Page 12

My heart was beating so loudly it was thumping in my ears. No noise was filtering in. The only thing going on repeat in my mind was Olana’s pregnant, Olana’s pregnant, Olana’s pregnant .

I cringed, merely thinking about how Matty confirmed it but acted like it wouldn’t stop his relationship with me. How could he think I’d be okay with being with him after he’d knocked up another girl? His long-term, on-and-off again ex, no less.

My knees knocked and my heart raced like I’d just run a marathon. As I entered the arena, the cheers of the crowd reverberated through my bones, but I was far from excited.

I was absolutely crushed, and my anxiety was at an all-time high. Not only was I unprepared to hear everything he said, but I’d also lied to him. It wasn’t just a lie, but it was a terrible one at that. I’d only spoken to Erik for ten minutes at most, and now he was my boyfriend in Matty’s eyes.

Talk about falling into old habits. Last time I used a guy to distract myself from the actual object of my affections, he fell in love with my roommate.

The lie felt different this time, though. Matty and I had been together intimately. We might not have had sex, but it was close enough, and he just admitted he couldn’t stop thinking about me.

I closed my eyes and sighed. I’d only wanted him to stop talking. I didn’t want him to convince me we could somehow still be together. That the fantasy of us being a couple would come true.

It couldn’t.

He needed to be a family with Olana for the sake of their child.

Being a stepmom before the age of twenty-one was too much for me, and as much as I loved Matty, I needed to let him go. So, I lied.

I cringed thinking about how easily the words came out of my mouth. It wasn’t just a small fib about something insignificant. It involved someone else. Someone I hardly knew.

I blew out a breath and shook my head, cursing on a whisper. The game was still going; the crowd was still cheering, and I was almost certain the mascot could hear me mumbling.

Instinctively, I glanced around the arena, then remembered Matty was here, and I didn’t want to accidentally catch eyes with him, so I focused all my attention on the Crusher goalie.

I’d hardly processed the end of the game before Sienna clutched my hand and pulled me to the plexiglass. “Come on. I need your help.”

My body trembled as I looked at my oblivious friend. What would she say when she found out what I’d done? A hot heat crept up to my face, and I could only conclude it was a delayed reaction to my huge mistake earlier.

“Are you hot or something?” Sienna looked me up and down, her brows furrowing.

I couldn’t lie to her. I’d done enough of that over the last hour.

“I saw Matty.” It was all I needed to say for her to get it.

Pursing her lips, she nodded. “Okay, well, I want to hear all about it once we can get out of here, but right now, I need your help interviewing the guys.”

“Okay.” I swallowed down my nervousness, trying my best to keep it together even though it felt like the world was burning around me.

The players shook hands with their competitors, and when they finished, they skated to the boards. Sienna stood next to a couple of fans, smiling brightly while she waited for the players to get to her.

Unsurprisingly, Erik was the first one there, and when he pulled his helmet off, he gave me a wink, making my stomach roll with worry. He wouldn’t do that if he knew what I’d done.

Pushing out his mouth guard, he grinned at Sienna. “So, Lawrence, did that performance earn me an interview?” Wiggling his eyebrows, he waited for her to answer.

When she threw her head back and barked out a laugh, he clutched his hockey stick close to his heart.

“No. Of course not. You were too busy flirting with my assistant to have any luck on the ice.”

His lips tugged at the edges, and his gaze flicked to me for a few seconds before he looked back at Sienna. “You’re kidding me, right?” He threw his arms open. “I scored the game-winning goal. What’s a guy got to do to get an interview?”

She tipped her chin toward the cheering crowd. “Not get it through an assist from the son of a Stanley Cup winner.”

Scotty Hendricks was on the other side of the rink talking to fans through the plexiglass. Rolling his eyes, Erik groaned. “I can’t wait until that guy graduates.” Then he took no encouragement to move over to me, much to Sienna’s happiness.

“Aren’t you both sophomores?” Sienna asked.

“Yeah, but who knows, he might go pro before I do.” Erik rolled his eyes in my direction, then a megawatt smile broke out across his face when he saw me watching. “Britt,” he drawled out. “Maybe you could interview me instead?”

His smile and easygoing nature made me feel somewhat relaxed, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Matty was probably watching me. He was still here, and I wasn’t sure he believed anything I said.

But what was I supposed to do now? It wasn’t like I could date a guy without his consent, which meant I needed to stay as far away from Erik Steele as possible to make sure I didn’t have to drag him into any more of this mess.

