Page 58 of Rule 3: Never Fake Marry the Coach's Son

“You’re Kara?” Daniela asks.

The two women talk for a bit.

I give a frozen smile. I know Jeremy and Rex. I don’t know this woman.

Rex pulls out a chair for her, and she settles in the room, murmuring apologies in our direction.

She flutters her lashes in Dmitri’s direction. “Congratulations to the happy couple.”

I stiffen. This isn’t going to work. Dmitri is straight. She’s going to be able to tell.

I’ve seen Dmitri pick up women that look just like her at bars. She’s his type. I know, because I know everything about him.

But Dmitri gives the same polite nod that he’d given to Rex and Jeremy before, and he flashes the same smile that he gives audiences afterward.

“Thank you. We’re very happy.” He grabs my hand and squeezes it, and I try to be calm. I need to be calm. This meeting is important.

“So how did you fall in love?” Rex asks, his lips still drawn into a smirk.

I can answer this.

I’ve been in love with Dmitri for ages, even if that was never something I wanted to broadcast.

But Dmitri speaks before me. “Oskar and I have always been close. He’s my best friend. That’s always the best foundation for love.”

Rex narrows his brow. “I’ve always thought friendship was a great foundation for...good friendship.”

“Then you’re missing out,” Dmitri says lightly, his thumb tracing circles on my hand.

“We are best friends,” I say.

“How adorable,” the female reporter says.

Dmitri turns to her, and I stiffen. But he doesn’t look at her any differently, and I feel guilty for thinking that he would.

“Oskar is adorable,” Dmitri says, smiling at me fondly.

“And you eloped in Vegas,” Rex asks. “You married your best friend, a guy, even though you’ve always dated women before? Right after you had visa issues and realized you might be expelled from the country?”

Dmitri’s mouth falls. He’s not easily ruffled, but yeah, he’s ruffled now.

“Dmitri and I were dating. We kept it quiet because he didn’t want me to be in the news.” I give my best smile. “I’m sort of shy.”

“And when I found out about the visa issue, I realized I didn’t want to live my life without Oskar,” Dmitri says. “He’s the most important person in my life.”

“And now we’re married,” I say, my heart beating wildly.

“Happy ending,” Rex says.

“Very,” Jeremy says.

The female reporter claps her hands. “Super adorable.”

Dmitri stands abruptly. “We should go. I, um, need to get back to practice. And Oskar will be busy with his work.”

We hurry from the room.

“That could have gone better,” I say.