“Holy hell, you’re spiraling, girlfriend.” Ali lifts my glass to my mouth. “Drink up, calm down, and let’s talk.”
I dutifully take a drink, then stare down at the glass. “People are going to be watching. Not photographers, not histeammates, but people that will recognize him, know who he is. Then they’ll look at me, see how different we are, and wonder what the heck is going on. We have to spend forty-eight hours sharing the same living space and constantly beingonin front of these people. What if he can’t do it? What if he can’t pretend to like me for that long?”
“Sadie LeDuc. You’ve gone from ‘I need a leg wax,’ to ‘I might destroy his career,’ in two point five seconds. Take a breath, girlfriend. And remember this is not just on you. He’s got skin in this game, and if he wants this to work, he’s gonna have to step up. It’ll be his own damn fault if his career implodes. Don’t forget, you’ve held up your end of this deal for the last couple of weeks. Now it’s his turn to show that he can do it. It’s not your responsibility alone to convince people this relationship is real. You wanted him to help get Dirk off your back, and part of that is continuing to have everyone think you’re happy together. And as for him pretending to like you, how hard can it be?”
My best friend sounds offended on my behalf, and I finally crack a smile.
“You’re amazing. You’re beautiful, smart, funny, kind, and basically the most generous person I know. There’s absolutely nothing about you not to like, which means this is the easiest job he’s ever gonna have.”
I pick at invisible lint on the couch beside me, trying not to let my insecurities get the better of me.
“Dirk was right, I’m boring. I live a boring, normal life. I wear boring clothes. I’m not a supermodel, or some beautiful, elegant, perfect woman. I’m not the kind of girl professional athletes date.” I hold up my hand when I can sense Ali aboutto protest. “And I’m okay with that. Honestly. But we’re so different. It’s a lot to ask of him, to put aside those differences and somehow be believable in his attraction to me for this long. And if he can’t do it, then everything we’re trying to accomplish with this farce is at risk. Because I asked him to come to a wedding.”
Even as I say it, I know Ali’s right and I’m spiraling, taking on all the responsibility for something that wasn’t even my idea to begin with. But now that we’re in this, I feel so much pressure to do it right. To make this work for Maverick. There’s so much on the line, and I’ve just upped the stakes.
Chapter eleven
Maverick
Sadie and I agreed to meet at the ferry terminal. I’m not sure why she won’t just let me pick her up from her place, but whatever. Not my concern. At least that’s what I keep reminding myself, even as some annoying part of me wonders if it’s because she doesn’t trust me, or if there’s something she’s hiding.
I put my SUV in park and roll my shoulders, feeling out the twinge in my arm. After six weeks, things are feeling better. But not better enough to let me play, according to the team doctors. I’m getting antsy. I need to be on the field, shagging balls. Not playing PR puppet and going to fucking farmer’s markets.
Then again, as I watch Sadie approach, rolling a suitcase behind her, I have to admit, there are worse people to spend time with. She somehow makes it tolerable. Makes me feel comfortable, which isn’t an easy thing to do. I don’t open up to people. I don’t let them in. Hell, even guys I’ve played with for the last couple of years barely know anything about me. And that’s not because they haven’t tried. It’s because I don’t do that shit. Getting close to people only means they have the ability to hurt you.
“Hi,” Sadie says in a forced cheerful tone as she opens the back of my SUV. Belatedly, I realize I’m an ass and should probably be helping her load her stuff, but before I can even get out of the car, she’s done and opening the passenger door.
“Hey.” My voice sounds more gruff than intended, because I’m pissed at myself for not even having the basic decency to help a woman. Jesus Christ, I’m a lost fucking cause.
“Thanks again for agreeing to this, I know going to a wedding between two strangers is probably not high on your list of fun weekend plans.” I glance over before turning the engine on and see her hands in her lap, eyes downcast behind those big glasses. She’s dressed casually today in khaki shorts and some kinda shirt that looks like a button-up but with a tie at the bottom.Honestly, it looks like something you’d see on a bible camp counselor, but on Sadie, the innocent looks fucking indecent.
I really am a piece of shit. Lusting over my fake girlfriend who’s so far out of my league, we might as well be on different planets. A woman I can’t have, because if I fuck this up, my career could be over.
“It’s fine.”
I turn the engine on and drive out of the parking lot where we’re leaving her car, heading down the causeway toward the ferry terminal. I’ve only been to the island a couple of times, and in my opinion, the best part is the boat ride over. I fucking love being on the water. It’s why I’ve never wanted to live anywhere but here. Surrounded by mountains and oceans. The few years I spent with teams not on the coast were awful, and as soon as I hired Colin, I told him to get me back to Vancouver.
The guy in the ticket booth does a double take when he recognizes me, but thankfully, doesn’t say anything. Then we’re pulling into the long lineup of cars.
“Do you want anything to eat or drink?” Sadie asks, finally lifting her eyes to meet mine. “I can go inside the terminal and get it if you don’t want to.”
She just can’t seem to stop herself from bending over backward for me, and I don’t know how to convince her it isn’t necessary. Once again, my lack of social skills has me at a loss, and I fucking hate this feeling.
“I’m fine.”
“Oh, okay.”
Fuck. Now she’s staring down at her lap again. If this entire weekend is gonna consist of her feeling bad for me being here, then I might need a drink. And seeing as I’ve never had a drop of alcohol my entire life, that’s saying something. I know I’ve got to do something to get her to unwind.
“Sadie.” Her eyes shoot up to mine, wide and nervous. I try to soften my tone. “You gotta relax. You’re acting like you’ve fucking kidnapped me or forced me into this. You didn’t, okay? This is part of our deal. Anything you need to convince your friends and family that you’re good after the dirtbag breakup, I’m here for it. Right?”
Finally, I see the tiniest give in her shoulders. She gives me the barest of nods, but it’s enough. I recline my seat slightly. “We’ve got some time before we gotta load onto the boat. Let’s just chill.”
Spinning my hat bill around to face front, I pull it down to cover my eyes and try to settle. But I can feel her stare, and after a moment, I push the hat up and arch my brow at her. “What?”
Her pretty blush makes my dick stir in my pants, but I ignore it. Then she bites her plump lower lip and I want to tug it out of her teeth with my own.Fucking fuck. No.I might be attracted to the woman sitting next to me, but nothing, I mean nothing, can ever happen. She holds my career in her hands. One wrong word from her, and I could go from slowly reforming my bad boy image to a total write-off.
The fact that she is still giving off nervous-as-shit vibes has me blurting out, “Sadie, if you don’t want me here, say the word and I’ll go.”
