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CHAPTER TWENTY

arden

I cannot believe I’m doing this.

To introduce me to the world as his girlfriend, Carter has chosen for our first date to be away from fanfare and chaos.

I’m not going to one of his games to be photographed leaving with him.

I’m not going to Icebox , where people will definitely be watching.

We’re going on a double date to a popular restaurant with Declan and Penny.

It could be worse. I’m grateful I can ease myself into this.

I liked Penny the moment I met her. I got a ‘no bullshit’ attitude from her, and watched her put Declan in his place multiple times throughout the night.

In response, he would only smile at her, falling into the depths of her eyes like he’d like to die there.

She’d catch that look and roll her eyes, but her cheeks would get all pink anyway.

They’re in love. Like the big, real kind of love. Opposite of me and Carter, but opposite of most, I think. They have the kind of love they had to fight tooth and nail for. Those kinds are different. They’re bigger. More exquisite to bask in the beauty of .

Even without knowing any part of their story, it’s clear their bond is the type they had to put time and effort into. They wake up each day hopelessly in love and decide to keep focusing on loving each other instead of letting it all get stale and static.

It’s sweet. My parents were like that.

I’m not at all nervous when that black G-Wagon pulls up to my house.

A double date with two people I already know feels like the perfect start to this ridiculous ploy.

If he had handed me a ticket to the game and told me to go crazy, I probably would have had a panic attack and gotten drunk at the beer cart, and he would have had to carry me home.

Imagine that debut as Carter Forkerro’s girlfriend?

Carter is walking toward my front door just as I’m locking it behind me.

I glance over my shoulder at him. “Sorry, did you need the bathroom?”

He slows, running a hand down the front of his dress shirt.

Sweet Jesus, Carter Forkerro is hot . White dress shirt, perfectly pressed but with a few buttons undone, and dark blue dress pants that fit him far too nicely. It’s so simple, but he looks like a woman’s wet dream. He’s got stupid eyes that go with that outfit, too.

His brow furrows. “What?”

“What are you doing out here?” I ask, shoving my key in my purse.

He glances back at the G-Wagon, then looks at me. Amusement dances in his eyes.

“I’m picking you up for a date, Arden. I’m going to come to the door.”

I scrunch up my face. “Do people still do that?”

He blinks slowly. “I’m not sure about people, but gentlemen do. ”

I scoff, but he just rolls his eyes and guides me toward his ridiculously expensive car. He opens the passenger door for me, and this all feels a bit show-boaty. Will people really believe this is an authentic relationship if he lays it on this thick?

“You look incredible, Red,” he tells me as I climb into his car. I’m happily surprised to see that his eyes are locked on my face and not any lower, like the respectful gentleman he claims to be.

I put a lot of effort into this look, so I’m happy it was noticed.

Fresh, blown-out hair, thanks to the knock-off hair tool I found online years ago that only works when I hold it at a specific angle.

Soft, brown cat-eye makeup and just enough foundation to make me even, but it doesn’t cover my freckles.

I pulled out my favourite dress, the one I save for important events.

It's a black midi-dress, skin tight, that makes my butt look phenomenal.

When Carter climbs in, I look at him. “You look pretty good yourself.”

He grins, all charming like usual. “You’re doing great so far, Mrs. Faux Forkerro. I already got a compliment within two minutes. That’s pretty solid girlfriend behaviour. I almost believed you.”

I laugh as he pulls away from the curb, but I don’t correct him. I think we both know that I was being honest. I have eyes.

“Just so you know, Lowesy and Sweets are aware of our arrangement.”

I whirl toward him. “Seriously?”

He nods. “I ran it by him before I even called you to ask. They won’t say a word. They seem happy to spend time with us.”

I shift awkwardly. That’s just…weird. To be sitting with his friends, acting like his girlfriend, when they all know that I’m ve ry much not his girlfriend at all. What a tangled web we’re weaving before we even step foot in the public eye.

