’s only been a few weeks since he took ownership, and it’s the middle of the season, he can’t just rip it apart and gut it. He’s evaluating everything about the team. Right now he’s letting the GM and president handle most things until he makes some decisions. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kutnam is handed his walking papers before the end of the season.”

“Liv, you forget not all of us know this team like you,” I say.

“Sorry, Kutnam is the GM.”

“And the GM does...” Hannah says, rolling her hand in front of her for Liv to elaborate.

“They’re in charge of day-to-day hockey ops. They manage the roster, the coaching staff, that kind of stuff. We’re sitting on some shitty contracts that are putting us tight with the cap, the amount of money the team is allowed to spend on player contracts, and the likelihood that this team can make a solid playoff run in the next few years is minimal.”

I nod, just barely understanding what she’s saying, but make a mental note to do some research when I get home.

“So in other words, your husband bought a failing hockey team,” Hannah says.

“Yup. I’m sure he can have it turned around in a few years, but it’s not going to be quick or easy.”

We all nod as though we know what any of that will entail. Zoey luckily switches the conversation, and Mac and I aren’t brought up again.

CHAPTER 9

Mac

For the second weekend in a row, I find myself in the bar upstairs after the game. I feel drawn to Eliza in a way I can’t explain, and our dates have only amplified that feeling. Instead of having the group mixed around the table like last time, the girls are sitting at one end while guys are at the other. I managed to take the chair that happened to be beside Eliza, and I fight the urge I have to wrap my arm around the back of her chair. We need to be public about our relationship, but I also have a feeling that anything more than the flowers and cheek kiss might have her second-guessing our entire arrangement.

Two separate conversations are happening as the girls talk about a variety of things I don’t quite understand and the guys talk about the Cyclones. Growing up, I didn’t have a specific NHL team I supported. It wasn’t until I moved to Vancouver that I started supporting the Cyclone, and it was more because it was where I lived and it was the team everyone was discussing. I had been playing on this rec team for a few years before Josh bought the team.

While all of the guys engage in the conversation, no one is as into it as Josh and Matt. I pay attention to the way that Josh mentions his wife in the conversation, and I if I didn’t already know she’s really into hockey, I would now. I hear my name brought up in the girls' conversation, and when I turn to look at the end of the table, all eyes are on me.

“Pardon?” I ask.

“We were asking you and Liz about your date yesterday,” Hannah says, and I watch the blush stain Eliza’s cheeks.

“And what exactly were you asking?”