“Britt.” Sienna knocked me in the side with her elbow, bringing me back to reality.

“Sorry. I can only interview football players,” I stated, letting my eyes roam the rink. I didn’t see Matty, so hopefully he’d left.

“Is that what you say to all the guys who show you a little interest?”

I shook my head. “No. It’s the truth. Take up football and we can talk.”

“Ouch. You know how to break a guy’s heart, don’t you?”

Just one person’s heart. Matty’s. I broke it without a second thought because giving him any hope would break mine.

I could feel Sienna’s disappointing gaze. She only wanted the best for me. I knew that, but that didn’t make me feel any better about the situation I found myself in.

“Well, since I can’t get an interview, maybe you could come to Covey’s Cantina and celebrate the win instead?”

My stomach lurched. Here Erik was, offering me an opportunity to try to make the dating lie a reality, and I was still hesitant. I should be celebrating and saying yes immediately, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I couldn’t fool myself or Erik into thinking I was ready for something with someone when clearly I wasn’t.

My silence and furrowed brow answered his question before I had to.

“That’s a no, huh? Not even just for a few rounds of pool?”

“Erik. You’re a great guy—”

Sienna threw her perfectly manicured hand up.

“Ignore her, Steele. Britt drank her Crushie Slushie so fast that she’s got long-term brain freeze. We’ve just got to pack up a few things, but we’ll be there.”

“We will?”

Erik looked between the two of us.

“Yeah, we will,” Sienna answered for me. “It’s only a round of pool, and I already know you’ll beat his ass. Besides, I’ve got to introduce you to my new boyfriend.”

“What? You have a boyfriend?” Erik looked equally surprised by the revelation.

Sienna looked up to the roof and shrugged. “He doesn’t know it yet, but I already refer to him as my work husband, so I figure we might as well make it official.”

“Are you talking about Newman?” Erik asked with surprise. Sienna’s grin was her only answer. “You’ll eat him alive.”

“I hope he’ll eat me alive, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

Erik shook his head and turned back to me. “So, I’ll see you later?” His eyes bore into mine, making it hard to say no.

“Yeah.” My reluctance didn’t seem as obvious now.

“Great.”

When he skated back to his team, I watched him, dumbfounded. Could I go through with this? What if pretending to date or be interested in someone rubbed off and I actually started to like Erik? I’d seen it happen so many times in movies and books, but I wasn’t so sure it could happen in real life. Not with Matty still here.

“I know you saw Matty today, and that is freaking you out, but I think letting loose and hanging with a new kind of guy might be a nice change for you,” Sienna whispered into my ear like a devil on my shoulder.

“Hmmm.”

Sienna wrapped her hand around my arm, shaking me. “Come on. Let’s go and have a little fun.”

“Fine, but the minute I say so, we’re out of there.” I gave her a pointed look.

“Sure, but I expect at least two dances before we go.”

“Dances? There’s no dance floor.”

“No… but there are tables,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows, and I groaned. I danced on a table one time at Aiden Matthews’s Halloween party, and that was all I was known for.

“Let’s go and get this over with.”

“Not again,” Erik groaned before turning away from the pool table.

“How many times are you going to play Britt before you accept she’s clearly better at this than you?” Brooks Hart, another member of the hockey team, chortled. I had to admit, I’d heard a lot about Brooks through the grapevine, also known as Sienna, but I didn’t know what he was like. With a thick beard and deep, dark eyes, he gave off an air of mystery, and that quiet, serious vibe was appealing.

Erik swiped his face, growling. “I hate losing.”

“Then stop playing,” I teased, easily potting another ball.

“Don’t challenge him like that, we’ll be here all night.”

“You can go, Brooks,” Erik said before his ball bounced off the side, missing the hole.

When I potted the black ball, Erik didn’t say a thing, he walked over to me, got in my space, and offered me his hand. “Fine. As much as I hate to say this, I concede. You are by far a better player than me. Great game, Beanie Girl.”

“Thanks.” I nodded, taking his hand and holding back a smile. We’d been playing for the better part of an hour, and I was having fun, which I didn’t think was possible.

“How’d you get so good?”

“Easy. I grew up with three super competitive brothers.”

“Three brothers?” He raised his brows.

“Yup. Wanna play darts next?” I copied him, raising my brows in a challenge. I couldn’t help myself; I was competitive too.

“Sure. Maybe while we play, you can tell me all about these three brothers and if I should be worried.”

