Page 7

Chapter 7

Gabi

T he playoffs begin and suddenly, the Blades' calendar is more hectic than a cat in a room full of laser pointers. Every minute of every day is spoken for, whether it's practice, games, or—my personal nightmare—media interviews.

It's only been a week since Jacob and I have made our fake engagement "official" and already, our faces are constantly plastered on phone screens everywhere.

Social media is abuzz about the charming Jacob "Jackhammer" Walker popping up with a fiancée...and a baby.

It's a lie we tell to everyone but our closest friends. We do let Lexi and Gio in on the secret, however. I try my best to pretend everything about this "arrangement" is normal.

But on a particularly rainy summer Sunday, I can't escape my best friend's scrutiny as we shop in a boutique...only this time we're shopping more for the baby than we are shopping for me.

Alexandra turns to me, blonde curls swinging between the racks.

"So, tell me," she starts, "how is this supposed to work again? You and Jacob?"

I sigh. "Okay, for the last time: we're pretending to be engaged to let the rumors about him and the Chicago Blades owner's wife die. We'll play the part of the perfect couple until the Blades lose in the playoffs..."

"Or they win the whole damn thing."

I shrug. "Whatever happens to come first."

"And Jacob...he just pretends to be…what exactly?”

“Well, the official story is that Jacob and I were together—or dating. We took a break. Dated other people. And I happened to get pregnant. That’s when Jacob and I discovered that we couldn’t live without each other and we’ve been inseparable since. We’re not rushing to get married, but we wanted to make it official for the baby’s sake.” I pause, realizing how ridiculous this all sounds.

Lexi raises an eyebrow. "Sounds like a lot of pretending."

"Tell me about it. But if we do it right, it'll save Jacob's career and avoid a major scandal for the team."

"And what about you? Your own career?"

I shrug. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity to work in public relations. It's what I do, what I'm good at. In order to keep being good at it, I can deal with a little acting."

"You mean acting like Jacob isn't the father of your unborn baby when he actually is?"

"Correct."

Alexandra rubs her hairline. "The whole thing makes my brain hurt just thinking about it."

"Trust me, it's not easy for me either."

She turns to a nearby mirror and holds up a cute green onesie. "But look at this, Gabi," she coos. "This would be perfect for your little bundle of joy." She clears her throat. "Or, rather, you and your real-slash-fake-baby daddy’s bundle of joy."

"Thanks for reminding me." I continue sifting through the racks.

Alexandra shoots me a narrow look before turning back to her own row of clothes. "So...have you and Jacob talked about what happens after all of this? Like, when the playoffs are over? You just pretend that you're broken up and that Jacob is, what, an absentee stepfather?"

I feel a pang in my chest. "Not 'absentee'. Just not engaged. No one will look any further into our relationship when we announce it's over. Couples with kids break up all the time. And...well, we haven't exactly discussed it."

"You mean you, Little Miss-Plans-Every-Second-of-Every-Day-on-the-Calendar, didn't plan for a post-fake engagement plot?" Alexandra holds up another onesie, this time with a slogan that reads “Mommy's Little Tax Deduction”.

I roll my eyes. "Shut up." But she has a point.

I've been too preoccupied with the immediate task of convincing everyone that Jacob and I are in love, when in reality, I'm trying to keep my feelings in check and avoid any unnecessary complications.

But now that Alexandra mentions it...

I shake my head. "Let's just focus on getting through the next few weeks first."

"Right." Alexandra nods. "Because that's totally going to be easy with a fake fiancé and all."

My phone suddenly buzzes in my pocket just as Alexandra holds up another adorable onesie.

I fish it out and glance at the screen. The name Sophie Bennett flashes back at me.

"Who is it?" Alexandra asks, catching on to my sudden change in demeanor.

"It's...my intern. The one I inherited when I started this job."

Alexandra smirks. "The one you've been avoiding like the plague?"

I wince. "You noticed?"

My best friend nods, and I groan out loud, my back aching as I gaze at the ceiling.

