Page 22

CHAPTER 22

A Swing and a Miss

KELLEN

Friday, November 15

T he Blizzard has been on the road a lot over the past three weeks, and Lucy’s been busy with work. But it hardly feels like we’ve been apart.

It’s probably the constant texting.

And Ava’s last soccer game, where the whole team—especially my daughter—was devastated for it to end and to say goodbye to Coach Lucy.

I had my rescheduled photo shoot, this time with lots of supervision and no kissing. Last weekend, a few of us hung out at Atticus’s apartment on Saturday night, but she was out for a drink with some women from work. Lucy even attended another home game and sat in Atticus’s seats, this time wearing the Blizzard hoodie I got her.

A few days ago, I dropped off a box of macarons and got a squealing thank you text, impressed that I remembered her favorite flavors from our conversation six weeks ago. Salted caramel, pistachio, and chocolate.

But we haven’t been alone together .

I miss her, even though I have no right to.

And now we’re on the bus to Wyoming for the team retreat. There’s a Kellcy Fake Dating Planning Committee group text chain popping off. I’m going to act offended, but I’m really damn eager to get to spend a few days pretending to be Lucy’s boyfriend.

Lachlan

Welcome to the Kellcy Fake Dating Planning Committee text chain

Me

Really, Lach?

Lachlan

Really, Kellie. I won’t forgive myself for not creating this sooner

Me

Fine then. Hello, Lucy’s friends

Raleigh

Thanks for including us!

Lachlan

We’re about to head to Wyoming for the retreat. There will be hot springs pools

January

I want to go to hot springs pools in Wyoming! Which are not words I ever thought would come out of my mouth

Harley

Howdy

Lucy

Is a group text really necessary?

Lachlan

You’re lucky I didn’t keep the original name, which was Kellen & Lucy Pretend to Bang

Atticus

I’m going to kick your ass

I bite back a grin.

Fake dating Lucy Knox hasn’t really worked out like I thought it would.

For instance, I don’t think I should be fantasizing about my fake girlfriend day and night, reliving each time we’ve touched. Including the conference room kiss. Especially the conference room kiss.

I didn’t expect to miss her when I’m not around her.

Lucy’s ten rows ahead of me, sitting with a woman from accounting. I’d kind of hoped we’d sit together, but instead, I stick in my AirPods and turn on the true crime podcast I’ve been following.

Two and a half hours later, the bus pulls up to the luxury ranch resort. Saratoga, Wyoming, feels like it’s on a different planet from Fort Collins. It’s remote and rustic and charming. Not that FoCo isn’t beautiful, but this is different.

The annual retreat is purely a bonding event, with the requirement being that we get in some kind of workout every day—a low-key but tailored workout agenda was assigned to each player by the team trainers—and attend the team activities. Every year we play laser tag, and it gets super competitive. The resort also has paintball and other more intense activities, but it’s in our contracts not to participate in extreme sports. Is paintball really extreme?

The Blizzard rents out the entire place for three nights. The resort has a series of connected one-bedroom cabins—rustic in their decor, but expertly decorated and full of luxury touches. Each has its own private lounging area and hot springs pool. The pools are supposedly filled with water from the hot springs, but it’s filtered and chemically treated so it’s really just like a giant hot tub. There are also normal hotel rooms in the main lodge for the more junior ranking players .

I hop off the bus, and Lucy’s off to the side with her boss, the accounting woman, and the social media manager. She briefly glances my way, and I wave—I actually fucking wave—and she turns back to gawk at the scenery with the other women.

I am such a dork.

A sleek black Ferrari pulls up. Paul and Savannah. Everything is going according to plan.

“Here to ruin the fun,” Atticus says under his breath from next to me.

I shrug. He’s right, but they’re also the reason I get to fake date Lucy Knox, so it’s a bit of a toss-up. I follow Atticus into the lobby to get our keys.

I’m feeling bad about cutting Savannah off completely and also making her seem like the bad guy. But what else should I do? Risk my future to be her friend? Do something else that’ll end up on the NHL Tea hockey gossip site?

I’ve gotta protect my family.