When we get to the restaurant, the attention is instant and unmistakable. Eyes burn into the side of my face. Whispers feel like people screaming my name at the top of their lungs. I sense the cameras pointed at me, but don’t see any. My face is going to be everywhere by tomorrow, next to his.

Carter guides me through the restaurant, hand outstretched behind him. Suddenly feeling very anxious, I wrap both of my hands around his palm and hide myself behind his body. Not the point, I know. I’m supposed to be front and center, but this is strangely more intimidating than expected.

People look at Carter wherever he goes. He’s not one of those hockey players who go unnoticed out of his gear.

People spot him and they know him. He has this energy about him.

That bigger-than-life persona. Even if you don’t watch hockey, you take one look at him and you know that he’s someone important.

Penny and Declan are already seated at a table near the back. Penny’s face lights up when she sees us, and relief hits me like a freight train. They’re safe territory. That table is my buoy.

Declan stands, slapping his hand into Carter’s, and when I finally get to my seat, Penny rises to her feet, too.

I freeze when she hugs me.

“I’m so happy we’re doing this,” she says, giving me a squeeze. I place a hand on her back before moving to pull away, but she squeezes twice more.

When I sit, I give a small wave to Declan, who smiles with a polite nod. Carter and Declan are talking about sports before my butt has even hit my seat, so Penny and I start our own discussion because…Well, the last thing I want to talk about at dinner is hockey.

When the waiter drops some drinks off in front of us, Penny leans across the table a bit.

“I took the liberty of ordering before you got here. I just grabbed a glass of a nice red. I didn’t want you to have to endure one second of this without some liquid medicine.”

A laugh erupts from me. I really, really like this girl.

“Any form of red medicine is my preferred medicine.” I take a sip, and am immediately grateful it’s a cabernet. That merlot at her house was nice, but I prefer a good cab. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

She flashes me a wink.

“How are the pups?”

Her eyes light up, and I understand her immensely in that moment.

For Penny, those dogs are her babies. Every decision she makes in her life is with them in mind.

That unconditional love that explodes all over her face at the mere mention of them tells me more about her than anything else has up to this point.

“Good,” she says, leaning into the heel of her hand.

She’s wearing this incredible white top that makes her chest look insane.

It’s a halter, so her shoulders and arms are bare.

Blonde hair pulled back into a long, wavy ponytail.

“Gideon has training twice a week now. He came from a bad situation. We’re working on his reactivity.

I still won’t leave him alone with the other two when we aren’t around. ”

My heart sinks a bit. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be,” she says, waving her hand. “If only we knew what they were thinking, right? But they all deserve a chance, and I fully intend on giving him as many as he needs.”

“What if he doesn’t change?” I ask, treading carefully.

She smiles warmly, shrugging a shoulder. “We’ll make it work. Either way, I brought him into my family. He’s a part of it now. If that means we have to separate them from time to time, that’s what we’ll do.”

My heart warms. This is my kind of person. Kind, fierce, strong. I won’t ever tell him this, but I’m grateful Carter introduced me to her. She’s a friend I’d like to keep.

A hand finds the back of my neck. I glance over to Carter. He leans in, putting his mouth dangerously close to my ear. “We’re being photographed.”

“Mm,” I say with a nod, leaning into him a bit more.

Declan smirks against the rim of his beer bottle. He and Penny exchange a knowing look, and he reaches beside him to sweep his thumb over her chin like they’re also putting on a performance tonight. She melts into his touch a bit.

“So, Arden,” Declan says, and I straighten. “Are you coming to a game this week?”

I glance at Carter. That’s his call, on his schedule. He knows my shifts for the month, and those won’t change unless I pick up more. Which I will, on the nights he doesn’t need me.

“Saturday, I think,” I say, and Carter nods.

“Come with me,” Penny practically begs. “I’ll introduce you to some of the girls. We sit in the same few rows, so it’ll be a good chance to meet some of the other partners. Wy might come, too.”

Partners .

I almost laugh. Partners in crime, maybe, but not in any other way that matters.

