Page 27 of Faking the Shot

One beat passed. Two. Three. Then, “Okay.”

“Thanks.” She glanced at the oversized kitchen clock. “Oops, I need to go. I have to call my parents and let them know, then I’ve got to get to work.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

There was a strain in his voice that hadn’t been there before. Had she been too bossy with all her instructions? “Are… are we okay?”

“Yep. Gotta go. Bye Ainsley.”

* * *

Zac stowedhis phone in his locker, taking care to lock the combination, wishing he could so easily lock down his heart. Not fall in love with her? His agreement was likely a lie, especially as he’d thought his appreciation for her could easily tip into more. He liked her looks. Liked her smile. Liked her flustery ways, then how she tried to tough things out. He even liked her boss moves with her personal boundaries—no lie there. So many other women had proved calculating that the fact she was upfront and candid felt like cool water on a hot summer’s day.

Which made him antsy, like his own actions and motives weren’t so pure. Which meant he had to guard his heart, just like he had to guard his phone. He had zero desire for any of the guys to send Ainsley messages on his behalf, especially now they all knew about their so-called relationship, thanks to Drew’s excited comments when he’d arrived this morning.

“And that was a clutch move from Parotti, saving the girl one day, sliding into her DMs the next.”

“So itwasyou.”

Drew pounded him on the back. “You can thank me later.”

Other guys made various comments about Ainsley, and her obvious lack of taste in men, seeing as she’d picked up Parotti. He knew it was tease, except for Logan, who only glared at Zac and, for once, said nothing.

Chris, now padded up in his practice goalie gear, thumped him. “You, me, we’re talking after training, ’kay?”

“Okay.” It’d be good to talk to someone he could be real with. And given the great unreality of it all, he was fast craving someone who might be able to give some good advice.

“You’re tellingme that whole message thing from Franklin’s sister was because Drew pretended to be you and messaged Ainsley?”

“Yep.”

“And she’s really single, and wants to fake-date you?”

He jerked his chin.

“So none of this is real?” Chris persisted.

“Nope.”

“Wow.”

Zac slid a look at Diana, who seemed equally confused.

Chris’s invitation to dinner at their house had been marked with tantrums from Tanner and Jack. Clearly the new medication wasn’t working, or maybe that was the failure of Zac’s prayers. But now the kids were in their rooms and the adults could finally talk, Zac found the conversation a little harder than he had imagined.

“I don’t understand why she wouldn’t want to date you for real.”

He shrugged. “She said something about being too busy for a real relationship.”

“Yeah, you’re never too busy if you actually care.”

Which reinforced that she didn’t. Good to know.Good to remember. He shrugged. “I don’t know. I was in shock, and I found myself agreeing before I realized all that was involved.”

Diana’s eyes narrowed. “Do you like her?”

“Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. I barely know her, but I like what I know,” he added honestly.

“Dude.” Chris shook his head. “You’re gonna get into trouble.”

---