Later that evening, we’re all hanging out around the resort. In the front of the main building, there’s a fire pit surrounded by rocks perfectly shaped for sitting. A few groupings of wooden chairs are on the long, covered porch attached to the lodge. And around back are secluded lounging areas.

The night is cool but still comfortable, and most of the guys are wearing hoodies or long-sleeved t-shirts, warmed by the fire. Mid-November can go either way in this part of the country. It could be freezing or still warm.

I’m sitting with a bunch of my teammates around the firepit, including Atticus and Harley. Savannah is with us, along with a handful of staffers. Lachlan and a few other guys are off to the side in a circle of chairs with Lucy and another woman. He looks over at me and raises his eyebrows, then pulls out his phone. Mine buzzes a few seconds later with a string of texts to just me.

Lachlan

Mate. Get your ass over here and hang out with your girlfriend. Before someone else snatches her up and I have to kick a rookie’s ass

Me

1) fake girlfriend

Me

2) they wouldn’t dare

Lachlan

That’s it. I’m going to the Kellcy Fake Dating Planning Committee text chain

Me

NO

For a beat, I think about how Lachlan would normally threaten to snatch Lucy up himself like he did at the fall festival, but I’m then distracted when a string of texts buzz into the Kellcy Fake Dating Planning Committee text chain.

Lachlan

Hello, Team Kellcy. It’s time our lovebirds act like a couple

January

Take this seriously, Lulu! What are you doing? Lachlan, I give you permission to forcibly push them together

Lachlan

Working on it

As I’m considering a response, a picture from Bri of Ava with Mister Barky McBarkface pops up on my screen. My daughter was thrilled that Bri agreed to dog sit while we’re at the retreat .

And this picture is a perfect excuse to approach Lucy.

But halfway over, a hand wraps itself around my biceps. I turn.

Savannah.

“Hey, Kellie. How are you?” She’s wearing tight workout gear, and her hair is pulled back into a bouncy ponytail. Her makeup is minimal, and she looks genuinely pretty.

But no relationship—even just friendship—is worth it with this woman. Not with the trouble it’s already gotten me in.

“Hi, Savannah.”

She drops her hand from my arm. I look around to find Paul, but he’s not out here, thankfully. Lucy’s staring at us, and she nudges Lachlan, who rolls his eyes at me and shakes his head, as if to say that’s what you get for waiting .

“I thought I’d update you on my plans for the bar exam. It’s been so long since we’ve gotten to catch up.”

“Yeah, I know, sorry.” I turn back to Savannah. “I’ve been really busy.”

I wouldn’t mind being Savannah’s friend under normal circumstances. I want to encourage her to find her own thing to do that will give her some kind of purpose outside of following Paul around and hanging out with Blizzard players.

But I bite my tongue.

“Busy with hockey? And your daughter?” She leaves the question hanging.

“And my girlfriend.” The perfect opening. “Lucy Knox. You’ve met her.”

“Right. I saw you guys together at the cafe. And the fall festival. And the game.” She smiles. “I guess it’s obvious you two are together.”

“Yeah, I suppose.” And this was the entire point of all this. Relief cascades through me. It really worked. “I believe Paul knows her father.”

“Now that I think about it, I remember talking to Paul about you two.” Her forehead crinkles. “I just forgot.” Savannah shrugs .

This couldn’t have worked better.

“She’s really pretty. Girl-next-door pretty.”

My gaze drifts to Lucy, and I catch her smiling at something Lachlan says. I nod because Savannah is exactly right.

“I’m happy for you,” Savannah says.

With perfect timing, one of Paul’s staff walks over and asks Savannah about a holiday charity event. I take that opportunity to escape further conversation.

I practically run toward Lucy, who stands and smiles.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, of course.” I’m okay now that I’m next to her. Appearance wise, Lucy’s about as far from Savannah as possible. Her hair is a bit crazy, curls tumbling out of the low ponytail. Her freckles stand out on her pale skin, and her green eyes reflect the dancing orange flames of the bonfire. She’s not nearly as put together. But who really wants put together? I want real.

“What’d she say to you?”

