Page 41 of Faking It with my Hockey Crush

The three of us then burst into laughter.

15

Ryan

The media circus hascome and gone in the last week, and now, Maple Springs has slipped back to the sleepy town it always was. When I returned here, now nearly a month ago, I saw that as a bad thing. Not so much anymore. Instead, I’ve discovered new people, reconnected with old friends, and come to appreciate that this small town is more like a family.

A family with a few loose screws, but every family has at least one, right?

Nor did I expect the support Emma and I have gotten from everyone, even if I do feel a little guilty that we’re lying to their faces. But then, of late, this fake relationship hasn’t really felt so fake, which should be worrying.

Leaving the mansion to shrink in my rearview mirror, I head across town to pick Emma up. With the help of her magic hands, I’m back behind the wheel, and the Audi purrs sweetly as it glides along the ground beneath.

It’s amazing the things you miss when you can’t do them and take for granted when you can. And I really missed driving. It’s one of those things that lets me unwind. A dark night, a clear open road, a speedometer that climbs past ninety.

Did I mention I have a bad boy reputation?

In truth, I haven’t let go for a while, and I certainly won’t be doing it with Emma in the car. I value her safety too much. In fact, lately, I’ve discovered that there are lots of things I value about her.

Once she slides into the passenger seat, throwing me a smile and a greeting, I head back the way I came. Back into the town.

“I can’t believe we’ve actually managed to pull this off,” she says with a grin.

“I know.” I smile back. “Let’s hope it works.”

“I think it will,” she says confidently.

We’ve been so busy with interviews and playing the doting couple that Emma said something the other day that hit home. She said she felt bad because she feels like she’s been neglecting her friends. After she said it, I agreed with her. It did bother me, but only after she’d mentioned it. That’s the kind of person Emma is, and when this is all over, the kind of person I aspire to be.

So, we came up with a fun plan. We’ve spoken to each of our friends and individually invited them to the bar for a drink. All on the same night.

“I can’t wait to see their faces when they see each other,” she giggles.

It was a genius idea, and of course, it was hers. It’s funny; the more I learn about her, the more I want to be in her company. And I don’t mean as her pretend husband-to-be.

The good thing about tonight is that everyone who we’ve invited knows our relationship is fake, which means we get toenjoy a night where we can relax a little. Sure, we’re in a bar, but we’ll be among friends. Close and good friends.

Once inside, we move across the bar and find a large table. We’ve told everyone to arrive at the same time, so, unless anyone’s late, this should be even bigger fun. With drinks delivered, we sit and wait for the magic to happen.

It’s no shock—to me anyway—when John arrives first. I watch his frown dance when he sees Emma, but showing perfectly white teeth contrasting his dark skin, he grins when he sees us.

“Well, this is a surprise,” he says. “Hey, Emma.”

“Hi, John,” Emma replies, standing and hugging him.

“Hang on,” I say in mock shock. “Do you guys know each other?”

John lets out a belly laugh while I wave over to the bar for his drink.

He’s only just sat down, when Steve, Sharon, and Debs arrive. All of them look completely confused to see each other, and then John.

“What is going on?” Debs says, frowning deeply. And then her eyes widen. “Oh, wow. You guys planned this.”

I get called a few names by Steve while the ladies gush at the idea.

“This is so cool,” Debs says once everyone is seated. “We’re all together.”

“This is the truth club,” I whisper conspiratorially with a wink.

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