Page 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

arden

I swing my apartment door open, and Carter’s smile immediately falls. It melts right off his face. That’s not the reaction I want when my date sees me for the first time. Those blue eyes I’m growing quite fond of drop from my face to my feet, and quickly back up again.

I deflate, dropping my hand from the door. I give myself a once-over. “What?”

He shakes his head, blinking a bit. “Nothing. Just, wow. Wow . You look insane, Red.”

My cheeks immediately heat. I think that was a compliment? I glance up at him, sure he’s picking on me, but he’s looking me up and down again like he can’t believe what he’s looking at.

I opted for a dark blue midi-dress with a slit in the thigh. It has an a-line neck and long, bell sleeves. I pinned half of my red hair back, letting my wispy bangs fall in front of my eyes. Lathered on a cherry coloured gloss that makes my mouth look more juicy than it is.

It appears that Carter is a fan of my choices .

“Really?” I ask.

He swallows, and I hate that my eyes track the movement. When his gaze snaps back to mine, he smiles a bit gentler, dipping his chin. “ Insane , Red.”

“Thank you,” I say, doing a little curtsey, which earns me a treasured laugh. I give him a once-over, too. He really pulls off the luxurious, laid-back thing like nobody on this planet. “You look quite handsome yourself.”

He shrugs, holding out his arm for me. I could get used to this.

Dating Carter Forkerro, no matter how fake, is proving to be a lifestyle I find myself enjoying.

I actually look forward to seeing him. He comes to the door, he walks with his hand in mine or on my back, and even though this arrangement isn’t real, he takes care of me.

Not that this is what is important, but I haven’t paid for as much as a bottle of water while I’ve been out with him.

He treats this very much like an actual relationship.

It’s hard to complain when he’s anything but how I expected him to be.

This entire thing is fake, and he still doesn’t even glance at another woman when he’s by my side.

It’s…nice.

I wind my hands around his arm and offer a gentle squeeze. “So, where are we going?”

“Ah,” he says with a shrug, “just a little event.”

I stop moving. He nearly yanks me off my feet when he keeps striding forward with those long legs.

“What kind of event? Am I dressed right?”

An event can mean many things. Is this some hockey royalty event? Is this a team thing? Are we going to a friend’s birthday party? Where the hell is he taking me? When he said it was a surprise, I assumed it was a nice dinner at his favourite spot, or maybe some comedy show in a bougie box.

An event ?

“You’re perfect,” he tells me, extending his fingers to me again. He wiggles them, and I slap them gently out of the way. “It’s a charity event, Bub. We can be in and out in a couple of hours, and then I’ll take you to get ice cream.”

I arch a brow. “Ice cream?”

He nods, his grin growing. “That’s a very normal, very commonly utilized date activity.”

I still don’t take his hand. I stare up at him, almost defiantly. “What kind of event, Carter?”

“It’s just something the team puts on every year,” he says with a shrug. “There are a few of these, but this one is the most laid back. It’ll be a couple of hours of shmoozing and then we’re free. It’s for local clubs. For kids.”

I roll my eyes. Of course it’s for the kids. I’m supposed to say no to the kids?

“Come on, Red.” He wiggles his fingers again. Regretfully, I take his hand, treasuring the way he tends to lead me places. Fingers around mine, back to me as he guides us ahead. He opens the door for me, like he always does, and I hate how I’m getting used to him.

When we arrive, I’m shocked to see that this event has a red-carpeted section where the guests enter the ballroom. It marks the path to the only entrance into the gala. That means there is no sneaking in through the back door to avoid it.

Translation: I’m going to have to be photographed to gain entry.

Carter immediately heads for it without even sparing me a word, so I squeeze his hand in a death grip as a protest.

No. No. I am so out of my element. A red carpet? What is this? Why do the kids need a red carpet? Why do we have to walk a red carpet for kids? That’s just bizarre.

He glances over his shoulder, sees my panicked face, and slows .

“I can’t.”

He turns to me, a little smile on his mouth. When he places his hands on my shoulders, I glare up at him. He should have told me what this night would consist of. I would have planned better, spent longer on my makeup, and downed a glass of wine before getting in his car.

“You can’t get a picture with me?”

“On a red carpet? In front of twenty cameras? This is very intimidating.”

His lip twitches upward. “Don’t you, like, staple people’s heads for a living?”

I shoot him a look. Not the same.

“It’s a couple photos, Red.”

