Page 20 of Pretend Girlfriend

“I would’ve had such a crush on you in high school,” I told Landon, leaning into him affectionately. “I always had a thing for football players.”

“Did you see who the Lions drafted in the third round?” Clark suddenly asked. “They got that boy from Notre Dame. The one with six fingers!”

“Every meal eventually turns into football talk,” Danicka said, rolling her eyes.

“You’ll get used to it after a few years,” Marisa said. Then her eyes widened like she had swallowed something. “I mean. If you and Landon date that long. Not that you won’t. I didn’t want to imply. But if you do…”

“No offense taken; I know what you mean. Watch this.” I turned back to the guys. “You seriously think it was a mistake to trade Justin Fields?”

Clark blinked at me. “Absolutely. They never gave him a real shot.”

“He had three full seasons!” I argued back. “His style of play doesn’t match our team. Every time he dropped back in the pocket to pass, he froze. We need someone who can stay composed under pressure, because our offensive line isn’t going to give him any freebies.”

Bradyn pointed at me. “I’ve been telling Dad that all year!”

“You may have a point,” Clark admitted. “I just wish they had given him one last shot before trading him to Pittsburgh. Landon, I didn’t know your girlfriend was a football fan.”

“Football and hockey,” I said proudly.

“You see that hit Bedard took last night?” Clark asked. “Can’t believe the refs didn’t call a five-minute major.”

I started to open my mouth to brag about seeing Bedard last night, then stopped myself. It would be difficult to explain why I was on a date with the Blackhawks dentist if I was also Landon’s girlfriend.

“You like sports?” Danicka asked. “Oh, that’s a shame. I was just starting to like you!”

She laughed, but the comment still stung with a barb of truth. I could feel Danicka’s approval draining away.

“I’m going to hit the bathroom,” Landon said, excusing himself.

Less than a minute later, my phone vibrated in my purse. I glanced at the message:

Landon: You’re supposed to make my mother like you, not my dad.

Me: I’m trying! You should have warned me she hates sports.

Landon: I didn’t expect you to chime in with a passionate Justin Fields opinion. Just focus on Mom. Tell her whatever she wants to hear.

Me: I will. Chill the fuck out.

Landon: Don’t tell me to chill out. You’re the one fucking this up.

“Is everything okay?” Danicka asked, pointedly glancing at my phone in annoyance.

“Sorry, it was work stuff,” I replied. “I heard you’re a school teacher?”

“I’m the vice principal. I haven’t taught a class in over a decade. Good thing, too. Kids these days can’t go ten minutes without looking at a screen.”

“I bet that’s hard,” I agreed.

Marisa cleared her throat. “I bet you have to work a lot with your job, Joanna.”

“It’s not bad,” I said. “I usually get to work from home, unless my boss is in court. And I pretty much never have to work weekends.”

“Oh.” Marisa frowned. “Landon said you were working next weekend…”

I took a sip of wine to give myself a moment to think. I had a slight buzz, which made thinking difficult. I didn’t want to contradict Landon. That would make them suspicious.

“Originally I was working next weekend, but we settled one of our cases out of court.”

---