“Are you sure?” I ask.

Penny’s brow furrows in the middle. “Obviously. It’s going to be you and me for a while. The benefit of being stuck with him is that you’re also stuck with me.”

She nods her chin toward Carter, who breaks into a shit-eating grin and gives her the finger.

The waiter comes and takes our orders. The conversation does not cease. It’s natural between the four of us, and I’m grateful for that. The only thing that could have made this awkward situation between Carter and me worse was if these girlfriend duties were also awkward.

His friends are great. It’s easy.

As dinner ends and I finish my third glass of wine, Penny and I are laughing so hard that the other two are barely even a thought. It’s only when I glance their way do I realize they’re both watching us, smiles on their faces. My laugh tapers off when I catch Carter’s eye.

He dips his chin, as if saying I’m doing a good job.

And that isn’t the worst feeling.

When we get up to leave, Carter slides his hand to my lower back. He’s chatting with Penny about something, but he keeps me close with every step.

A group of kids stop us to ask for a photo, and both guys say yes without a thought.

Penny steps between me and the boys, like she’s used to this, and takes the phone.

She snaps a bunch of pictures for them, telling them to do stupid stuff to get a laugh, and when she hands the phone back, the kid’s eyes flicker to me.

“You the broad he knocked someone out for?”

I go stiff.

Broad?

Penny slowly turns to look at him, eyes a bit wide.

“ That was a mistake,” she murmurs.

Carter is back then, hand on my waist. He tugs me to his side, but gives the kid a tight smile as he does. This one is a bit more threatening than the last. The boy is a child, but he’s a child with the attitude of someone who will grow up to be a horrible, horrible man if not corrected.

“This is my girlfriend , if that’s what you’re asking. ”

The kid’s lip tugs upward. His eyes slide from my face to Carter. “Then I totally get it, dude.”

I tentatively look up at Carter. He takes a long breath through his nose, centering himself. Unlike the last guy, this kid can’t be more than sixteen years old. Carter can’t square up with him in the middle of this restaurant for giving him the weirdest, douchiest compliment I’ve ever heard.

I slide my arm behind me and take his hand, squeezing his fingers.

“Right. Thanks, kid,” is all he says.

“Brave boys.” Penny clicks her tongue, shaking her head at them. “Here’s a tip. Don’t refer to women as broads, or you’ll never get the pleasure of being with one.”

Carter grunts in agreement.

Declan lets out a booming chuckle, hauling her to his side and smooching her head.

I give Penny a quick hug goodbye before I get into the G-Wagon. I’m so full, and my head is a little fuzzy from the wine, but I had a good time. That’s rare. I don’t really have fun unless Whitney and Autumn are involved.

On the drive back, Carter glances at me. “Wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“It was a free dinner. I can’t complain.”

He nods, shooting me a look. “Hm. Thought you hated dinner.”

I stifle a laugh, shoving his arm gently. Jerk.

When he drops me off, he walks me to the door. Doesn’t try anything funny, just reaches up, puts his hand on my shoulder, and gives me a little squeeze. He thanks me, which I find silly since he paid for dinner, and he only pulls away from the curb once I’m locked inside my apartment.

Like I promised my friends, I text them immediately.

The only issue is, they think this is a real date. I hadn’t known that Carter told Declan and Penny the truth, but it feels safer keeping our situation quiet, even if they’re my best friends. I don’t want to have to explain. I’d rather nobody know about the handouts he is offering me.

Me

Back from dinner! Wasn’t so bad.

Whitney

STFU!! Details. Now. Three way video call?

Me

I’m tired. I’m going to shower and go to bed.

Autumn

Did he kiss you?

Whitney

Omg. Omg. Omg. Did he?

Me

No kissing was had. Just dinner.

Whitney

Did his Aries heart sing to yours?

Me

No singing either.

Whitney

Boooooo.

Autumn

Second date?

Me

I think so.

Whitney

Omg, you’re a total WAGittarius.