Page 25

CHAPTER 25

She’s Probably Already Convinced

KELLEN

Saturday, November 23

“ I s this meeting really necessary?” Lucy says as Harley and Lachlan settle on the long couch in Atticus’s apartment. I’m next to her on the love seat, like last time, and Atticus is in the single chair clutching a beer. Raleigh is on Atticus’s phone, but no January as she’s seven hours ahead in London.

The adrenaline is pumping through my veins at being this close to Lucy.

After spending last Saturday night together at the retreat, we’ve continued to text daily. Little things about our days.

I told her about Ava’s new ballet class, where they’re learning a little kid version of the Nutcracker. She said she wished she was a ballet instructor as well as a soccer coach so she could spend more time with Ava, and my chest expanded uncomfortably with affection.

She told me about getting Mister Barky McBarkface a new collar, and how she considered getting him a name tag but isn’t ready to commit to his new name yet.

As if she’s not going to give her dog away .

As if she’s not probably moving thousands of miles from here in a few months.

As if what happened last weekend wasn’t a huge deal that changed everything.

There’s a knock on the door.

“Come in!” Atticus shouts.

The door swings open and Finn, Heath, and Romeo walk in.

“The fuck are you guys doing here?” I say.

“We’re here for the Kellcy Fake Dating Planning Committee meeting, obviously.” Finn heads to the kitchen. “Drinks in the fridge?”

“How the hell did you know about this?” These guys are a welcome distraction from my nerves, but really, why the fuck are they here?

“Lachlan spilled it all last Saturday night at the retreat when we ran into him after he left you and your fake girlfriend—hi, Lucy—in your pool. We’re all caught up.” Romeo smooths back strands of hair that escaped his curly ponytail—which we all mercilessly make fun of him for, not that he cares, and accepts a can of sparkling water from Finn. “Don’t worry, we won’t get in your way. We just want to be included, you know?”

No one knows Lucy and I slept together last weekend. When the boys all walked away from my hot springs pool, I was barely touching her. I even stepped away once they were gone. I wanted to respect her rejection from the night before.

But she’d changed her mind.

This isn’t fake anymore, but it sure is messy.

And maybe—just maybe—the boys suspect something. After all, we didn’t rejoin the group after they left us in the pool.

The newcomers scoot onto the kitchen stools and appear to wait for something. Heath doesn’t say anything. He’s a quiet guy, but Finn and Romeo do plenty of talking for the three of them.

“So you were telling me the truth?” Lucy looks at Atticus. “ You guys really don’t go out partying on Saturday nights?” There’s a desperate edge to her voice.

Everyone’s heads swing toward her. Romeo stops mid-sip with a confused look on his face.

“Why would you think that?” Harley asks, dead serious. “We hardly ever go out partying.”

“My body is a temple, man. I cannot keep this in shape—” Romeo runs his hand over his chest and down his abdomen. “—if I’m drinking all the time. Also, I need a full eight hours of sleep.” He swigs noisily from his can before placing it on the counter in front of him. “But sometimes we meet for book club.”

“We’re reading a psychological thriller next month,” Finn adds. He’s a pretty short guy for a hockey player, but stocky and built like a brick wall. Makes him a force when his line swaps with ours on the ice. “Hey—” He looks at Lucy. “You should buddy read with Kellen.”

“For fuck’s sake,” I say under my breath.

“I don’t know. We’ll have to see if there’s an opening in the book club.” Atticus shakes his head at his sister. “It’s very exclusive.”

“In what world is our book club exclusive?” Lachlan laughs.

“I need something of my own, okay?” Atticus says with a whine in his voice. “Do you have to invite my sister to everything?”

“Yes, Atticus, we’re going to invite your sister and her hot friends to everything.” Lachlan rolls his eyes.

“How do you know they’re hot? I’m the only one who’s even met them in person,” Atticus grumbles.

“Hello? I’m right here!” Raleigh says. Her face is red, but she’s clearly holding back laughter.

“We know,” Lachlan says. “They both have sexy voices. And we can see their faces on video. Hot.” He waves to Raleigh on the phone screen.

Raleigh giggles and Lucy snorts .

“As entertaining as this is, can we move on?” Lucy says. “To whatever this meeting is about?”

I sneak a look next to me. I can’t get a read on her tonight. Our thighs are just six inches apart. Her hand twitches in her lap. Her back is straight, and so is mine, like we’re a couple on an awkward first date.

I’d fantasized all week about sneaking away with her. Grabbing kisses in her office. Sharing intense looks across the arena.

But the team was away for three nights, and when I got back, she was busy helping to organize the Thanksgiving food and coat drive that the Blizzard is hosting to benefit FoCo families.

I stopped by with a case of yams. I managed to pull her into a dark hallway and kiss her until neither of us could breathe. She laughed and buried her hands in my hair. I leaned down and pressed my forehead against hers.

