Page 31

CHAPTER 31

Fake Breakup

LUCY

Sunday, December 15

T his morning, I felt like I was dressing for my own funeral.

Last night after Ava’s party was over, I stayed and hung out at Bri’s house with Kellen and the boys. Everyone helped clean up, and Bri put on a movie. Kellen tucked the birthday girl into bed and then sat next to me on the couch, our thighs almost touching. The lights were dimmed low, and he put his arm around the couch behind me, not on my shoulders, but close.

I half hoped he would ask me to come to his house after the movie. But he didn’t, and that’s probably for the best, so I just shuffled out along with the others and left him standing on Bri’s porch.

When I got home, there were text messages waiting for me. I had a surge of hope, like he’d beg me to come back.

But he didn’t.

Kellen

Thanks for everything tonight. I loved seeing you with Ava. She loves you. She fell asleep with MBM (the stuffed animal) tucked under her arm

Kellen

And thank you for helping with my situation. You made everything better this fall. I’m so glad you came to FoCo

Kellen

Good night, Lucy

I pressed my phone to my chest and shut my eyes. What can I say to him? How can I sum up how I feel about him and Ava and this town?

I couldn’t come up with anything that felt good enough.

Me

I’m glad I came too

Me

Good night

He didn’t respond back.

I’m reading the texts again as I make my way up the stairs to the level of the arena with access to the corporate sponsorship box.

Those felt like goodbye texts.

They are.

But my phone buzzes in my hand and it’s a new text in our chain.

I pause outside the second-floor stairwell to read.

Kellen

Game’s about to start. Good luck with our breakup. I’m so sorry I can’t be there to break up with you in person

Me

It was good while it lasted, puppy

Kellen

Meh. Listen, sweet potato, I hate to say this, but I’ve had better fake girlfriends

Me

You absolutely have not

Me

And that’s a repeat name

Kellen

So is yours

I crack up, but there’s an ache in my chest.

Kellen

But I’m serious. Sorry you have to face them alone. Let me know how it goes

Me

Honestly? Savannah seems harmless

Kellen

She does appear that way these days. But only because I’ve had you to protect me

Me

Thankfully. Because have you seen you? You definitely need protecting. You should try working out

He sends a laughing emoji and then a heart emoji, and my body warms.

Then I shake my head.

What am I doing in this hallway flirting with my soon-to-be ex-boyfriend? I take one last look at the text chain and enter the suite, my heart racing.

I’ve got my PR name tag on and if anyone asks, I’m looking for one of the local sponsors who I actually know is not attending. And if they show up? I chat with them. No big deal.

Savannah looks up when I walk in, and her eyes flit up and down my body, not unkindly. I’m wearing jeans, a Blizzard t-shirt, black flats, and a long black sweater. Much different from her belted gray dress and sexy black heels, high and expensive looking.

I’m not wearing Kellen’s jersey.

A quick glance at the rink shows the players getting into position to start the game. I don’t let my eyes scan the team for Kellen. I’m not here to watch hockey.

I spent all morning going over how I’ll work into conversation that Kellen and I broke up. I assumed it’ll be Savannah I talk to, and I’m right. She walks right over.

“Hello, Lucy. Come to watch Kellen?” Savannah’s smiling at me and looks completely non-threatening. Sweet and lovely, actually. If anything, she seems lonely. She’s looking for friends, just like the rest of us.

No wonder Kellen was nice to her. He’s a good guy.

But here it is—the perfect opening.

I open my mouth to respond, but my throat tightens, and my eyes suddenly sting. These words are the last ones I want to be saying. I don’t have to use my acting skills to appear like I’m getting over a breakup.

I’m really doing it.

“Actually, I wanted to see if one of the sponsors was going to watch the game, but it looks like they’re not here.” I make a show of looking around, and I hope she doesn’t suggest I stay and wait for them to arrive. “And Kellen and I aren’t together anymore.”

Savannah’s eyebrows shoot up. “Really? Oh no.” She sounds genuinely sorry. “I thought you two were looking cozy at the coffee shop a few days ago?”

I shrug. One day last week we’d met up at Deep Roots Cafe for a coffee before work. It was kind of a bookend to the first public appearance we made back in early October.

“You okay? You just got really pale.” Savannah reaches out and touches my arm gently, her face creased with concern.

“Yeah, of course. Things end. It’s okay. I’m only doing a mat leave cover here anyway, so it wasn’t going to last forever.” My voice hitches on the word forever.

“What a shame.” Savannah looks at me intensely, her gaze flitting from eye to eye. “Need anything? Girls night out? I’m meeting up with Lina for drinks right before Christmas.”

I blink. “Um, I’m okay, really.”

Actually, that sounds fantastic. I could use more women friends here in Fort Collins. I have Raleigh and January, but we’re always scattered all over the place.

“Oh. Well, good.” She drops her hand from my arm. “Glad you’re okay.”

“Savannah?” Paul calls from across the suite, then raises a hand to me.

“Enjoy the game.” And with that, Savannah walks away from me, returning to Paul’s side. The suited man he was talking to turns to her.

I stand for a few more minutes, pretending to wait for the fake corporate sponsor I mentioned to Savannah and watching the start of the game. My eyes find Kellen on the ice, and I watch him race around the rink with my brother and their teammates. I think about the disastrous but charming skating lesson Kellen gave me and regret we won’t get to try again.

Why do I feel like my heart just got ripped out?

After the first period is halfway over, I slip out of the suite. I pause outside the door and lean against the wall, willing my heart to slow down, pushing away feelings of devastation mixed with relief.

That’s it? That’s the whole breakup?

Of course it is. What did I expect? A full-blown investigation? Savannah doesn’t really care about me, or who Kellen dates. Neither does Paul .

I’ll send one more text to Kellen. He won’t get it until after the game.

Me

I guess now you’re my fake ex-boyfriend

Me

It’s been fun hanging out with you these last few months

Me

Hope you win today!

Hope you win today? Real smooth. I slip my phone into my back pocket.

That’s it. No more texting. It’ll only hurt. It already hurts. Hurts that I won’t get to tell him all the random nothings of my day. No more stolen kisses. No more hanging out with Ava—oh, I’ll miss that little girl. No more stupid food and animal pet names.

No more us .

I walk out of the arena, stopping by my office to grab my purse, and head to Atticus’s apartment.

It’s only when I’m almost home do I realize that Savannah might tell Paul how upset I looked, and Paul might tell my father, and my father might tell Ron?—

And I don’t care.

None of that matters.