“I told her we were dating.” Actually, I think I said that Lucy was my girlfriend.

“You did? What’d she say?” Lucy presses her lips together. That little smile is fucking adorable.

Savannah said she’s happy for me. The woman absolutely believes Lucy and I are dating. Plus, she literally talked to Paul about it.

But I can’t say that to Lucy.

Because if I do, then it’ll be like this fake dating charade doesn’t need to go on any longer, at least from my side. And if Lucy thinks that’s true, then maybe she’ll decide we should back off tonight.

“Nothing, really. But regardless, she’s not going anywhere. She needs to find another focus besides me.”

Half truth, half lie.

“True.” Lucy scrunches her mouth to one side. Is she thinking about how we might not need to pretend to date ?

“Hey, look at this picture I just got.” I tap on my phone and flash the picture of Ava with her cheek pressed against Mister Barky McBarkface’s cheek, his tongue out and making contact with my daughter’s chin, a contagious smile on her face. Lucy takes a step closer to me and puts her hand on the phone, brushing against my fingers.

It feels stupidly good to have contact with her again.

“Oh my god, that is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Yup. As usual, your dog is a big hit.”

“Gosh, I miss coaching Ava’s team! I can’t believe how fast the season flew by. Those girls are so sweet. Especially your daughter.” Lucy looks up at me with her big green eyes and smiles.

“Well, we’ll have to find a reason for you to see her again. Because she asks about Coach Lucy and Mister Barky McBarkface all the time. Dog sitting him is basically the highlight of her entire year.”

Lucy chuckles and drops her hand from my phone. “I’m so glad you brought up that her team needed a coach. Between that and helping with the Thanksgiving food drive for the Blizzard, I feel like I’m actually doing something good.”

“You’re also helping me out, don’t forget.”

“I’m happy to help with the Kellen Bassey charity as well.”

We stare at each other, both with goofy smiles.

“Can you thank Bri again for dog sitting? I don’t think Mister Barky McBarkface would do great in a kennel.”

“Yup, on it.” I type out a text to Bri.

“And can you send that picture to me? It’s adorable.”

I nod and text it to her immediately.

As soon as I press send, I realize I just voluntarily shared a picture of my daughter with someone not in my little inner circle. I should be freaking out about it.

But I’m not.

Probably because Lucy already has many pictures of Ava on her phone from soccer practice and games. And it hasn’t bothered me one bit. I have no fear that Lucy would share private pictures of my daughter with anyone.

“Done.”

“Great. I’m thinking it might be useful when trying to place him in a new family. You know, great with kids and all. I’d completely block out Ava’s face, of course.”

My stomach twists, and Lucy’s smile fades.

“Of course.” I clear my throat and pocket my phone. What a freaking bummer. Just another reminder that Lucy is leaving. I clear my throat after an awkward pause. “This weekend we need to work hard to convince Savannah this is really happening. You and me. It’s our last big chance.”

“Yeah. Okay.” Lucy’s throat ripples as she swallows. She crosses her arms, her thin sweater stretching across her arms. Does she even believe our charade anymore? “What do we do tonight?”

“I think we make a show of leaving here. Together.”

“Okay.” Lucy nods. “And go where?”

To my room? But I don’t say that.

“I know a place with the absolute best views of the stars. Want to see?”

“Let’s go.” A blush creeps up her face as I reach for her hand. She lets me take it, entwining her fingers with mine immediately.

Not sure why I think an isolated spot behind the hotel is the best place to show everyone we’re dating. Not just an isolated spot—one of the most romantic places I can think of.

But I know why.

I like her.

I slowly lead Lucy to the dimly lit sidewalk that goes around the main lodge, giving the people we’re walking away from time to observe us. Do they? I have no idea. I don’t really care if Savannah is watching, because she’s already a believer.

It’s quiet behind the hotel, and I point to cushioned lounge chairs out on a gravelly area a way back from the building. We walk on the stone pathway until we get to them and settle in, both of us laying back on the reclined chairs and staring up at the sky. It’s much darker out here away from the hotel, so the stars absolutely pop against the black sky.