Well, that ruined the mood. Not that I was trying to create one or anything, but it reminded me that I’d not only used him to get Matty to back off, but I was now essentially leading him on. No matter how much fun I was having, Matty and the shitty situation we found ourselves in was always on my mind.

“Do you want another drink?” he asked, raising his empty glass.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to have alcohol before playing with pointy things.”

“Damn.” He threw me another sly smile. “You’ve figured out my strategy. I was hoping I’d get you tipsy enough that I’d be able to end your winning streak.”

Before I could come back with a fancy retort, I noticed how quiet the rest of the place was. When we arrived, it was full of fans, but now, there were only a few tables of students left.

“Where did Sienna go?”

“She’s probably trying to undress Henry again,” Brooks muttered in the corner, looking at his phone while he waited for Alex to come back with a drink.

“Again? When has she done that before?”

“I’ll let her explain that to you, but let’s just say, the girl is persistent and when she wants you to pose for a calendar, you have no chance of getting out of it.” Brooks looked between Erik and me and sighed. “Anyway, I should probably be going too. I’ll need to check on Major Dick and Corporal Cock if you’re not coming home tonight,” he said, smirking.

“Asshole,” Erik griped out.

I tilted my head, looking at Erik, waiting for an explanation. He stepped toward me, and I didn’t back away, surprising myself, but that could have been because I was getting used to his presence.

“Who’s Major Dick and Corporal Cock?”

“The giant six-foot nutcrackers Erik has at the end of his bed,” Brooks answered because Erik was reluctant to.

“What?” Okay, now I was intrigued.

“You’re not afraid of nutcrackers, are you?” Erik asked, still not answering the question.

“I wouldn’t say they’re my favorite holiday ornament. I kind of prefer elves.”

His mouth dropped. “Well, make sure not to say that to them. Alex says they’ll eat your liver while you sleep if they know that you don’t like them,” Brooks said just as Alex, another hockey player, returned with the beers.

“What are you talking about?” Alex asked, taking a swig of his beer.

“Major Dick and Corporal Cock.”

Alex shivered at the mention of them. Then he looked at me with the utmost seriousness. “Stay far, far away from those things. I think they’re haunted and that’s the reason Erik can’t keep a girl for longer than one night.”

Brooks pushed out an obnoxious laugh. “Yeah, sure. That’s the reason Erik’s slept with the entire campus,” he mumbled, and Erik kicked him in the shin.

“Tamper it down, B,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Don’t worry, it’s not like I’m going to meet them, anyway.” I laughed it off, then shut my mouth, realizing how short that sounded. We were having a good time, and if I wasn’t so hung up on Matty, then maybe I’d be more interested in Erik. But distracting myself with other men wasn’t going to cut it. Frankly, I’d played that game sophomore year with Adam, and I still ended up the loser in that situation.

Ultimately, my brain and heart needed time to get over Matty, and that wouldn’t happen when there were other guys around.

Not one to miss my reaction, Erik leaned back on the pool table. “Damn. Was it my terrible ball skills that struck me off the list of your potential suiters? Would it help to know that I’m much better at handling my stick.”

Silence fell between us, and when I didn’t answer immediately, Brooks and Alex took in simultaneous sharp breaths, slowly stepping back to give us a little privacy.

I didn’t want to be rude, but I also couldn’t tell him the truth. Once Brooks and Alex were far enough away, I decided it was better to be as honest with him. “Look, Erik, it’s not you.”

He let out a sarcastic laugh. “Is this where you’re going to come out and tell me that you have a secret husband or something?” He grinned, completely unfazed by my rejection, and something about that was refreshing. Maybe it was because when I’d tried to have a similar conversation with Matty, it felt like I was stomping on a puppy.

“Not that I know of. Why?”

He clutched his heart. “Because there’s something holding you back, and it’s most certainly not me.” I squinted at him. “My mom told me I’m irresistible and perfect.” I rolled my eyes, holding myself back from groaning. “So, since it’s not me, it must be something or some one else.”

“What?”

“It’s obvious. You’re the kind of hot that’s always taken, but what did you expect me to do when you sat in the seat next to me in class? I figured it was time for me to shoot my shot. It’s not like you’re going to stay single for long.”

“Um, I don’t want to break this to you, but I was always single.”

Erik snorted. “Yeah, right. You might not want to admit he was your boyfriend, but everyone knew it.”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“The kicker. Mathieson.”

My blood ran cold. “Matty?”

