Page 61 of Once Upon a Fake Date

“Okay. Good.” I should have felt relieved, but I rubbed at my chest. At the ache there. “Listen, Audrey, I should probably try to get some sleep.” We’d head back to Castleton on the bus tomorrow, and then we’d do it all again on Wednesday, but at least it was a home game.

It was almost midnight, and we’d been on the phone for a while.

“Right.” Audrey yawned. “Me too. I’ll see you when you get back? Dinner?”

“Yeah,” I responded, knowing I’d never turn her down. “Of course. I’ll text you.”

“Night, Parker,” she said, her voice soft. “Sweet dreams.”

“You too, sunshine.”

Little did she know my dreams that night would be filled with her.

“You’re late,”Audrey said, looking down at the lock screen of her phone. I puffed up my chest at the photo on it of me. It had been over a month since we’d started fake dating, and I liked that she’d kept it. It was a photo of us from my first game of the season, Audrey in her Castleton sweatshirt and me in my jersey after the game. I hadn’t even noticed anyone taking it, but damn, I loved it.

“Sorry,” I mutter, drawing my hand over my face. “Practice ran long, and coach made us run a few extra drills.”

“It’s okay. You’re lucky this is the last practice before dress rehearsals start.”

“Right. Shit.” After this, I’d also have to change before we started.

Audrey patted my shoulder, and I pulled her close, dropping a kiss to her lips. Just in case anyone was watching.

“What was that for?” Audrey whispered.

“Can’t be too careful,” I said with a wink, before heading over to where I was supposed to wait for my cue when the scene began.

Rehearsal went by fast, and by the time we were done, I was completely exhausted, especially when combined with lacrosse practice, and I desperately needed another shower.

But Audrey gave me that face, and I knew I wasn’t going back to the house straight away. Not that I’d complain about spending more time with her.

We walked to the commons, and I reached out, interlacing our fingers together. I’d never held hands with another woman before Audrey. Not even Millie, my ex. But with her, it felt right.

It felt like this was where I was supposed to be.

I picked our adjoined hands up, kissing the top of hers. “You know, we missed our one-month anniversary?”

“Parker.” Audrey rolled her eyes. She looked around, dropping her voice to a quiet whisper. “We can’t celebrate an anniversary. We’re not actually dating.”

“So? Who’s stopping us? The fake date police?”

That made her laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

“For you,” I agreed.

Audrey’s cheeks turned that adorable shade of pink. “Are you… are you flirting with me?”

“Yeah. Took you long enough to notice, Rosie Girl.” I squeezed her hand.

She was quiet, and I kept her hand in mine as we entered the cafeteria, not letting her go for even a moment.

Gooaaaaal!My fists pumped into the air as the ball I threw made it into the net.The Castleton Chipmunks have scored the winning goal!

“Fuck yeah!” Sam screamed in my ear. “Good goal, man.”

I was suddenly enveloped in a team hug, all of us on the field packed together in one giant huddle. “We did it!” Taylor shouted, all of us in a cluster of celebrating on the field. “Another win!”

I looked over to the stands, trying to find the golden-haired girl who was wearing my jersey. Throughout the game, whenever I’d looked up, I’d found Audrey’s eyes intent on mine. Like she was watchingme.

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