“Did they see us?” she asks.

“Who? See what?”

“Everyone back there.”

I turn to look at Lucy’s profile.

“When we walked away from the group.” Lucy shifts her head to meet my eyes.

“Oh, yeah, probably.”

Lucy folds her hands on her stomach and turns back to star gazing. It’s a perfectly clear night and the sky is carpeted with stars, like Ava took a giant bottle of glitter and threw it over a black poster board.

“My god. It’s so gorgeous.” She takes a deep breath in.

Sitting with Lucy out here feels good. Right. Like she’s someone I’ve known for years.

Maybe we should talk about fake dating right now. What our next steps are. The strategy for tomorrow. But I don’t care about any of that at this moment.

“Where have you seen the best stars?” I ask instead. “What’s your favorite spot?”

“Besides here?” She huffs. “I vacationed in Maine with my mom and brother as a teenager. It was pretty amazing up there. Not sure if it beats this though.”

I sit up slowly, swinging my legs over the side of the lounge chair, watching her profile as she gazes up on her back. It’s dark, but the light of the stars is enough.

“I’ve always wanted to see the northern lights,” I say. It’s true, but I’m not sure I’ve ever said those words out loud.

“I want to see them too. I mean, I’m not sure when.”

“We could go. Sometime.” The words are out before I can stop them, and my eyes widen as she pushes up on her elbows from her sprawled position and looks at me .

“I’d love that.” Her eyes are shimmering in the starlight. “This has been a lot of fun, Kellen.”

I nod, unable to find the words. I don’t want to talk about fake dating. Because I’m convinced that’s not what’s happening anymore, at least not from my side. I like this woman. I trust this woman. Trust her with my daughter, which is the highest level I can offer someone.

“Hey, you okay?” Lucy sits up completely and faces me, her knees lightly touching mine.

I just want to kiss her. That’s all I can think about right now.

“Lucy.”

“Yeah?”

“Can I kiss you?” I wish I could say this is lust talking, but it’s not only that.

“Practice?” she whispers.

“Something like that.”

“Okay. I think I’d like that.” Lucy leans toward me, and I’m almost frozen.

Something in my chest is shifting. Something warm and bright.

I close the distance between us and the touch of our lips together is an explosion. Each time we’ve kissed has been different. The first sweet and soft, the second heavy and hot, and this one… desperate and intense. Her tongue swipes into my mouth and touches mine, teasing me, and I slide my hand back to bury it in her soft curls. I could get lost in them.

In her.

A soft moan escapes her throat. I slip down to my knees and kneel in between her legs, my face at the same height as hers. She pulls me closer, and I slide my hands around her waist and onto her lower back.

I want to keep kissing her, ideally forever.

I slip my hand under her shirt and caress the bare skin on her back, up her spine and back down .

Fuck, I want to be with her. I want to touch her everywhere and show her how amazing she is. Her arms are around my neck, and she arches into me. I’m about lose the little control I have around this woman.

“Lucy,” I say between kisses. It’s a statement of fact, and she murmurs something in response that I don’t quite catch. I kiss her neck, my mouth lingering on the sweet curve of her throat.

A woman’s laugh sounds from the lodge, followed by a man’s low voice.

Lucy stiffens and turns her head toward the noise. I pause for a beat, my lips hovering above her skin, but soon return to kissing her neck. I slide my hands to her ass and tug her toward me, cupping her round bottom in my palms.

“Fuck ‘em,” I say against her neck. “They won’t see us out here.”

She breathes out heavily but straightens her body.

“I think that’s my brother.” Lucy turns back to me, eyes hooded, just like I imagine mine are.

“Fucking Atticus.” I groan and stare at her lips, red with my kisses. She doesn’t laugh like I want her to. I slide my hands back to her waist.

Lucy glances back toward the voices. I push curls away from the side of her face and take in her freckles, sweet mouth, and long lashes over moonlit eyes.

“Want to come to my cottage?” The words fall out of my mouth unintentionally, my subconscious speaking for itself.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She looks at me, but her eyes are far away.

I pull it together, nod, and slide my hands off her body, regret running deeply through me.