“Yeah.” He waved in front of my face. “That’s why I never bothered with you before. I always knew you guys were in some kind of situationship.”

I was speechless. I’d never heard us described like that before, especially from someone who didn’t even know us.

“Uh, situationship? That’s not really how it’s going.”

Erik narrowed his eyes on me. “You sure? Because the way you were hiding from him in class would make me think differently.”

“How did you know I was hiding?”

“Come on, Britt. It’s obvious. First, you’ve sat next to the guy for three years. Always giggling and passing notes like some lovesick idiots. Then all of a sudden, you’re sitting across the hall from him.” He snorted out a laugh. “When you sat next to me wearing a Covey Crushers hat, I thought it was fate. Of course that was until you spoke, and I realized you knew absolutely nothing about the polar bears.”

“There’s nothing going on between me and Matty. Never has been.”

“You sure about that?”

I closed my eyes, almost annoyed that I was not only having to defend myself against my friends, but now, I was having to do it with people I’d only just met.

“Yes. I’m sure.” And a one-night stand after a wedding in Vegas didn’t count.

Erik eased out a laugh. “I’m not so sure Matty would agree with you on that.”

“What makes you believe that?”

“Because he’s been staring at me like he’s thinking of all the ways he can kill me with a pool stick since we started playing.”

“Matty’s here?” I gulped, and I couldn’t believe he was talking so casually after dropping what was essentially a nuclear bomb.

Erik hummed as his face pulled into a grin. “Mm-hm. I knew it. Something’s going on.”

“Where is he?”

Erik tipped his chin to the side, and I subtly followed. My heart stopped when I saw Matty staring straight at me.

My breath caught, and I rushed to grab the pool table to keep from falling.

“How long have they been there?” I asked through gritted teeth. Matty, Tanner, and Jackson were sitting in a booth directly opposite us. Too engrossed with the TV, Tanner and Jackson seemed oblivious to the fact that their companion was staring at the pool table.

When I dared to look over again, I caught Matty’s eyes and stilled. His face was emotionless as he took a swig of his beer and watched me with a challenging glare.

“He thinks we’re dating.” Erik leaned in to say.

How did he know that? “How do you know?”

He shrugged. “It’s just obvious. The way he’s looking at you, then back at me. I have no doubts that he thinks I’m the lucky bastard that gets to take you home tonight.”

“It’s because I was sitting next to you,” I said, and he stepped back so he could look at me fully. “He saw us today in class, and he asked me about it.”

It was a relief to get that off my chest. It might not have been the entire story, but even that little part was enough to make me feel marginally better.

“He did?! When did you see him?”

“At the game.”

“What did you tell him?” There was intrigue and amusement behind Erik’s questions. I looked up at him, too embarrassed to answer, but apparently, my reddened cheeks gave it away. “Wait a minute. Did you tell him we were dating?”

“How did you know?”

“Oh, it’s all over your face.” He laughed. “What did he do to make you torture him like that?”

“Uh, nothing.”

He shook his head, laughing. “How did I manage to get into a couple’s problem?”

“We aren’t a couple.” I groaned. “Never have been.”

He nodded. “I get it. Friends with benefits. Those can be fun too. I’ve yet to find a girl that didn’t get hooked after one of those arrangements, though. Seems like you have the same issue. Maybe we should try it out.”

“We weren’t friends with—” This wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have. It just felt ridiculous.

“You sure? Because he’s clearly pissed.”

“No, he’s not. He has a girlfriend.”

“Mm-hm. Sure.” Looking between the two of us, a smile stretched his lips. “Can I try something?”

I tilted my head.

“Just real quick. I want to prove a point.”

I raised a brow, and he got that it was a no.

“Come on. It won’t be that bad.”

“Fine.”

Without another word, Erik wrapped his arm around my waist and lifted me onto the pool table. When I was sitting comfortably, he shimmied my legs open and stood between them.

“What are you doing?” I whisper-shouted.

He smiled in that easy, relaxed way. “Just go with it for two seconds. I think what might happen will surprise you.”

He guided my hands to his shoulders, and I froze.

“Erik,” I warned.

“Have you looked over at your boyfriend yet?”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I sang.

“That’s subjective. Have a look.”

I subtly cut a gaze at Matty, then looked back at Erik with wide eyes. Matty wasn’t just staring at me like before. His fist was clenched on the table, scrunching up a Covey’s Cantina napkin. His eyes were dark and hooded, and his jaw was tight. He was pissed as hell, and although I shouldn’t be excited by that sentiment, a little spike of pleasure ran up my spine.

