Page 50 of Weak Side

Theo’s eyebrows climbed upward, and one of his lips disappeared behind his white teeth. “I would if you were my girl.”

My heart fell down to the very bottom of my stomach. The way those words made my chest squeeze told me all that I needed to know. Chad had hurt me, even if I pretended I was fine.

“Come on, Bryant.” Theo reached his hand out and pulled on the strands of my hair in a teasing way. “I’d be the most faithful fake boyfriend you ever had.”

“Wait, what?” Taytum stepped forward and stole the spotlight. “You want to pretend to date her?”

Theo’s eyes stayed glued to mine, as if he were waiting for an answer from me, but my voice was gone. If I dared speak, I was sure it would come out more like the croak of a frog.

“Yeah, Claire acts like my girlfriend, for all intents and purposes. That way, the puck bunnies stop hounding me after games, showing up to our room unannounced, waiting for me after practice…” His voice trailed off, and I knew everyone’s eyes were on me. “It is a solid plan.”

No. No way.

I paused for the briefest of seconds and was irate at the fact that Chad’s name appeared in the back of my head. What would he do if Ididagree to that? Would he go ballistic? I mean, I did tell him that I wouldn’t sit here for the next year and act like his wounded girlfriend on the side if he was going to be out having sex andexperiencing college. But Chad had a hold on me, whether I wanted to admit that or not. I was worried about the future, and money, and everything in between, but the independence I had yielded since a young age flooded my blood, and I seriously found myself contemplating it.

“And what’s in it for her?” Taytum asked.

“Pissing her loser of an ex off, obviously.” Ford said it jokingly, but everyone was thinking it—even me.

Taytum turned to me, and her baby blues bounced back and forth between mine, wondering what I was thinking. We were both on the edge, teetering over the idea of this little plan, but I could see that Taytum was ready to push me over. Except, she also knew there was more at stake than just my heart and wounded ego.

My head shook slightly, and I let the panic win. It was obvious I didn’t know Chad any longer. He’d proven that to me last weekend when he cheated and then told me he expected me to wait for him to move on from his phase, or else he’d put an end to my mother having any financial stability and potentially ruin my future. It was too risky, right?

“Alright, let’s leave Claire alone,” Taytum said, pulling me by the arm. “Ready to party?”

“Party?” Ford smirked as he pushed Taytum and me apart, coming in between us. Each of his arms was twisted in ours, and he led us down the hall, calling to the rest of his friends, Theo included. “Let’s go show these ladies how hockey players party.”

There was tension in my shoulders at the thought of showing my face at another party after I was humiliated last time, but Taytum was right earlier. I deserved to have fun because, come tomorrow morning, I would be back in the auditorium, going over my solo number and killing myself to come out on top instead of ending up beneath Chad.

23

Theo

Wouldit really be so bad? Being my fake girlfriend? Or at the very least, acting like she was mine for the night while obnoxious puck bunnies popped up like whack-a-moles? I mean, she had already done it twice now. What was another thirty times? Just until the season ended?

I sighed with irritation and pouted like a child. I understood why she was reluctant. Shedidjust get her heart broken and was likely staying far away from anyone. It was clear she was keeping herself busy and distracting herself. If she wasn’t working, in class, writing some paper, or studying for an exam, she was at the auditorium.

I was surprised she had come out tonight, but Taytum whispered a conundrum in her ear, poking at Chad’s whereabouts, and conned her into it. I wasn’t complaining. She deserved it. She worked harder than I did, and that was impressive.

There was a cup in her hand that I’d watched Ford hand to her when I walked into the party. Claire and Taytum rode over with Ford and Aasher, and I followed behind in my car, but the moment we walked in, I found her immediately. Her gaze snagged mine from across the room, and her sweet smile made me feel slightly uncomfortable but strangely calm too. Was Claire the first girl I cared about? It agitated me that I was looking for her during my game, but as soon as I pulled myself away and focused on playing, I played better than ever. There was a nagging voice in the back of my head that told me it wasn’t only because I knew Tom Gardini’s guys were there. I wanted to prove myself to her, to show her what she’d been missing out on by hatingall jocks.

She surely didn’t look like she hated us now. Her head flew back, and her pretty, soft waves that I rarely ever saw cascaded down her back as she laughed at something Taytum said. A few other girls had formed around them, and by their whispers and awe-struck looks, I assumed they were younger dancers. They had thatI-want-to-be-youlook on their faces that all the freshman hockey players had whenever we’d practice together.

“Whatcha lookin’ at?” Emory’s voice hit the back of my neck, and I nearly elbowed him in the jaw for catching me.

“Go away,” I snarled. “You smell like a whore house.”

He sniggered under his breath and came to stand beside me. “Jealous?”

I glared over at him. “Of you fucking a puck bunny? No.” I could have had my pick. I just didn’t want to.

His lip curled upward as he ran a free hand through his dark hair. The hair on his face had fully grown in, and he already had the look of a pro NHL player. “Nah, I’m talkin’ about her.”

I didn’t follow his gaze across the party because I knew he was referring to Claire. “Jealous of what?”

“Being so close to her but not being able to have her.”

“Watch it,” I warned. Heat crawled up my neck, and a heavy breath left me. “And I don’t want her like that.” I shrugged, taking my attention from his squinting gaze. I glanced back at Claire and caught her eye for a brief second before she turned away, pretending like she wasn’t watching me. “She’s…my roommate. I feel kind of protective over her.” My words were coming out a little too quickly, and I felt myself trying to cover up something that wasn’t even true. “Plus, you know I don’t get involved like that. Not until I’ve made it big and can afford to settle down a little. She’s just my roommate. A friend.”

---