Page 4 of Fumbled Into Love

“Maren and Sawyer would love to meet her!” Jack says with a shit-eating grin on his face.

Asshole.

It only gets worse when Coach Barrett walks into the room, lips in a thin line. He’s always frightened me, but I also respect him. He keeps his personal life separate from his job.

“Adams!” He yells, and I peek my head behind the wall of muscle.

“Yes?” I ignore the way my voice cracks. If I don’t acknowledge it, it didn’t happen.

“You’ve got a girl?” I nod, not trusting myself to speak. “It’s about time. Can’t wait to meet her at the auction.”

He whisks past me, moving on to talk to another player and I turn to Krista. “I—I’ll let you know.”

Three weeks. I have three measly weeks to find someone to take to the auction who also has to act as my long-term girlfriend with the understanding it won’t lead to anything more.

That’s not going to be difficult at all.

Declan unhinges his jaw, scarfing down a stack of pancakes. The small 1950s-themed diner is empty, except for a few stragglers at the counter who glance back periodically.

I drop my head, hoping they recognize my silent plea to be left alone. If someone walks up to me right now, I might have a major freak-out. If one of the waitresses gives me googly eyes—which happens far too often for my liking—I will raze this place to the ground like Smaug and say good riddance to this horribly decorated diner.

“Now would be a good time to make a dating profile,” Declan says, mouth full of food.

“No.”

“It’s not the worst idea.” Jack tilts his head in contemplation. “I’m sure you could find someone to take who would be willing to lie.”

“I’m not going on a dating app,” I say, shutting down that option. Those apps are horrifying and I refuse to participate in them. The small talk alone makes me want to hurl.

“Okay…” Henry draws out the word. “But, it doesn’t leave many options.”

“Does anybody have any long-lost sisters?”

It could work well. No strings. They would understand it’s all for show and I wouldn’t have to pretend. I’ve never been great at pretending.

“Only child,” Henry answers.

“Brother, sorry,” Jack responds.

I spin to Declan. He has a half-sister he’s reconnected with recently. He shakes his head, eyes downcast as he sips his water. Henry sighs.

“I thought you two were working things out,” Henry says softly.

Declan’s head droops, his shoulders sagging. “I—I thought so, too. She’s gone. East Coast, I think. She’s not coming back this time.”

Henry pats Declan’s shoulder and Declan shoves a heaping pile of eggs into his mouth. The silence is uncomfortable and I snag the bowl of coffee creamers to stack them into a tower.

“Don’t,” I bark as Jack’s finger inches across the table. He knocks it down every time and if he does it today, I will lose my shit.

He raises an eyebrow but retreats and leaves my tower perfectly intact.

“I’ve got it,” Declan mutters quietly, dropping his silverware. It bounces on the table and tumbles into my tower of creamers.Ugh.“It’s perfect.”

“What’s perfect?” Jack, Henry, and I ask in unison.

Declan’s bright blue eyes lock with mine as he cheerfully yells, “Ask Nathalie!” like it’s the answer to my problem.

“What?”

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