For so long I was pining over Matty, not knowing how he felt, but now things were different. Matty was being open and daring. He didn’t want to be with Olana, but I wouldn’t let him be with me when he had things he needed to deal with first.

Something about this situation made me feel in control, and I’d never felt like that with Matty.

“Incoming.”

Before I had time to think about it, Matty was right next to us.

“Hey, Marty,” Erik said.

“It’s Matty.”

“Oh, you know, I knew that. I was just a little too busy over here to think straight.” Erik was still between my legs, and when he dropped his hand to my thigh, Matty grumbled.

“Britt, can I talk to you for a second?” Matty asked. I felt his eyes on me but couldn’t bear to look at him. When I caught Erik’s gaze, I had to look away too, in fear I wouldn’t be able to stop laughing. How did I get in this situation, and why was Erik so willing to mess with Matty? Was it because, somehow in the last few hours, we’d become friends?

“I’m a little busy,” I stated when I’d gained enough courage to look at Matty. Then when I saw her from over his shoulder, all the excitement drained from my body.

Olana was here. With an oversized sweatshirt on, looking for Matty, no doubt. Her hair was still blonde, and she looked exhausted. I couldn’t imagine being pregnant in college was easy, and I almost felt a little sorry for her.

My heart sank as reality settled in. There was no way she’d ever leave Matty alone, and she shouldn’t have to.

I’d never get away from her flaunting the fact that she had a child with the only guy I had ever been interested in. She’d be around him for the foreseeable future, messing everything up. Leaving me with the confirmation that it probably wasn’t worth fighting for Matty. Although he might not think it now, she had eighteen years to wear him down again.

Olana went to the bar and ordered a drink.

“Britt. I’d really like to talk to you,” Matty urged, and I froze all over again.

Erik leaned in and wrapped his arms around my shoulder, pulling me into him.

“You know, Marty, I think you might want to deal with your girlfriend at the bar instead of trying to take mine.”

Oh. My. God.

He did not just call me his girlfriend, did he? The grin on his face was wide when Matty’s brows furrowed. How the hell did he know about Olana?

Matty turned to look at the scene behind him, and when he registered that Olana was there, flirting with the bartender no less, he sighed. “What’s she doing here?” he grumbled, then trudged over to her.

And again. If I needed any more signs that Matty would always pick Olana, I just got it. I wasn’t sure my heart could take any more of this.

Matty immediately plucked the drink out of her hand, and it was quiet enough that we could hear their conversation.

“What are you doing?”

“What do you mean? I was just waiting for you to finish talking to your friend Britt.”

He lifted her drink. “And you thought it would be a good idea to drink this?” He shook his head, placed the glass down, and took Olana’s arm. She shuffled off the barstool, and as he dragged her out, she glanced at me from over her shoulder and gave me a wink.

“Well, they look like a fun couple.” Erik squeezed my hip, drawing my attention back to him.

“How did you know they were together?”

“You know, as a hockey player, I need to be fully aware of everything that goes on around me. In order to develop that skill, I had to put it into practice daily. I guess I just got used to observing people, and I noticed that while Matty was watching you, she was at the door watching him.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t take a genius to see that you guys are caught up in some weird love triangle.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call it that.”

“You know, more than one partner is more than acceptable these days, maybe you could form a ménage à trois.”

“I’m okay, thanks.”

He thought about it for a minute. “Good, a girl like you would be wasted in that kind of scenario. You deserve to be worshipped by two guys instead.”

I gulped, giving him a small smile. Honestly, a guy had never talked so openly about liking me like this before. I guessed it was partly to do with my brothers always being around, but it was odd. Did Matty feel like this too, or was this just Erik’s way of flirting?

“Thanks,” I said meekly.

“You’re welcome,” Erik said, satisfied.

I shook off his arm and stood from the pool table.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know.”

“I know. I just thought you needed a little help. You had that deer in headlights look, and if I want to be on Santa’s good list this year, I need to start acting selflessly.”

“Thank you,” I said, dropping my gaze to my shoes. Looking at Erik had become too much. The reality of the situation had sunk in, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about any of it.

“No problem. Whenever you need a fake boyfriend, let me know. You can also call me anytime you need a real one too.” He winked, and I groaned.

Then he raised his hands. “Hey, like I said before, a guy’s got to eat when the finest steak is sitting in front of him.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to subtly look at the door where Matty walked out. As much as I wanted to move on, it was feeling impossible right now.