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CHAPTER

TWELVE

JADEN

S eeing Anna in the VIP box cheering for me was a dream come true. Whatever comes, I can die a happy man. The home season opener was incredible. We beat Chicago four to two in an epic battle. The crowd’s enthusiasm was infectious. I hope Anna could feel the buzz that we’ve all grown to crave. Because once the obsession penetrates, you’re all in.

I shower and change in record time, anxious to get up to the box to see her. My teammates’ jaws drop when I announce that I won’t be joining them at our favorite bar, The Station, tonight. Normally, I’m all for a boisterous celebration after a win. But tonight, I have something more important in mind.

When I arrive, the VIP box is empty save for Anna and another woman.

“Hey!” I say as I enter the suite. “What’d you think?”

Anna and her friend turn around, and I have to stop myself from laughing. It looks like the Crane store has puked all over the friend, covering her head to toe in Crane gear. She’s holding two large store bags to her side.

I motion toward her swag loot. “You must be Miranda, and I’m guessing you enjoyed your first hockey game?”

Her head falls back and forward with fervor as a resounding, “Yes! Loved it,” comes from her mouth. “We are fans for life.”

“Is that so?” I raise a brow and look at Anna.

“Yeah.” She shrugs and releases a chuckle. “You’re looking at two converts here. We had the best time. I never knew a game would be so exciting.”

“Never knew,” Miranda parrots while she uses the foam finger on her hand to scratch her face.

“So I might be able to get you to another game, then?” I move farther into the suite.

Anna smiles. “Definitely.”

“Are you kidding?” Miranda says. “We’re begging you to invite us back.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t make you beg. It will be nice to see your friendly faces up here.” I notice Miranda’s jersey. “In fact, I know the other guys would love to meet you. They’re all out celebrating right now. But I’m sorry, I didn’t set up security or anything like that for the bar, so maybe next time?”

“Absolutely!” Miranda answers for them both.

“I did order some food from my favorite sushi place if you want to hang out for a bit and eat dinner with me.”

Anna looks at Miranda, and her lips turn down in a slight grimace, causing my heart to sink. She opens her mouth to speak when Miranda responds instead. “You know what? Anna will stay.” Anna whips her head back toward her friend, and Miranda continues. “Yeah, I just came down with a huge headache. Must be all the fun of the evening. So if you don’t mind, I’m going to head back to the hotel, but you two should definitely do dinner. Anna loves sushi.”

“Okay, that sounds like a plan. Anna?” I question.

“Sure.” She gives me a tight smile.

I hold up a finger and retrieve my phone from my back pocket. “Give me one second. Let me text the driver.”

Anna and Miranda whisper under their breaths, the words too soft for me to make out.

“Okay,” I address them both. “He’s waiting in the alley outside the door where he dropped you off. Can I walk you back there?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I remember how to get back. You two stay here.” She turns to Anna. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” On her way out, she stops in front of me. “Thanks again. This was amazing.” She gives me a half hug. “I can’t wait until next time.”

A moment after Miranda exits, our sushi is delivered.

“Can I get you a drink? Wine?” I ask.

“Water is fine, thank you. I think I had one too many martinis already. I’m going to be hurting in the morning.” She takes a seat at the table.

I hand her a bottle of water and sit across from her. Setting the containers of sushi out on the table, I snap off the lids and give Anna a pair of chopsticks. “Is it cool if we share?” I circle my hand above the open containers of sushi.

“Sure.” She breaks apart her chopsticks.

“When I was growing up and my mom would bring home takeout, she would just set the food in the center of the table between us, and we’d share the meals. It’s one of my good memories,” I tell her.

She takes a roll between her chopsticks. “You make it sound like you don’t have a lot of good memories.”

“I don’t really. It’s not as if I have a lot of bad ones. I just don’t have many, period.”

“That’s sad.”

I shrug. “I’m not sad about it. It’s how it was. She worked insane hours, and I was alone a lot. It’s simply a fact.”

She bites her bottom lip, and her eyes hold me in their gaze. “Yeah,” she says thoughtfully. “I have a ton of great memories from my childhood. And while my parents were there, I started to question if most of my fond memories really had much to do with them. I mean, they set up the parties and events and brought me to the sets. But it was the other people who I interacted with at these events or on the sets of movies who had a lasting effect on me.” Her cheeks redden, and she gives her head a shake. “Sorry, that seems like oversharing. It’s something I’ve been thinking about lately.”