At twenty-two years old, Sophie is young enough to call me "ma'am" but too old to not know how to use the office printer properly. Since I started this job, the eager college graduate has been trying to get me alone since the news of my fake engagement broke out. She wants to know all about it, and probably expects some juicy details about my supposed relationship with Jacob.

I've been dodging her questions and requests for lunch dates, hoping she'll eventually get the hint.

But now, with Alexandra's words still ringing in my ears, there's a niggling part of me that wonders if maybe I should tell my employee the truth.

Or maybe that's just my pregnancy brain coming up with crazy ideas.

Normally she texts, but when she calls, that means it's urgent. It seems like everything is these days.

"I have to take this," I mouth at Alexandra, before stepping away and answering the call.

"Hey, Sophie! What's up?" I say, trying to sound cheerful even though talking to Sophie usually means dealing with fires that need to be put out.

"Hi, Miss De Luca. Sorry to bother you on your off day off," she hesitates, "but I've got a few things to report. Thought we should get them out of the way now before the week starts."

"Okay. " I take a deep breath. "Shoot. I'm all ears."

"Well, first of all, the printer in the conference room is acting up again. I've tried everything, but it keeps jamming. It's going to need a technician to come look at it."

I sigh, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. This was not urgent at all.

"Okay, I'll schedule someone to come fix it tomorrow. What else?"

"Well," she pauses again, "we have a problem. With Evan Daniels and his interviews. Or lack thereof."

"Evan...Daniels." I try to place him. "You mean our starting goalie?"

"That's the one. I've tried everything to convince him, but he's not budging. He says..."

"He says what?" I wait. "Sophie, what exactly did Evan say?"

She clears her throat. "He said, and I quote, 'I'd rather effing wrestle a bear while wearing a meat suit than sit through another one of those mind-numbing interviews. At least the bear might be interesting'."

"Well, that certainly sounds like him. Anything else, Sophie?"

"Uh, only that your brother Gio is steaming mad about some article talking about his fight during the last game. A local magazine wants to do an interview and feature you and Mr. Walker. Oh, and your grandmother called the office phone and left a message. Since your office voicemail forwards to my phone, I'll give you the general gist." She coughs. "She says 'she appreciates you and Jacob bringing you her prune juice, but you forgot the vodka. How else is she supposed to make her penne alla vodka sauce without the main ingredient?'”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, holding back a snort. "Trust me, that's not what she wants the vodka for. I'll call her back later."

"Of course, ma'am."

"Well, thanks for the updates, Sophie. I'll take care of things."

I glance over at Alexandra, who is pretending not to listen while shamelessly rooting through racks of overpriced baby cardigans.

I turn to her. "I'm just going to give my Nonna a quick call. Maybe I can buy some time before I need to deal with the latest drama," I say, rolling my eyes. She nods, hardly suppressing a smirk.

I dial Nonna's number and wait, fully prepared for her usual theatrical greeting.

"Ah, Gabriella! Did you finally remember my vodka?" she answers on the second ring.

"Nonna, you know that's not for cooking. What are you up to?"

"Oh, just talking to Jacob. He's quite the charmer, isn't he? Helps me with my crossword puzzles and shares recipes." She lets out a playful giggle.

"Wait, Jacob? You've...you've talked to him? Recently?"

"Why, yes. He checked in on me after our little cooking session. Such a sweet boy. You know, if you don't snatch him up, someone else will."

Before I can fully process this revelation, Alexandra sidles up beside me. "Everything okay, Gabi?" she asks.

I cover the phone. "Nonna's been chatting with Jacob, apparently." Alexandra's eyebrows shoot up, but she says nothing, motioning for me to continue.

"Nonna, I'll bring your vodka soon, I promise. Just…please tell me you’ll use it for the penne and not for getting drunk and watching reruns of the Price is Right .” I don’t wait for her to answer. “Love you. See you soon,” I say quickly, ending the call and trying to process this new information.

Alexandra doesn't miss a beat. "Jacob and Nonna, huh? Sounds like a potential wrench in your well-oiled fake relationship machine."

