The building was quiet today. The lobby was empty. I guessed the rain kept people indoors. Josh pushed the buttons for our floors in the elevator and my heart sunk. My brain argued with my heart.You turned him down!
The doors opened and I was surprised when he followed me out.
“You don’t have to walk me to the door,” I stammered nervously.
“Shush. Yes I do.”
“Josh.”
“April,” he mocked. “Just give me this, okay? I’m enjoying this time.”
Biting the inside of my lip to keep from ruining whatever that was, I led the way down the long corridor to my door.
When we reached my front door, I dug in my purse, happy to have found my keys. I gave them a little jingle, which made him laugh.
“Didn’t want to stay with me again?” His tone was light and teasing.
“You do snore.”
He rolled his eyes. “Not a chance.”
I laughed. He stepped closer to me and I froze. My heart was pounding on my ribcage.
“Think about what I said.”
“What about the clubhouse rules?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“We add legitimacy to our story. Rules can be swayed if we’re careful.”
My eyebrows knitted together.
“We can be discreet. Tell who we need to. No one wants to lose anyone.”
My head screamed; it was plausible. If they thought he was helping me for my Papi’s party, no one would make a big deal out of it. “But, why?”
He leaned in, his heavy breath whispering against my skin, leaving a wave of tingles. “Because you and I don’t back down from a challenge. You have your reasons and so do I.” He paused, his eyes falling to my lips, “You deserve to have someone show up for you. To show you off.”
My breath caught in my throat. He added, “We need each other.”
There was something genuine in his voice. “Let me think about it.”
“Good.” He smirked. “But I’mnotgiving up.”
“Noted.” I smiled.
As he backed away, it felt like he took all the heat with him. He shoved his hands in his pockets and headed back toward the elevator. All I could think was fake or not, it was tempting.
CHAPTER 12
JOSH
I should have stopped listening and followed Kev out of the training room, but I didn’t. I heard April on the phone and it sounded like she was trying to get out of something. Her voice wavered and she gnawed at her thumb. All of it told me this was way worse than she was letting on. I didn’t know much about her situation, except that she needed someone and I damn well understood sibling rivalry.
I thought it was ridiculous to prove you had someone in your life, but I was in an equally messy situation. If there was one thing in common about what we both had going on, it was that April and I knew the thrill of the win. I just didn’t want herwinningwith anyone from our locker room. She was too good for them, too smart and funny, and she was too good for me. That was for damn sure.
But all I could think about on my walk home after our game was what I had suggested to April at the coffee shop. It would work for both of us. If only I had a moment with her to see how she was feeling with all of it. The problem was that the team had been traveling since then and she had Moose take over my therapy, which was bothersome, soI hadn’t had the chance to see her, to talk about it. Was it ridiculous? Us fake dating? I had no idea, I’d never done it before.
Both of us were running out of time and I needed to make her see it wouldn’t be so bad if we did this. It could be a win-win. If we dated, then I could get the guys off my back, and she could prove to her sister whatever she needed to.
