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“Did she really call you a pig the first time you met?” I wished I hadn’t told him that, but it had accidentally come out when I’d been trying to explain how I’d ended up dating Hoffman’s ex-girlfriend. I needed to watch what I said if I didn’t want Matt to get suspicious.

“Yeah, we got off to a slightly rocky start.”

Matt grinned. “Sounds like she had you all figured out from day one.”

“Why am I friends with you again?”

He laughed, but chose to ignore my question “Anyway, I think you’re good together. Even if she is from Sunshine Prep and hates hockey.”

I really wished he’d move on from talking about Violet, because the longer he did, the more guilty I felt that I hadn’t told my best friend the truth. I didn’t have it in me though. Especially not after the reaction I’d gotten from Grayson.

“I’m just doing my best not to scare her off,” I replied. It was particularly hard because of the strength of my feelings for her. If she knew I wasn’t playing pretend, we’d be over faster than I could blink.

“A challenge for you, I’m sure.” He smirked. “Especially given all the shit she’ll have heard about you.”

“I’m working on that,” I said. I was doing my best to put any worries she had about the rumor mill to bed. “I think she knows most of the rumors aren’t true.”

“But not all of them. Just last week, I heard a new one. Apparently you made some freshman wet his pants because you looked at him the wrong way.”

I grimaced. “Actually, I think that one might be true.”

“Seriously?”

“What?” I shrugged. “I can’t help it if people think I’m terrifying.”

“Poor kid.” Matt shook his head. “If only he knew the truth that you’re really more of a cuddly bear than a grizzly one.”

“No one must ever know,” I joked.

“So, when are you seeing her again?”

Apparently, we were talking about Violet again. “Tomorrow night,” I replied. “There’s a few things left to do on her car, then I’m going to drop it off at her place after school.”

“Didn’t realize Danny did drop-offs.” Matt was smirking again.

“He doesn’t.”

“Like I said, Darling, you’re just a big cuddly teddy bear.”

I grunted in reply. Mostly because I knew there was little point arguing.

I managed to keep Matt off the topic of Violet until we eventually went our separate ways to our next classes.

When I arrived at English lit, I took my usual seat at the back of the room.

I was actually glad to be in class for once.

I needed the distraction. But only a moment passed before the seat beside me was filled and my peace was over.

“What’s this I hear about you falling in love with a Sunshine Hills girl?” Paige asked, beaming up at me.

It seemed like Violet was all anyone wanted to talk about today. It was bigger news than if I’d just announced I was skipping college and heading straight for the NHL. I knew it had been a while since I’d dated anyone, but it wasn’t that shocking, was it?

“Grayson been gossiping again, has he?” I could only hope he hadn’t told Paige too much about Violet and me.

Paige let out a light laugh. It was so genuine and filled with delight. “Grayson? Gossiping?”

“It’s been known to happen.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, tilting her head. “I think he’d rather have his tongue removed than wag it around with something as useless as gossip.”

She had a point. Grayson hated talking about other people. But then again, he hated talking at all unless it was totally necessary.

“So, you’ve heard all the chatter today then?” I asked. “I didn’t realize so many people saw us at Nino’s last night.”

“Well, that, and Parker did a whole Instagram story last night about the fact you’d found love.”

Damn it. Of course, my younger brother was the one to blame. It was rare that he wasn’t. I’d muted Parker on Instagram months ago because his posts were incessant and, like him, they drove me crazy. I should have known it would come back to bite me in the ass.

“I’m going to kill him.”

“That seems fair,” Paige replied with a grin. “I’m sure most of the school saw it after all.”

“You’re really not making me feel any less murderous.”

“Oh, come on, Reed. You wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Why do people keep saying that today,” I mumbled.

“What?” She sounded innocent enough, but her eyes sparkled in reaction. “Maybe because it’s true.”

“It’s not. You’ve seen me play. Our opponents have been known to fake injuries to avoid coming up against me. The rest tend to dodge the puck at all costs when I’m on the ice.”

“You sound like Parker.”

“Please never say that.”

“Besides,” she continued, totally ignoring me. “I like to think the aggression you display on the ice is just another one of your hockey skills. It’s something you only use in games. You’re nothing like that off the ice.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t need the idiots at our school knowing that.”

She let out a sigh. “I hate that you’re always trying to be something you’re not. Grayson hates it too.”

“If Grayson has a problem with me, he can tell me himself. Plus, he’s just as much a Darling Devil as I am.”

Paige laughed, and her eyes sparkled. “That’s because Grayson’s scowl genuinely is terrifying. But you’re an ooey-gooey marshmallow on the inside, and Gray and I both wish everyone else knew it.”

I lowered my head into my hands. “Can we please talk about something else.”

“Naw, but this is so much fun.”

I glanced up at her, my eyes pleading with her to give me a break.

She simply winked. “Does Violet know?”

“Know what?”

“About your soft fluffy center?”

I glared at Paige, which only made her face light up even more. “We haven’t known each other very long,” I replied. “She’s heard more about my devilish reputation than my squishy inner core.”

“Well, just tell her the Reed Darling she’s heard about isn’t the real Reed Darling.”

“I’ve told her I like to maintain a certain level of infamy for hockey.”

“I’m not talking about hockey,” she said. “I’m talking about the fact everyone thinks you’re some serial heartbreaker when really you’re the one who got?—”

“I don’t want to talk about that with Violet. I don’t want to talk about that with anyone.”

“I’m just saying, if you opened up to her, she’d be able to understand why you’ve got such an unfair reputation,” Paige continued. “I know it’s been a while since you let anyone in, especially a girl like Violet. But freshman year was a long time ago?—”

“Okay!” I interrupted her again. “Okay, I’ll think about it.”

Paige shot me a skeptical glance, clearly unsure whether to believe me.

She was right to be suspicious. I had no intention of telling Violet the embarrassing and painful details of my breakup with Natalie.

I was already worried I’d bitten off more than I could handle with this fake relationship.

Opening myself up even more was just asking for trouble.

“Good.” Paige nodded as though her work was done. “Now, when do I get to meet her. Is she coming to family dinner on Sunday night?”

“What? No!” I almost choked on the words. But then my eyes narrowed with suspicion. Grayson had also mentioned bringing Violet to family dinner. The two of them had definitely been talking—or plotting, more like it. “It’s too early to subject her to my family,” I added.

“Don’t be silly. I’m sure she’ll love them.”

“Then it’s too early to subject her to you.”

She laughed. “She’s going to love me too.”

I didn’t know a single person who didn’t love Paige. She was impossible to dislike. Though, with all these questions she was asking about Violet, I was beginning to wonder if perhaps it was easier than I thought.

I’d instinctively dismissed the idea of Violet coming to family dinner, but as I considered it, I was surprised to find I enjoyed the thought of her getting to know my family.

My house was chaos, and my family, especially my siblings, were a lot to handle.

Still, I had a feeling she’d fit right in.

Besides, it wouldn’t be long before my mom found out about Violet and personally invited her.

Especially now that Parker had publicly announced my relationship status on social media.

Perhaps I should ask Violet to come. I’d have to think of a way to link it to our agreement so she didn’t become suspicious about why I wanted her there.

And there was also the chance my family would scare her off.

But a stupid part of me wanted to take the risk.

There was nowhere I was more myself than at home.

If I did somehow find the courage to open up to Violet as Paige suggested, that was the best place to do it.

“You really like her, don’t you?” Paige’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I glanced across at her.

“I barely know her.” I shrugged.

She shook her head but retained her gentle smile. How could she see through me so easily?

“Whatever, Reed,” she said with a wink. “I look forward to meeting Violet on Sunday.”