"Is this Screw-With-Gabi day?" I rub one of my temples, trying to stave off a headache. "Seriously. Between the players on the team, Sophie freaking out with every bump in the road at work, and now Nonna and Jacob? What's next?"

"Who knows," Alexandra shrugs, tossing a toddler-sized scarf from the rack over her shoulder. "But, uh, does Nonna know about this fake engagement?"

"She does not. And that's the way it should stay."

"Hmm. Then why do you think Jacob is checking in on her? He's acting awfully similar to a real fiancé, wouldn't you say?"

"Oh no, not you, too..."

"I'm just saying. I’m with you. I don’t know if I can trust the guy as far as I can throw him, but from you’ve said, he’s been…”

“Been what?”

“I don’t know. Surprising, I guess? Ever since you showed up, the rumors about him have disappeared. I’d say the plot is definitely thickening."

To say I'm flustered is an understatement. Alexandra's grin widens like she's just hit the jackpot in a gossip lottery.

"Look, Gabi, I'm just saying—if Jacob's taking the time to check on Nonna, maybe he’s more invested than we thought he was capable of. You should be careful. Real feelings could be a messy addition to this whole charade."

"Feelings?" I throw the phone in my hand back in my purse with a thunk. "No way. Not happening. Lex, have you forgotten why we're doing this in the first place? Jacob, looking mightily chummy with the Chicago Blades owner's wife? The man is capable of charming anything on two legs. Hell, four legs, too, if we're being honest. Doesn't mean I'm lining up to be one of them."

Alexandra looks at me, arching an eyebrow. "So, you're saying there's zero chance you might be developing actual feelings for him?"

"Exactly. This whole thing is a strategic maneuver. Nothing real about it. Jacob and I are strictly business."

"And the fact that the plot isn't the only thing thickening when he looks at you?" She blinks. "You haven't noticed? The guy looks at you like you're a bucket of fried chicken on Super Bowl Sunday."

"Right. And I'm sure he's just dying to be with someone who's constantly trying to find ways to get rid of him."

Alexandra rolls her eyes. "You two are both too stubborn for your own good." She grabs a stack of sweaters and starts rifling through them, clearly not ready to give up on this conversation.

"Well, at least one of us is smart enough to see that this fake engagement is purely business," I retort, feeling my face flush.

"Deny it all you want, Gabi. But deep down, you know there's something more there. You wouldn't be so damn defensive if there wasn't."

I huff and cross my arms, refusing to admit that maybe Alexandra has a point.

Maybe there is something about Jacob that goes beyond his annoyingly charming exterior. But I refuse to let myself go down that path. I refuse to invest in someone who I know will get gone when the going gets tough.

I've made that mistake before. Held out hope for fickle people who ultimately left me high and dry.

Left Gio. Left Nonna.

And their names were Mom and Dad.

Right now, my focus is on building my career, not getting swept away by some hot-shot hockey player—a man who can spend a night with a woman and forget her by morning.

Nope, not me. Not again. Not the hell ever.

"Let's just drop it, okay?" I say firmly, trying to shut down this conversation before it spirals any further. "Tomorrow's a travel day for the team. For me. We're headed to New York for the game on Tuesday, and I need to pack."

Alexandra seems to get the hint and nods. "Fine, fine. I'll leave you to your denial." She winks at me before walking to another aisle of the baby boutique, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I let out a deep sigh and fix my mind on the task at hand. I have a big game ahead of me and I need to be focused.

But my mind keeps wandering back to Jacob, his bright blue eyes, and his infectious laugh. And as much as I hate to admit it, Alexandra may be right.

Maybe there is something more there. Maybe this fake engagement is stirring up feelings that I didn't even know were possible.

And maybe, just maybe, I need to put additional guardrails in place before this trip. No harm in adding a few more rules to the never-ending list that is my life.

Rules like…

No keeping in touch with each other's grandmothers. No late-night potato peeling. And definitely, no falling for a guy who could break my heart in an instant.

Feeling more determined than I have in the last few days, I grab a few onesies, motioning to Lexi before heading to the checkout counter with a new plan and a new sense of purpose.