Page 221 of The Fake Date Agreement

I wait until the rest of the team is on the ice and say quietly, “Of us.Together.”

Caleb sits back in his seat, his face slack.

Reid picks up a towel and puts it on his lap, glaring at me. “And you had to tell us thisbeforepractice?”

I snort, flicking my gaze to the seats. “How do you thinkIfeel? That conversation happened right before my parents and little sister ambushed me in the parking lot.”

My mom waves at me from the stands.

She looks proud.

If she knew what we were over here talking about, she would not be proud or waving. She’d have me by the ear, dragging me to the nearest bathroom to wash my mouth out with soap.

No mother doesn’t need to know those things, so I smile and wave back, turning to the others when Caleb says, “We need a game plan.”

“For?” Reid blinks at him, looking dazed. “Right.That.”

“If this happens…” Caleb says slowly, “… and it’s looking like it might, it has to be perfect for Tobie. We can’t fuck it up by not knowing what we’re doing. We need a plan.”

Reid scrubs a hand over his face. “Please tell me you’re not going to draw a diagram like one of our plays?”

Caleb doesn’t respond.

“Boucher!” We all recoil from Coach’s yell and scramble to get to our feet.

As expected, practice goes terribly for all of us.

“Where the fuck is your head?” Coach screams at me for the fifth time in an hour.

“You don’t want to know, Coach,” I mutter.

Chapter 53

Tobie

It’s the big game.

Never in a million years did I ever believe I would be wearing a hockey jersey, with face paint on my cheeks, and bouncing with anxiety and excitement about a hockey game.

Yet here we are.

In that alternate universe, I’m in love with three hockey players, they’re in love with me, and we’re going to fight for our future like we’ve never fought for anything else.

For the last two weeks, everything has revolved around hockey and getting Caleb fit for the game. I’ve been to every practice. He has been seeing the physio more than we see him, and we’ve all been relaxing a lot, watching movies, going for short walks, and taking it easy.

This game means everything to them, and I will learn to love it like no one ever loved hockey before.

The arena is packed. I refuse to believe there’s an empty chair in the stands. People blow horns, cheer, and wave signs as they wait for the game to begin. Caramel sweet popcorn and savory roasting meat from hotdogs merge with the thousands of people packed in this space.

On the ice, two teams warm up on opposite ends of the rink. The Lamont Wolverines are in navy blue, silver, and pale blue jerseys, and the Wisconsin Eagles are in deep red, orange, and white.

Between chatting with Nessa and her parents on her other side, I’ve been searching for Javier, Caleb, and Reid among the players warming up.

As I scan the packed arena, looking for Hallie, who I briefly saw before we took our seats, my gaze clashes on someone I did not expect.

“You have got to be fucking joking,” I breathe.

“Tobie?” Nessa asks. “What’s wrong?

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