That was two days ago.

This is all too much. I don’t have time for a real girlfriend. It was never supposed to turn into this. This warm, full feeling in my chest.

“Of course. Let’s get started. We have a lot to cover.” Lachlan nods solemnly.

“We do?” I ask. “What on earth do we have to talk?—”

“Agenda item number one,” Lachlan interrupts. “Let’s review the recent events.”

“Let’s not,” Lucy whispers, just for me, and bumps her thigh on mine. I turn to her and crack a grin, and she’s got humor dancing in her eyes as she gives me a side glance, her cheeks turning pink.

“How did the retreat go?” Lachlan cocks his head to me, and I rip my gaze from Lucy.

I could say a lot of things right now. That we hooked up in the pool, on the lounge chair, and in the bed. That she confused me. That it felt right when she fell asleep nestled on my chest.

That it wasn’t just sex .

“It went as planned. Which you know, because you were there, orchestrating the whole thing.” I attempt to sound indignant and press my lips together. Harley and Atticus laugh.

“I talked to Savannah at the fire pit,” I say, because everyone is waiting for me to say more. “After I kicked Atticus’s ass at cartwheels.”

“Like fuck you did!” Atticus growls. I ignore him.

“At that point, I didn’t think Savannah was buying me and Lucy being together.” I’m doubling down on this lie, I suppose. For a second, I feel bad about depicting Savannah as the bad guy. I mentally shake that thought out.

“And then?” Finn prompts.

I give Atticus a dirty look and wave a hand at Finn, Heath, and Romeo, who are watching the meeting like we’re putting on a performance. “Seriously, what are these guys doing here?”

There’s another knock on the door.

“Come in!” yells Lachlan.

“Who the hell is that?” I ask, just as Bri walks in.

“You invited Bri?” I look at Lachlan with a huff.

“Bri deserves to be involved in things that affect her and Ava’s life,” Lach condescends to me.

I groan and roll my eyes.

“Who’s watching Ava?” I ask.

“Relax,” Bri shrugs with a smile. “She loves when the high school girl down the street comes to babysit.”

I groan as Bri drops onto the couch between Harley and Lachlan, who each scoot a smidge to the sides.

“Hi, Lucy.” Bri lifts a hand.

“Hey! Welcome, I guess.” Lucy smiles at Bri.

What’s going on here? But a laugh bubbles up inside me, and I shake my head.

Bri waves to Raleigh on the phone.

“Hi! Are you Lucy’s friend?” she asks .

“Yes, she is,” Lucy says. “Raleigh, meet Bri. Raleigh’s one of my best friends, my old college roommate. Bri is Ava’s mom.”

“Hi!” Bri and Raleigh say at the same time.

“This is a complete circus,” Lucy whispers. I chuckle and nudge her leg like she did before.

“Go on,” Lachlan says to me.

“Since Savannah was still doubtful, we went with the original plan and made sure we convinced her in the pool later. With your help. Remember, Lach?” Now my face is burning as an audience of people stare at me: Harley, Lachlan, Heath, Romeo, Finn, Bri, Raleigh.

And Lucy.

“Hmm, I do, mate, I do.”

I wait for Lachlan to push more, but he doesn’t.

“Satisfied?” I ask.

“Sure.” Lachlan shrugs.

“Agenda item number two,” Harley says, saving us, I guess? “Do you think Savannah bought it? Did she tell Paul?” He sips from a bottle of water.

“I think Savannah is a believer now.” I definitely won’t be sharing that she was already a believer going into the retreat. That detail would help no one.

“She didn’t even mention you when we were chatting walking away from the pool,” Lachlan says with raised eyebrows. “No comments or questions. I’m not sure she gives a fuck about your love life, mate.”

“Great news.” Harley looks at Atticus, and then Lucy. “And how about your father, Lucy?”

Lucy shrugs. “I haven’t heard anything from my father or my ex. So I’m not sure.”

“Me neither,” Atticus adds, running a hand through his red waves. “Not that my father would ever think to call or text me .”

“Hmm.” Harley nods thoughtfully. “You three leave this week for D.C., right? What’s the plan? ”

“We fly out Wednesday afternoon, spend the night and most of Thanksgiving Day with my mom, then meet up with my father later that evening.” Lucy pushes back a chunk of red curls. “We fly back early on Friday morning since you guys have a home game that night.”

“Should be fun.” Atticus rubs his hands together and grins.

“You just want to piss off Dad.” Lucy rolls her eyes at her brother.

“Yup, sure do.”

“I’m not as worried about my father these days,” Lucy says. “As long as we’ve convinced Savannah and Paul. That’s more important.”

My breath catches in my throat, and I turn to her.

“Convincing your father is important too, Lucy,” I say quietly.

“No, it’s not,” she says and shakes her head. “Truly. I care more about Ava.”