A couple of photos that will be plastered everywhere.

A couple of photos that I will have no control over.

I take one look at the people currently having their picture taken and instantly want to die.

Tall, all legs, and perfect, platinum blonde hair.

She’s the Hollywood type of pretty, knows how to position her body, and is comfortable posing next to her man who doesn’t seem to give a shit about the cameras.

I will not look like that . I can promise you. I will look like Chandler Bing every time he tries to pose for a picture next to his smoking hot fiancée.

I’m panicking.

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch someone waving at me dramatically. My gaze snaps over Carter’s shoulder, locking on Penny, who is walking toward that carpet hand in hand with Declan.

She waves with her whole arm above her head, flashing a big smile my way. I watch her stroll right onto that carpet behind her boyfriend with absolutely no hesitation.

Carter follows my stare. Penny doesn’t look comfortable either; she leans into Declan’s side and smiles that gorgeous smile of hers, but I can tell she’s not completely at ease in front of those lenses. It’s in her posture.

“She hates this shit,” Carter murmurs, confirming my thoughts.

Declan smiles with a lazy ease, one hand on her lower back, the other in his pocket. They stand there for a total of ten seconds before they’re sauntering off through the doors, and definitely straight toward the bar.

Carter glances back at me. “Did that look so scary?”

I swallow. “Yes.”

“Come on,” he says gently, reaching for my hand. “We’ll face our fears together.”

Yeah, like that face has ever feared a camera or public opinion.

He guides me to the red carpet, and before we even step into the frame, the cameras are firing off picture after picture.

I blink, a bit blinded, but Carter’s hand slides to my back and pulls me to his side with a touch of support.

I shift awkwardly on my feet, but force the tiniest and most pitiful smile ever.

“Relax,” Carter mutters into my hair. “You’re the most beautiful woman here.”

Well, damn. That compliment knocks the wind right out of me.

I suck in a breath as his fingers slide against my waist. I glance up at him. He’s remarkably comfortable in front of cameras. He’s got that air about him. That easy swagger. Big, bright smile, ridiculously twinkly eyes, oozing pure confidence.

In his mind, this is a walk in the park.

His thumb brushes my waist, so I turn back to the cameras.

I lean into him a bit more, sliding my hand to his back, and try my hardest to smile like I’m supposed to be here.

Like I’m here with my actual boyfriend. Like posing for pictures with a famous hockey player is something that I’m completely and totally used to doing.

Then, it’s done. That quickly.

Carter offers a parting wave to the cameras and threads his fingers through mine, leading me off the small carpet and into the gala.

“Was that so bad?” he asks as we enter the ballroom, giving my fingers a squeeze.

My heart is still racing, so yes. “I thoroughly hated it.”

He breathes a laugh. “Let’s get you a glass of red then, Red.”

The second we reach the bar, Penny rushes over and wraps her arms around me. She has a Long Island in her hand, which is already half drunk. Her long, blonde hair falls in perfect, big waves in front of her chest.

“I don’t know why they make us take pictures at these things,” she says, shaking her head. “Nobody wants to see us. We’re just arm candy that makes them look better.”

She nods toward Carter, who seems pleased at being called ‘eye candy.’

“We don’t want to do it alone. That’s why.”

She narrows her eyes at him. “Then we should be paid a portion of your salary for our services.”

I huff a laugh. I guess I technically am being paid to be here.

“Nice to see you too, Sweets.” He smirks, giving her shoulder a squeeze before heading for the bar to get our drinks.

Those dark blue eyes are on me instantly. “These things are the worst. I’m not exaggerating. They are terrible. If you value your time and your sanity, stick by me. For my sanity, stick by me.”

“Isn’t it for kids?” I ask. Could it be that bad?

She nods stiffly. “Okay, don’t make me feel bad. The cause is good, but this turns into a weird social escapade. Like high school. I don’t like people. I like my people. Most of these girls are nice, but the ones who aren’t make me want to claw my eyes out.”

I swallow, my eyes widening by the second. I try to recall who is on the naughty list, and only Morgan comes to mind. I need to study these people in more detail before the next event. I listen to Penny, taking it all in, and I prepare for a war I’m not equipped to partake in.

“Morgan is going to try and get all the details of your personal life. Do not give them to her,” she warns, voice low. “If she doesn’t get what she wants, she’ll send Emma in there in hopes that you’ll let your guard down. Once they know something, everyone does.”