“I don’t think it’s oversharing. I’m glad you feel comfortable opening up to me.” I throw another piece of sushi in my mouth. After chewing, I ask, “How is your relationship with your parents now?”

“Strained,” she admits. “In fact, I just had a horrible dinner with my father last night.”

“Why was it horrible?”

She exhales and stares off for a few seconds, seemingly contemplating her response. When she places her chopsticks on the table and focuses her beautiful blues on me, I know she’s about to fall into serious storytelling mode.

And does she.

I listen intently as she talks about her dislike of her costar and the complicated relationship she has with her parents, especially her father. She describes the dinner in great detail, including how her father and Simon conspired to create a fake relationship. I feel a sense of pride for her when she tells me how she stood up to her father and stormed out of the restaurant, food and all.

“That’s great, Anna!” I reach my hand across the table, palm out, and give her a high five. “I am so proud of you.”

She grins. “Thank you, but my father isn’t going away that easily. He’s used to getting what he wants.”

“You told him no and that you were in a relationship. That won’t stop him?”

She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “Absolutely not. He’s only delayed. He won’t stop until he gets his way. Plus, once he realizes I was lying, he’ll make sure the whole media circus believes that Simon and I are together, and at that point, I’ll have to go along with it.”

“But what if you had a boyfriend?” I wonder aloud.

She rolls her eyes. “That’d be all well and good, but I don’t.”

“I’ll be your boyfriend,” I state.

“What?” she gasps. “No, Jaden…” she says my name on an exhale. “I’m sorry. I told you I didn’t want anything more than friendship.”

“I know. I heard you loud and clear, and I’m not pressuring you for that. I’m suggesting I be your fake boyfriend.”

She lets her head fall back and groans toward the ceiling. “Oh my gosh. Absolutely not. Jaden. We are not doing that.”

“Why not? All we have to do is be seen a few times in public. The media will report that we’re together. Your father will back off. You don’t have to fake date your creepy costar. Problem solved.”

“I don’t know.” She balls up a piece of her napkin and turns it between her fingers, staring at the table.

“Who would you rather fake date? Me or your douche of a costar?”

She looks up from the table. “I mean, you. I like you as a person.”

“Okay, then. What’s the issue?”

“Number one, my dad would flip if he thought I was dating a jock. He doesn’t respect sports at all. More so, he hates tattoos. He’d kill me if I dated someone covered in them.” She motions toward my arms.

“Seriously?” I laugh. “Your father has actually told you that you aren’t allowed to date someone with tattoos?”

She shrugs. “Yeah.”

“Well, so what if he doesn’t approve? Actually, that makes it better. Not only will he not get his way, he’ll be completely irritated by your choice. It’s kinda perfect.”

She gnaws at her thumbnail. “He’ll be livid.”

“But he’d leave you alone about Simon?”

“Yeah. I mean, he’d have to.”

I grin. “So let’s do it. You’ve already admitted that you enjoy hanging out with me as a friend . Yes? So wouldn’t you rather go out with me a few times to fake date than Simon?”

“I mean, obviously yes. But I didn’t want to do the whole fake dating thing to begin with.”

“But your father won’t leave you alone if you’re not in a relationship?”

“No, he won’t.”

“So you’re not left with many other options, right?”

She reaches across the table and covers my hand with hers. “I don’t want to hurt you, Jaden. I know you had hoped for more. I do value this friendship, and the last thing I’d want to do is take advantage of you or hurt you in any way.”

“Anna.” I turn my hand beneath hers and thread our fingers together. Squeezing gently, I say, “Anna, I’d rather fake date you than never have fake dated you at all.”

She giggles. “Jaden, be serious.”

“I’m a hundred percent serious, and I’m telling you that you will not hurt me one bit. I can promise you that. I’m a big boy. You aren’t taking advantage of me. I offered. You’re my friend, and you’re in a bind. And I want to help. It’s a couple of friend outings with some paparazzi photos. I promise I have no grand ideas that it will be more than that.”

I don’t believe the words I’m saying, even as I give her my most serious face. The truth is, she could crush me and ruin my heart for anyone else. The smart thing to do would be to heed her warning and drop it, but I’ve never claimed to be very smart.

