Page 45 of Heartless As Puck

“Fine,” she gritted out, clearly lying.

“I’m sorry⁠—”

“Just don’t.” She gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I know the deal. There’s no need to talk about it.”

My pregame playlist started, and she turned the volume up. We drove in silence and, despite her words, I couldn’t shake the sense that she was upset. I just didn’t know what to do about it.

I was failing her, and she wasn’t even my real girlfriend. Because of course, I couldn’t keep even a fake one happy.

FOURTEEN

JANE

I was in the kitchen, reviewing an essay I’d written for one of my classes while dinner was cooking, when my phone rang and Dad’s name appeared on the screen. Guilt twisted in my gut. He’d been calling all day, ever since the statement about my relationship with Austin had gone live, but I hadn’t answered.

I watched it ring until the call went to voicemail, head dipping with the shame of avoiding yet another call. I knew I had to talk to them at some point, but I was delaying for as long as possible.

I pushed my phone aside, returned my attention to my laptop, and nearly had a heart attack when the doorbell chimed.

Oh, God. Had Dad called from outside the house? It would be just like him to catch a flight into Chicago and turn up on the doorstep just to make sure I was all right. If it was him, I was in trouble, since I had no good excuse for ignoring his call.

Or, if not, then perhaps it would be Sylvia. I was sure she had plenty to say about me supposedly dating Austin. She’d made no secret of the fact she thought I was interested in him as more than a boss and, well, considering how it looked, I couldn’t really argue with that.

I hurried over to the sautéing vegetables with chunks of chicken cooking on the stove top and gave them a quick stir before padding through the house to the front door. I looked out the peephole, and relief flooded me at the site of Hazel Harris.

Good. I could relax, at least a little.

I opened the door and smiled. “Hey, Hazel. Austin isn’t home yet. Sorry.”

He’d told me that he’d get a ride home with Gus after meeting with the team’s management to finalize everything.

She tucked her hair behind her ear. Hers was the same rich shade of brown as Austin’s. “No worries. It’s you I’m here to see.”

I cocked my head. “Me?”

She laughed, her brown-green eyes dancing. “Of course. I mean, you were Austin’s assistant, but now you’re his girlfriend, which practically makes you family. I want to get to know you better if you’re going to be my sister.”

Oh, God.

My stomach sank, and I fought the urge to facepalm. Hazel thought this was real. In hindsight, I shouldn’t be surprised. I had stipulated that we’d keep the ruse quiet after all, but I’d kind of assumed that Austin would either spill the beans anyway, considering how close they were, or that Hazel would guess the truth.

“Um. Okay. I’m cooking, but you’re welcome to come in and keep me company while I make dinner.”

She beamed and bounced on the balls of her toes. “Great.”

I stepped aside and held the door open. She kicked off her tennis shoes and followed me to the kitchen. I checked on the stir-fry again, testing how cooked the beef was, and she hovered behind me.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked.

“No, everything is under control.” All I had to do was make sure the meal didn’t either burn or turn completely soggy.

She rocked back and forward a couple times, then headed for the breakfast bar and perched on one of the stools. “It smells amazing.”

It did smell good. Like garlic and onion, with a hint of meatiness beneath it.

“Hopefully, it tastes that way too,” I said.

“I’m sure it will.”