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“What do you mean?” She gasps as her eyes grow wide. In a lowered voice, she says, “Are you saying this is a front as well?”
My friend is way too bright for me to hide anything.
I press my lips together, but she reads me like a well-worn book.
“Girl, what would ever possess you to agree to this?”
Ten thousand dollars paid upfront.
Though I can’t admit that. “He’s a friend in need of help. You know I’ll always be there for my friends.”
“Always the martyr.” She takes a sip of her coffee; her shoulders relax as the fight in her wanes. “But we’re talking about Blake here. You need to be careful.”
“Trust me. I’ll be okay. And quit trying to make him sound like a villain. He’s not as bad as you think.”
She studies me for a beat as if searching for any sign of distress. When she doesn’t find any, she settles back in her seat. “Fine. I won’t lecture you about your decisions, no matter how crazy I think they are, but I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I do.” I take a drink, but the coffee now tastes bitter.
“Okay, now that the obligatory warnings are out of the way, spill.” Maddy leans forward, her elbows on the table, a grin playing on her lips. “I want details! You were tightlipped after the date.”
“There isn’t much to tell. Like I said, it’s not real.”
“Girl, please. I saw the way he looked at you Saturday night. That spark wasn’t fake.”
I roll my eyes, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks despite our charade. “I think that would be called lust.”
“Ha!” She throws her head back, her laughter infectious enough to draw glances. “I’m sure the things he wants to do to you could land him in the sin bin, but girl, there was more than lust in those eyes.” She raises her cup to her mouth and murmurs, “Queen of his castle, just saying.”
Why did my entire body react to those words? Not falling for him is going to be more challenging than I expected.
“I knew we should’ve gotten the coffees to go,” I mumble into the rim of my cup.
“We live together. There is no escape.”
The door chimes, giving me time to ponder the answer as a group of girls saunters inside. Their laughter cuts through the low murmurs. My shoulders tense from the biting edge behind their loud voices as they settle at a table nearby. I recognize a few from the frat party Maddy dragged me to the other weekend. I usually never attend parties, but after she sent me an S.O.S. text, I had no choice.
“Great, the hockey fan club has arrived,” Maddy mutters, her eyes narrowing.
“I take it they’re gunning for the hockey team?”
“Every sport has its groupies.” Maddie’s jaw tightens, but I don’t understand her beef with the girls. It’s not as if Maddie is jonesing for anyone on the team.
It only took a few minutes to realize calling them “Fan Club” was being generous. These girls are a storm front, rolling in with thunderous gossip and frosty glares. They talk loud enough for us to overhear, their words laced with disdain as they dissect the latest hockey game—or rather, who’s hooking up with whom. I try to ignore them, yet I find myself straining to hear if a hockey captain’s name is mentioned.
“Did you see them together?” One sneers, flipping her dark locks over a shoulder. I recognize her immediately—Juliette, the stalker. She gives me a once-over, scrunches her nose, and directs her attention back to the group. “I mean, what does he see in her?”
“Seriously,” another chimes in, lips painted in a perfect pout. “She’s so …ordinary.”
Heat prickles at the back of my neck, a silent burn of embarrassment and anger. I focus on my coffee, its heat no longer comforting but scalding, a reminder that I’m out of my league in more ways than one.
“I would suggest leaving, but that makes them win,” Maddy says, her voice a low growl. She tilts her head, giving me a look that says she’s ready to jump into the fray and defend my honor against the circling vultures. “Up to you.”
“They’re not worth our time.” I swallow the lump in my throat and add, “Nothing more than background noise.”
“Exactly.” She reaches for her cup, nails drumming an impatient rhythm against the ceramic. “Ignore them.”
Easier said than done when their voices pierce through the cozy café like ice picks all mocking and such. But Maddy’s beside me, solid as ever, and I cling to that like a lifeline.
