Page 1 of Reckless Storm (San Francisco End Game #3)

Reed

H ayley nibbles the flesh of her gloss-covered lips, silently reading her group chat messages. She angles the phone my way, her gaze briefly flitting to mine as she lets me read along.

Paige: A FAKE RELATIONSHIP?! Yes!

Amelia: That could work. Side note: Luke’s trying to look over my shoulder but I won’t let him see what we’re discussing

Paige: Whoops. Are we not supposed to tell the guys? Easton says hi. He loves the idea. But mainly because it takes the spotlight away from him

Keeley: Paige, tell that brother of mine to grow up. He’s a damn football player. He’ll always be in the spotlight

Paige: (Laughing emoji) Well, grumpy Easton is back. Thanks, Keeley. He wants the discussion to revert to Reed

I shake my head as a smile tugs at my lips.

But it’s fleeting. They want me to fake a relationship?

As if. I’m not going along with an idea taken straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie.

What do they think is going to happen? That my best friend will see me dating someone else and fall to her knees, begging me to break it off because she’s always loved me?

I’m ninety-nine percent sure she already knows how I feel, and it’s fucking with my head. She’s fucking with my head. So yes, it’s about time I did something to change that. But that something isn’t this.

“You need to shut it down. Now ,” I tell Hayley, running my hands down my face, forcing a laugh. “I wish I’d never said anything to Luke. He’s taken my words way out of context.”

Unfortunately, it’s no secret that I have a thing for my best friend, Bria. I wouldn’t say I’m in love with her—like my friends so happily like to point out—but there are definitely feelings there beyond that of a traditional friendship.

And it’s been that way for years .

Bria and I go way back. We attended the University of California together in Los Angeles, and when I was drafted to San Francisco after college, she followed me here, chasing her dream while I chased mine.

Now, she’s working her way up the ranks at a big accounting firm with a goal to be the youngest partner by the time she turns thirty. And I couldn’t be prouder.

But, in order to attain that type of goal, she’s always put her career first. As have I. And because of that, I never told her how I felt. It was never the right time.

Not that she’s oblivious. She knows. We’ve just never discussed it. Or let ourselves cross that line.

Except once.

And it didn’t end well.

Cut to last week when I decided to get drunk and open my big mouth to the one guy who has trouble keeping his shut—my teammate Luke Bennett, star tight end for the San Francisco Storm, reformed playboy, and one of my closest friends on the team.

Also known as a loudmouth.

I may as well have shouted it from the center of the field during the Super Bowl halftime show. Because that man can gossip.

Now, his wife, Amelia—as much as I love her—has started a group chat about it with some of the girlfriends…wives…sisters…and even goddamn friends of the players on my team, and there’s no way back.

Hayley—one of the previously mentioned friends —smirks as she undoubtedly prepares to set me straight, something she loves doing. “According to Amelia, you told Luke your ‘love life was fucked’ and that you ‘needed to fix it.’”

Jesus, I’m a dick. While I have no recollection of that happening, it definitely sounds like me. Not that I’m going to admit that right now. I’m already in too deep. “So what you’re saying is that everyone’s taking Luke’s word for it, because I was too drunk to remember?”

“Yep.”

“Meaning…you’re not shutting it down?”

“Nope.” Hayley’s radiant smile lights up her face as she brushes a few wayward hairs away from her eyes, pinning me with her stare.

I met Hayley last year at a joint Thanksgiving and Christmas get-together with my team, hosted by our reluctant coach.

We’d been there to fake it for a film crew—for a TV series about our football team—and Hayley happens to be the director’s best friend.

The director who’s now married to the infamous Luke and the two ex-enemies have a baby together.

The beautiful Juliet. The reason for my crazy “my love life sucks” rant.

I want that.

Not the accidental pregnancy and subsequent heartache my friends went through, but the endgame. I want a wife; I want kids.

I want Bria.

But I’m beginning to realize that’s not likely to happen.

When I don’t respond, Hayley raises an eyebrow in challenge and an idea hits me.

After Hayley and I first met, we ran into each other a few times, but in the last couple of months, our relationship has morphed from being a friend's friend, to a friend, to close friends, to now speaking daily. Much to Bria’s annoyance.

Hayley could be exactly what I need to show Bria what she’s missing. But not in the way they’re all thinking.

I try to hide my responding smile, but this is too good to suppress and Hayley notices instantly. “What’s that look about?”

“I’ve come up with a plan.”

“Oh, yeah?” Her nose scrunches at the thought. While I wouldn’t say my plans are as daring as Hayley’s usually are, I have been known to have good ideas occasionally .

“Instead of this fake dating nonsense, I’m going to tell Bria I have a thing for you and we’ll see how she reacts.”

Hayley bursts out laughing. “Oh, Reed.” She pats my leg condescendingly, her smile innocent as she teases. “If only it was that easy. It won’t work unless she believes she’s going to lose you.”

“It’s worth a shot though, right?” I comically cringe and Hayley shakes her head, biting back her sympathetic grin.

“Wrong.” She waves off my thoughts. “Lucky for you, now I have an idea.”

Uh, shit. Hayley and her ideas. While I generally love the way her mind works and all the wild adventures she takes me on, I have a feeling I’m not going to like this. Especially when she adds, “You’re going to love it.”

I force a smile in anticipation, and she snorts, sitting tall and proud.

“I’m going to be your fake girlfriend.”

“You’re what now?” My eyes bulge as I do a double take. I did not see that coming.

“I’m volunteering,” she continues as though I was genuinely confused. “I’m an actress; it makes sense for your new girlfriend to be me.”

“Ahh, no. That’s insane and you know it. Plus—”

“I disagree,” she cuts me off, excitement in her tone.

“It makes perfect sense. I’m single. You’re single.

I’m hot. You’re insanely gorgeous and you can’t deny we’d make a stunning couple.

” She winks while I roll my eyes jokingly.

“It’s a no-brainer, Reed. We get along. We have fun.

Give me one good reason why it shouldn’t be me? ”

“Maybe because I don’t think it’s a good idea to begin with. Fake dating is crazy. Come on, Hayls. Think about it.”

“Reed.” She hits me with her arresting gaze, her look telling me she thinks I’m crazy, not the idea. But she’s wrong. I’m being sensible.

“Hayley.” I stare back at her, mimicking her stance when she crosses her arms over her chest and pouts.

“Are you saying I couldn’t pull it off?”

What? Dammit . She’s good. Now I feel bad.

“Hayley Jackman from down under. You know I think you’re brilliant. And while I’m sure this could be the acting role of your life, you’re forgetting one major plot hole.” Hayley’s smile returns but it won’t last long. I’m about to prove why this is a terrible idea. “I can’t act.”

“But—”

“Or lie,” I add, though she already knows this.

“There are ways around that, Reed. Trust me. I’ve worked on some pretty amateur productions and people still loved them.”

I fall quiet, acutely aware that she is unlikely to give up on this. Once Hayley has an idea in her head, it’s not easy to get her past it. And I’m usually the one going along for the ride.

“For someone that thought I was insane, you’re sure taking a long time to say no.”

“I didn’t say you were insane, Hayls. The idea is just…

” God, I don’t even know. I release an overexaggerated sigh, knowing she’s about to sass me, and beat her to the punch.

“It’s not the craziest idea I’ve heard come out of your mouth.

But I’m going to need to think about it. I’m still not convinced.”

Her eyes light up in victory, reinforcing the fact that I can’t say no to her.

“I’ll take it,” she says, squeezing my leg as she bounces around on the couch. “For now, anyway. I have no doubt I’ll change your mind.”