Page 21 of If You Need Me

CHAPTER 9

HEMI

Idon’t bother chasing Dallas down the hall. I’m in heels, and he’s a pro hockey player, so there are zero chances I’ll be able to catch him.

I glare at the bouquet of flowers sitting in the middle of my conference table. I refuse to have anything that smells this nice and looks this pretty in my office—especially when it was given to me by the person who has made my life a complete nightmare and seems intent on continuing this trend. I take the flowers across the hall to Shilpa’s office. She’s not there to say no because she has a meeting off-site. She and I have a date tonight to discuss the dumpster fire my life has become in the last twelve hours. I’ve put the group chat on hold until further notice. Hammer is out today with Flip and Ash at a pediatric hospital visit.

It’s not enough that we have the celebrity hockey game in three days, now I also get to deal with the stress that comes with being Dallas’s fake girlfriend.

I flop down in my chair and grudgingly sip the latte. Then I moan at how perfectly delicious it is. “That fucker.” It makes me unreasonably angry that Dallas knows exactly what I like. He probably asked Shilpa.

My stomach growls obnoxiously. The only thing I’ve consumed today is coffee and water. I swear I can smell a peach scone through the bag.

I give into temptation and peek inside. I frown as I pull the item on top out. It’s an inedible, adorable, crocheted peach wearing a little smile, complete with stem and a single crocheted leaf. His granny probably made it. I set it next to my family photo. It always garners questions since I don’t look like my moms or brothers.

I return my attention to the bag. A delicious, frosted peach scone sits on top of a beet and farro salad. I carefully remove the scone from the bag and break off a piece, popping it into my mouth. The delicate taste hits my tongue, and I simultaneously sigh in contentment and groan in irritation. Now I’ll forever associate my favorite scones with the world finding out I’m suddenly in a relationship with Dallas Bright.

My phone buzzes on my desk.

It’s my group chat with my brothers.

Sam

I thought you hated Dallas Bright?

Isaac

^^^this.

Sam

Mom and Ma are unimpressed that the hockey world knew about it before them.

Isaac

^^^this. Also, Sam is annoyed that you didn’t tell us either, but he won’t admit it.

Sam

^^^he’s the annoyed one. He also saw the post first and sent it to Moms.

Isaac

Moms ran into Dallas’s mom at the market before I sent the post, so they already knew. Apparently they want to plan a big family dinner when you’re home for the reunion, FYI.

Sam

Moms are coming for you, batten down the hatches.

Hemi

Thanks for the heads-up. And fuck you, Isaac, for sending them the post.

Isaac

They already knew!

Sam

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