I nod and swallow a lump in my throat. Everyone’s watching and listening.

“We’ll finish the job in D.C. and convince Richard.” I keep my eyes on Lucy. Side conversations pop up around us.

“It’ll work.” Her eyes go to my lips, and I wonder if we can slip away together. “And thank you.”

“For what?”

“I guess for helping me piss off my father, but really for distracting me for the past few months. And making me realize what’s actually important in life. And spoiler alert, it’s not pissing off my father.”

“Lucy…” I swallow a lump in my throat. I’m glad no one’s listening to us right now.

“Seriously. Your focus on your daughter and your family and your team is so sweet. It’s been lovely to get to know you all.” A sad smile comes over her face, and something in me sparks and glows .

“One last agenda item,” Lachlan calls and the conversations die down. Lucy and I look over at Lachlan. “It’s a sad one.”

“The breakup,” Harley says.

“Awwww,” Raleigh says from the phone.

“Mid-December, right?” I look over at Lucy, and she nods.

“I’ll go to a home game and talk to Savannah about how we broke up,” Lucy says.

“You can’t be devastated. Nonchalant would be best,” Harley says. “You don’t want Paul reporting back to your father that you’re sad.”

“You don’t think she’ll be devastated to break up with me? I’m hurt.” I grin, but I’m hurting inside. Hurting from the idea of a breakup with my fake girlfriend.

Who is not really fake.

Lucy huffs a laugh and pulls at her hair. “I understand the assignment.”

“Well, I think that’s the whole agenda.” Lachlan claps his hands together.

Talking and laughter erupts in the room, and I turn to Lucy. “You okay?”

“I’m good,” she says, her cheeks still flushed.

Lucy twists her body to face me. I’m so happy to be in her orbit again. She’s warm and sweet, and I would do just about anything to kiss those lips.

“Kellen?”

“Yeah?” I’m staring at her mouth.

“I—” she starts, but her phone vibrates next to her and Raleigh’s name pops up. “I’m gonna take this in my room.”

She jumps off the couch and disappears down the hallway to the guest bedroom. I’m deeply disappointed but don’t have time to dwell as Bri plops down next to me.

“So,” Bri says.

“So.” I raise my eyebrows .

“I had some thoughts.” She glances to where Lucy just walked off. “About Lucy.”

“Okay, what now? And since when did you join the Kellcy Fake Dating Planning Committee?”

“First of all, that name is perfect. I’m glad you’re embracing it and all of this. I can’t believe I wasn’t invited to the other meetings.” Bri pouts her lips.

I sigh and look up at the ceiling, praying for this conversation to be over.

“Seriously though. I think that this thing you have going on with Lucy is something.”

My stomach twists. She’s correct. At least from my side. Am I that obvious? Am I even trying to hide it?

“Why would you say that?” I attempt to protest.

“These days, you spend a lot of time staring at your phone with a goofy smile.” Bri cocks her head. “And you practically skipped over to my house the other day. And told Ava another story about that dog.”

“She loves dogs!”

“Listen. I know she’s leaving. And I know you have issues with trusting people. Women.”

I make a noncommittal sound as all the words stick in my throat.

“But don’t hold yourself back from something good because of me and Ava,” Bri says. “Don’t worry about the future for now. Go to D.C. and let yourself go a little, okay? Have some fun.”

Shit. I’d love to, but I can’t change the plan now. We did what we needed to do. It’s almost all done. It’s supposed to be over.

“It doesn’t have to be love, Kellen, or permanent, or long-term. See where this goes.” Bri’s voice is gentle.

“It’s not love.” Of course it’s not love. I shake my head, trying to convince myself more than anyone else, but Bri is already getting off the couch.

I stay seated by myself, thinking about what she said.

What if I did let myself go a little with Lucy? Let myself have fun with her in D.C., really play up the part of her boyfriend in front of her father? See how it goes?

It wouldn’t hurt anyone. Like Bri said, I’ll just not think about the fact that she’s trying to move to England. Hell, who knows if that’s even happening still? She doesn’t talk about it much.

Maybe she’s changing her mind.

I feel like I can trust Lucy, which probably means I should run screaming.

I already decided I shouldn’t trust anyone in my life besides my tiny inner circle of people. Even my own mother betrayed me.

But maybe Lucy is different.

I stand and slip down the hallway toward Atticus’s guest bedroom. Lucy’s room. I knock the back of my knuckle gently on the door and it opens a second later.

Lucy’s eyes widen in surprise to see me in her doorway.

“Get over here,” she says with a grin when she recovers, and pulls me in by my shirt.

I kiss her and feel her smile on my mouth. I push the door shut behind me.

It’s only kisses, and even if they notice we’re both gone, so what?

Sneaking around with Lucy, kissing her in hidden corners and secret rooms… I don’t want to be anywhere else.