Page 12 of Pucks, Lies, and Sticktape

“I see.”

Before the tension could build any further, the waitress arrived, her presence as unwelcome as the sudden scent of cheap vanilla perfume that clung to the air. With a bright, saccharine smile, she placed their food on the table, though it was painfully obvious that Matthieu was her sole focus.

“Here you are, sugar…” she all but purred, leaning in far too closely, her red-tipped nails grazing the table as she practically draped herself over him.

Jeannie watched the exchange in silence, her stomach twisting, but she didn’t let it show. She had seen this before from others—beautiful, confident women who saw her as insignificant, invisible. This one, with her flawless makeup and curves that filled out her uniform in all the right places, didn’t even acknowledge her existence.

Matthieu, to his credit, remained composed. “Thanks,” he said coolly, lifting his gaze to Jeannie with a knowing look. “I think it would work great for us.”

The waitress arched a brow, tilting her head flirtatiously. “I don’t know what you two are discussing,” she mused, her voice dipped in honey, “but if your little nerdy girl isn’t into it… I sure am.”

Jeannie felt the words like a slap, but she didn’t flinch. She just clenched her hands beneath the table, pressing her nails into her palms.Of course.Of course, she wasn’t seen as competition. She was just the plain girl in jeans and a T-shirt, her face bare of makeup, her body unremarkable, her presence forgettable.

Matthieu turned slightly to glare at the waitress, but spoke to Jeannie.

“Honey, did you want ketchup for your onion rings?”

Check one for the ‘nerdy girl’ –and Jeannie almost fist-pumped the air in that moment at the shocked look on the waitress’ face.

“Thanks for remembering,Baby,” Jeannie said sweetly – as if she was giving him her answer to the whole Quebec/Fake Marriage thing… and met his gaze.

Matthieu’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes, something knowing, something amused.

He gave a single nod.

She returned it.

The waitress blinked, visibly thrown off, her lips parting as if to protest. But Matthieu, now utterly disinterested in her presence, turned back with an air of finality.

“Ma’am,” he said, his voice cool, firm. “Can you getmy wifesome ketchup, please? And a few napkins. Thanks.”

And just like that, he dismissed her.

The shocked look on the woman’s face as she looked at Jeannie was telling, but Matthieu simply picked up his burger, took a healthy bite, and nodded, smirking at Jeannie as he chewed. “Eat up,honey… it’s good. You were right about this place.”

As they ate, he told her about what the coach said to him earlier in the day, bringing about his request to ‘marry’ him. Yes, it was all for pretend, but so either of them was free to live their lives so long as they kept up the pretense.

“I don’t want to ever tread on your toes for helping me,” he said quietly, whispering across the table to her. “If you need something, I’ll have you on the account so you have access to get things you want or need for the house. It’ll be the ‘golden rule’ – you take care of me, and I will take care of you.”

“Shouldn’t everyone act like that?”

“She sure wouldn’t,” he gulped, looking terrified of the waitress in the distance who was obviously gossiping with someone else and kept looking in their direction. “And head’s up – I’m not exactly a stranger in town because I’m on television. If someone asks you from this moment on, we got married.”

“Okay – when?”

“What do you mean?”

“What’s our anniversary date? What day did we get married?”

“Oh, uh,today?” he flubbed, obviously taken aback.

“Sounds good to me,” she shrugged and then gave him a side-eye. “Are you sure there aren’t any other ‘catches’ to this job?”

“Positive,” he nodded. “My agent is sending over the stuff tonight and…” he paused, looking at her. “I just got a wild idea.”

“Oh?”

“You might not be safe at your place, and I’ve got a guest room for when my family visits. Why don’t you come stay at my place, and we’ll get your stuff today, so when this all goes down – it’s just one place to pack up, and you never have to worry about running into that slimeball again.”

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