Page 17

“Now we have this stupid thing that I can’t get out of.”

“What stupid thing?”

She sighs. “Well, it’s not stupid. I signed up as a chaperone for the kids’ dance next weekend and so did Drake. We’re on the drinks station together.”

Over my dead body is that happening. He had his shot; he blew it. If he’s parading some floozy around to make her feelbad, then he’s gonna meet my knuckles pretty swiftly. He’s not that big a dude, I can take him.

“I’ll come,” I offer. “He can take a hike if he thinks he’s gonna try and rub it in your face.”

She places a hand on my arm and I feel it all the way to my balls. “Cole, you don’t have to rescue me every time I get in a mess.”

“I know that, but we could pretend we’re a thing. You know, make him back off for good if I’m the new guy.”What in the fuck?

Sometimes my mouth has a way of running away with itself before my brain catches up.

Now it’s her turn to hang her mouth open. “Are you serious?”

I shrug. I’m too far in now, I have to keep going. “Why not? You said he’s doing shit to make you jealous. Well, we fight fire with fire, Ainsley Parsons. That’s the only way assholes like him learn. Play him at his own game.”

“We do?”

“Yes. You know that old saying about cutting down the dead wood?” I smile as she nods. “Well, that’s what we’re doing.”

“By fake dating?”

“Trust me, I’m a guy. If he thinks you’ve moved on, it’ll make him move on even faster. At the very least, I don’t think working the drinks station with him is a good idea. He knows what he lost and he’s gonna try his best to get you back.”

She shakes her head. “Never. He can swing like Tarzan across the jungle for all I care. I havesomeself worth.”

I cock a brow. “Tarzan?”

She shrugs. “Schnapps.”

Maybe this isn’t a good idea because my crush is even more apparent the more time I spend with her. But I’m not doing this to get into her pants or woo her. That ain’t me, despite popular opinion, I respect Ainsley, and I don’t want to see her hurt. If it means being her fake boyfriend for a night, then I’ll do it. I won’t touch her, or try to kiss her, or do anything stupid like that. But if he thinks I’m sniffing around, he’ll back off.

“You could always block his number,” I suggest. “Then you don’t have to see his name comin’ up on your screen all the time.”

Her brow furrows. “You know what? I have two degrees, a first responder certificate and I’m the head of three committees in this town, plus I have an IQ of one sixty-five and I didn’t even think of that.”

“I’m full of good ideas,Shorty.”

She takes out her phone and I watch as she pulls up his name and does just that; blocks the douchebag. Then continues on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. “Asshole.”

I’ve never in my life heard Ainsley swear or say anything other than ‘jerk’ or ‘idiot’.

That makes me smile. “I’ll give you a ride home. Didn’t see your car out in the lot.”

“I rode my bicycle.”

I balk. “It’s gonna snow soon, and you’re riding around on your bike?”

“I didn’t want to drink and drive.”

I snicker, slapping my knees. “How much butterscotch did you have?” Knowing her, it was a sniff.

“A mouthful,” she whines. “I’m a lightweight, sue me.”

“Well, I’m all for you being safe, but how about from now on we ride together to the meetings?” I place my hand out.“Deal?”