Page 76 of Pretend Girlfriend

“I’ll have the same,” he told the bartender. Then, to me again: “I like all the frozen drinks, but I’m sick of everything being sweet.”

“Gotta have a beer while watching the game,” I agreed.

“A woman with taste.” He glanced at his watch. “If you’re a Blackhawks fan, then where in Chicagoland are you from?”

“Elmwood Park.”

“Ah. Milwaukee, here.”

“If you tell me you’re a Packers fan,” I warned, “I’m going to have to dump my beer on you.”

He grimaced. “I’ll just keep my mouth shut, then.” He looked over his shoulder. “My wife and I are here on our twenty-year anniversary, and we’re looking to try something new. This may be, uh, forward, but if you wanted to join us in our hotel room tonight…”

It took me a few seconds to realize what he was suggesting. “That’s… uh… wow,” I said. “I’m flattered, but I’m good. Thanks.”

I turned my chair away from him. Was he really inviting me to have a threesome with him and his wife? The guy was now having a conversation with the bartender, obviously trying to cover up his embarrassment at what he had just proposed to me. I didn’t care, as long as he didn’t talk to me again.

This is going to be an amazing story to tell later. Landon would love it, and so would Theo. Hell, I could tell the story at dinner tomorrow night and let the entire family have a laugh!

I watched the guys play water polo for a little bit. They were getting competitive—there was less trash talk and more focus on the game. Theo kept flashing smiles in my direction. I tried not to smile back.

I ordered another beer and kept my body turned so that I could watch the pool and the hockey game at the same time. Austin jumped up high above the net, spiking the ball down on the other side. He thrust his hands in the air victoriously, then shared a high-five with such enthusiasm that the smacking sound carried across the pool area.

Austin glanced in my direction, then froze. He was staring directly at me. What was his deal? I gave him a little wave.

He waved back, but his motion held more urgency. He started shouting something. Theo whipped his head in my direction too. Were they arguing about the point?

“Blackhawks scored!” the guy next to me said. “Hell yes.”

I turned to see the replay of the goal. The bartender was facing away from us too, watching the TV screen. Bedard had stolen the puck from an opposing player and quickly scored before the defense could recover. The Blackhawks were now winning with just two minutes remaining. I took a long celebratory drink.

Suddenly, I realized the guys at the pool were still shouting. Austin was climbing out of the pool, splashing water everywhere as he ran in this direction. He was pointing.

When I glanced over my shoulder, the weird guy was no longer there; he was walking away from the bar, his half-drunk beer still on the counter. Then Austin went running past me, bare feet slapping wetly on the concrete, and tackled the man in mid-stride. Both of them went falling to the ground.

“What the hell?” I said.

Landon was by my side a second later. His hand struck out and knocked the beer out of my hand before I could take another sip. The glass shattered on the ground.

“That guy put something in your drink,” he told me. “That’s what Austin said, at least.”

I looked at where Austin was pinning the man to the ground, then down to my shattered beer glass. The gold liquid was running into a nearby drain, mixed with the pool water that had splashed.

And there, next to a large sliver of glass, was a half-dissolved tablet.

He tried to drug me?

“Ouch,” Uncle Robert said while sipping on a drink a few feet away. “Now that’s going to leave a mark!”

32

Theo

It all happened so fast.

Austin was shouting about Joanna’s drink. He hurried to the edge of the pool and started climbing out. I thought it was some sick joke, until the man at the bar saw Austin coming and abruptly tried to make an escape.

By the time Landon and I got there, Austin already had him pinned to the ground.

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