This is my dream girl, and it’s impossible for me to turn down the opportunity for more time with her. This is my chance, and I’m not going to blow it.

“Okay,” she says.

“Okay?” My voice rises an octave as I jump up from my seat.

“Yes.” She nods, standing. “Let’s do it.”

“Nice!” I give her another high five.

“This is going to be fun.” I wag my eyebrows.

She points a finger at me. “Do not make me regret this, Jaden. Remember, you’re doing this to help me, not make things worse.”

“I’d never make your life harder. Don’t worry.”

“Oh, I’m worried.” She blows out a breath.

I shoot a quick text to the limo driver. “Alright. We should get you back. You have to wake up early tomorrow.”

“That I do.” She grabs a small purse from one of the chairs and meets me by the door.

“What?” I eye her up and down. “No giant bag of Crane swag?”

She chuckles. “I think Miranda got enough for us both and then some.”

“I meant to tell you that you look absolutely amazing by the way. That jersey is”—my eyes wander over her body once more—“simply perfection on you. And the hearts are cute.” I tap her cheek.

“Thanks.”

I open the door to the suite and extend my hand. She takes it, and I thread my fingers through hers.

“Jaden?”

“We’re dating, right?”

“Oh yeah, right.” She nods and squeezes my hand.

I lead her through the halls, and we run into Eddy.

“Oh, hey… J-man, I just finished sharpening your skates. They’re back in your locker.” He’s chatting in his usual cheerful manner, oblivious to the woman at my side. In fairness, I’ve had a lot of women at my side over the years, but they never stick around for longer than a night. His demeanor shifts when he takes a second to register that it’s Annalise’s hand in mine. He morphs from his usual chill persona into a mumbling mess. “Oh… hi, Ms. Annalise.” He actually starts to bow before correcting himself. Standing up straight, he looks around as if he’s trying to find someone to save him.

I attempt to hide my amusement. Poor guy. I know exactly how he feels. Annalise has a way of turning strong men into mush. “Eddy, my man. This is my girlfriend, Annalise. Anna, this is the best equipment manager in the league and one of the team, Eddy.”

I refuse to let Anna’s hand go, so she awkwardly extends her free one. “Hi, Eddy. So nice to meet you. So you take care of the skates?”

Eddy shakes Anna’s hand, and his face lights up when he registers her question. If Eddy could talk about anything ad nauseam, it would be his job. I wasn’t just blowing smoke when I said he was the best in the league at what he does. “Oh, it’s more than skates.”

Before I can stop him, he’s all smiles as he jabbers on about his duties on the team. I love the guy, I do, but Anna and I have places to be. “Eddy.” I interrupt him. “I’m sorry, but we have a car waiting for us.”

“Oh right, sorry. Are you heading over to The Station?” he asks.

“Probably not tonight,” I respond.

“Okay, well, see you tomorrow,” he says to me before addressing Anna. “It was really nice meeting you.”

“You too,” she replies with a smile.

We leave Eddy and continue through the halls until we’re at the front of the arena. We step outside into the cool autumn air, and just as I knew they would be, a crowd of fans remains clustered around the entrance.

Before Anna can protest, I turn toward her, thread my fingers through the hair at the nape of her neck, and I kiss her. She gasps into my mouth, but I gently hold her face against mine. I will her to relax as my lips start to move against hers. It takes everything in me to remember where we are and what we’re doing because kissing Anna makes my knees weak. After a couple of seconds, Anna’s lips start to move against mine, and it takes all my willpower to remain in control. Unable to resist, I slide my tongue along the opening of her lips. I groan when her lips part, allowing me access. Our tongues touch and twirl around one another as Anna clings to my back. She whimpers, and I pull her closer to me, her chest against mine. I could kiss her forever.

“Sir. Sir.” A gruff voice at my side breaks the trance. “We should go.”

I pull away from Anna and become aware of the crowd of people circling us, way too close for my liking.

The limo driver who doubles as a security guard that I hired for the evening blocks people from getting too close to us. I wrap my arm around Anna as we hurry into the limousine.

Once the door is shut and we’re safely inside the vehicle, Anna looks at me, her eyes angry. “What was that, Jaden?”

“That was the hard launch of our relationship.” I smile.

And what a wonderful launch it was.