I can barely think straight. Everything about this charade feels like a betrayal—not just to Ty, but to myself. Before I can come up with a reason to immediately leave, his grandma makes her way right up to me.
“Oh, there you are,” she says warmly. “I told Bodan there is no way you can leave before I have a chance to be properly introduced to you.” Her dull blue eyes sweep over me. “You are Lottie?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I manage, dipping my head slightly and praying the lights don’t pick up the blush growing on my cheeks.
Her gaze softens, bringing the sense that’s she’s one of those sweet people who doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. “Well, I tell Bodan all the time he’s my favorite grandson. Any woman who ends up with him has to be equally as special. When I heard he was dating you, it felt like all my years of prayers came true.”
Bodan glances at me as a flicker of guilt crosses his face. When I turn back to his grandma her eyes are bright, spiraling with wishful specks. Maybe he feels the need to be more convincing, because he steps closer and then gestures to my mom, who is still on my side, to bring her into the conversation. “Grandma, this is Lottie’s mom, Senator Halloway.”
Immediately extending her hand, my mom beams at his grandma. “Oh, please, you don’t need to call me Senator. Call me Trudy.”
I bite my lip. In the years my mom has held that title, she’s never once preferred it not be used. She must be desperate to get these people to think she’s approachable.
“Nice to meet you, Trudy,” his grandma says, nodding her approval. “It’s lovely that you were able to come today.”
I force a smile as my phone buzzes in my pocket. Casually slipping it out with my free hand, I glance down.
Ty: Hey, how’s it going?
My chest tightens as my thumb hovers over the screen. Indecision slices through me. Bodan’s grandmother’s eyes are still on us. With a sharp pang, I realize how trapped I am. Even if I could take a moment to reply to Ty, it does nothing to solve thefact I just invited one more person—Bodan’s sweet and trusting grandma—into my web of lies. This funeral was supposed to be the end of this arrangement, but with the way his grandma’s eyes are sparkling at me, my doom spiral deepens.
I tuck my phone into my pocket. As much as it pains me to put Ty off, he needs to wait. “Who’s texting you?” Mom’s voice is deceptively casual. I don’t miss how sharp her eyes are when she tilts her head in, trying to get a glimpse of my screen before it goes into my pocket.
I freeze. This is where it would be handy to have a life outside of work. Before this last week when Ty came into town, I never went anywhere or did anything. If I did get a random text in the middle of the day, it was always about work—usually my mom’s business—which is probably why she feels entitled to know. “Just a friend,” I mutter, telling myself that’s not a lie. Ty has always been my friend.
She studies me for a long beat, then lets out a sigh before turning back to Bodan and his grandma and saying, “Well, this has been a lovely service, and it was wonderful to meet you both. Unfortunately, I must take off.” She turns to me and lifts a brow, like that alone should tell me exactly what to do next.
“Mom—” I start but stop when her brow spikes even higher. I hadn’t expected her to leave so soon, since this was her idea to come. Part of me wonders if she’s up to something else. I side-eye her, waiting to see what she’s really up to.
She bows her head to his grandma again, saying, “My deepest condolences to you both.”
“Thanks for coming.” Bodan nods, then tilts his head at me, like he’s not sure what’s going on either. Mom gives a small wave and disappears into the crowd, leaving us alone.
I let out a shaky breath. “Okay. I’m her ride, so I guess I should go too, but I’ll text you.”
“Sure.” He waits a beat before leaning in and hugging me, dropping a quick kiss on my cheek that I’m sure was just for his grandma. I pull away as fast as I can and nod toward his grandma as I’m already spinning on my heel. “It was a pleasure to meet you.” She smiles and waves, and I speed out the door, all the while keeping my face down to avoid being recognized. Bodan’s grandma’s bright eyes burn into my brain, causing my heart to plummet. Nobody was supposed to be hurt in this arrangement.
This was a terrible idea.
It needs to end.
Now.
Well, okay, not now, because Bodan is literally still at a funeral, but very soon.
thirty-two
Tyson
It’sgamefour,andI’m taped up and my jersey is on straight with no stickers. I tap my stick against the floor as I wait for the Zamboni to finish its lap, and my legs jitter with restless energy that only shows up when I’m on the edge of something.
Pucks are going to be flying.
I can feel a win tonight.
Call me superstitious, but I know better than to say it out loud. I already know for sure Lottie isn’t here. She texted she’s a no-go with her mom. She should be in the stands. Instead, she’s hiding out and stealing peeks of the game on her phone whenever her mom isn’t looking. That’s no way to live. The whole situation has added anger to the mix of adrenaline I’m already feeling.
Maybe I have a bad attitude about it.
