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Hours later, the sheriff successfully gets rid of all the paps outside, and I’m seated in a corner of the café, my head buried in my hands.
How did this happen?Trevor walks over to me with a cup of coffee, sets it on the table, and takes the seat in front of me.
“Can you make this go away?” I ask without looking up at him.
Trevor’s quiet as he watches me, and when I finally meet his gaze, there’s a stroke of remorse nestled in his blue depths.
“The only way to handle this scandal is to give them the news they want. They already think we’re a couple, and admitting it will make it go away faster.”
“No! It’s too much to handle, Trevor. I get that it’s your life and you’re used to it, but I’m not, Trevor.” I place a hand on my chest while shaking my head. “This isn’t my life, and I don’t think I can handle it.”
I’m still quivering inside, and worried about what the media would do with the pictures of us together from outside the café earlier.I could also feel the tension between us.Everyone will think the same!
“You can handle it,” he answers in a thick voice that strokes my insides with a coat of warmth. “It’ll only be for a little while, then it’ll blow over and everything will get back to normal. That’s what always happens.”
His words are so gentle, I dare to lift my eyes and look at him. “What?” I croak, then sniff to push back the tears forming in my eyes. My next words are a slight stutter. “I don’t understand.”
Trevor shocks me when he extends his hand over the table and slowly opens his palm to expose the silver ring.
“I need you to be my wife, Gracie,” he announces, shocking the life out of me. “For a little while, Gracie. I’ll need you to be my fake wife.”
Stunned, I can only blink for a long second as I stare at him with my eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. Trevor seems serious, but his words are a joke to me, so I tilt my head back and let the bubble of my unamused mirth roll free from me.
“You’re kidding, right?” I wheeze when I finally catch my breath.
Trevor’s jaw hardens as his eyes bore into mine. “Not one bit!” The impact of his words hit hard, and the air leaves my lungs with a whoosh that makes me dizzy.
Why would Trevor want to marry me?
Chapter 6
Trevor
I expected Gracie's shock, but her stunned laugh is a twist I didn't expect. She blinks as her sage-green eyes lock with mine. This isn’t a real proposal, of course, but my heart pounds, and I feel the rush of blood to my head overshadow my senses.
“I need you, Gracie,” I continue, “but only for a little bit.”
When she still doesn’t speak, I touch her hand again. Gracie jerks away from me and bolts to her feet. She runs off without saying a thing, dashing past the others watching us at the counter, and heads to the back.
Natalie follows her, and the others murmur amongst themselves as they turn around and pretend to be busy working.
My phone rings and seeing Zane’s name flash across the screen makes me sigh in frustration.
“Did you see it? It’s all over social media. The fans are going crazy … Everyone wants more of the story, Trevor. Is she on board? I’ve got good news. The club wants to meet. They think if you’re married, then it’s good publicity. All the partying and rumors about your affairs with women will go away, and they believe you can focus more on playing basketball, which is what they want for you.”
I sigh deeply.
“You’re their star player, man. The sooner you get back to practice, the better for all of us.” He’s excited, and I know he’s probably pumping his fists in the air right now.
I should feel the same way, but the panicky feeling in my chest makes me worried instead of excited.
“I can’t talk now, Zane, and no, I don’t think she’s on board,” I say to him before ending the call.
I sit for a long moment, contemplating between going to Gracie or giving her some time to herself.
Another minute passes, and I can’t take the heat anymore, so I get up and hurry past the counter into the kitchen. Gracie is standing near the sink, her head lowered like she’s crying, and I rush to her.
“Gracie …” I whisper, turning her around to look at me. I expect to see tears in her eyes, but they are clear, and she frowns when she lifts her eyes to mine.