I groan, shaking out my legs. The material from the blow-up dog costume that I’m wearing makes a scratchy, awful sound. I don’t want to do this, but I know Red was onto something. This is the kind of shit Lowesy and his boys from home would do. It’ll change the tide in my favour.
I still don’t want to do it.
I glare behind me, to where Arden is hiding behind the wall of the garage with a portable speaker. She nods, pointing to the front door. Her brown eyes are full of amusement, that sexy ass smile on those cherry lips.
I roll my eyes and shuffle forward toward the door like a fucking penguin. I knock loudly, praying that they’re not home and that we can pretend this never happened. There is no way I’m putting on this stupid costume twice.
The dogs start barking from inside. I suck in a breath, swearing to myself.
It’s now or fucking never, I guess.
The door swings open and the karaoke version of some sad love song starts playing from behind me. I open my mouth as I come face to face with the future Mrs. Declan Lowes.
Penny blinks, confusion washing over her face. She leans forward, her brows pinching together, peering through the small screen that the costume gives my face. When she realizes that it’s me, the biggest, brightest smile explodes across her mouth. She tilts her head back and cackles.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” She laughs, bending forward to smack her hand to her knee. “Hold on, hold on! Start the song over. I’ll go get him.”
She turns and slams the door shut without another word. The music stops abruptly, the dogs still barking incessantly inside the house. I glance over my shoulder at Red, who is smiling like an angel. She gives me an encouraging thumbs up.
The door opens again. She curses, fumbling with the speaker. Seconds later, the music begins to play for a second time.
I turn to face Lowesy. He’s holding that little runt in his hands, Penny behind him on the steps with her hand clasped over her mouth. His eyes widen to the size of planets when he realizes it’s me in this stupid costume. A look of sheer terror washes over him.
I clear my throat.
Here goes nothing.
“To my Darling Lowesy,” I begin, loud and proud.
Penny explodes into a fit of laughter. I haven’t even started yet.
Declan’s face morphs into disgust, staring at me like I’ve grown a tail. Technically, Idohave one right now.
“What I did really blow…sied,” I continue, and when that horrified frown grows, I stifle a sigh. “I missed your poker game and that was rude. Especially because you’re such a stand-up dude.”
Declan cracks then. His eyes shut in a wince, shaking his head to make sure he’s seeing this right.
I’m reading him a poem, dressed in a costume that looks like the dog he’s holding, on his front doorstep. With my tail between my legs.
He runs his free hand over his bottom jaw and leans against the doorframe.
“I know that I have lost your trust, and I’ll do anything to rectify it for…us. Like talk about your dreamy hazel eyes, your hot little dimples, or your tattooed thigh.”
Penny is now in hysterics. She’s laughing so hard that she’s frantically wiping her face free of tears so that she doesn’t have to miss a second of this show.
I shift in my costume, wanting to die.
Declan’s glaring at me still, horrified.
“You’re a gift to the game, and you know it’s true. You have the nastiest hands in the league. You’re a beaut.”
“Dear god.” He cringes, his shoulders shaking with disgust. He mutters under his breath. “That didn’t even rhyme.”
“I love all of the things that you do. I am…the biggest fan…” My eyes slide up to his from their position of shame on the floor. “...of you.”
His grin breaks behind his hand. He continues to stare at me, appalled. “That’s great.”
“I’m not fucking done,” I snap.
