Page 49 of The Fake Date Agreement

I make a spontaneous decision. Probably a stupid one. Yep. Definitely a stupid one, but…

“Sometimes I do my best thinking on the ice,” I say.

“You do?”

I nod. “It’s rare anyone is at the rink early on Monday. The coaches like to have their meeting then, so no one will be on the ice. How about hanging out?”

“Why?”

Suddenly, I realize it wasn’t a stupid decision at all.

“Because it’sfun. Jay will probably want to do something fun with you as well. Caleb, too, when he stops pretending he doesn’tlike you.” Her blink of surprise makes me smile. “But I want to show you the arena when it’s quiet.”

She gives me a long look, then nods. “Okay. I’d like that.”

After hesitating for a beat, I kiss her on the cheek. “Goodnight, Tobie Myers.”

“Goodnight, Reid Graves.”

Chapter 13

Tobie

“You saidnothing about me getting on the ice, just that you do your best thinking on it,” I say, refusing the ice skates Reid offers me.

On Monday mornings, I’m usually in the library or going for a walk.

Instead, I’m in an empty ice rink with the hockey player who kissed me last night.

“It’s fun.”

“I believe you,” I say, crossing my arms. “I’ll watch you have fun from over here. On land. Where it’s safe. Anyway, where did you get the skates from?”

I eye them curiously because they actually look like they might fit me.

“I paid attention when we were at the store. This might be a tiny bit big for you.” He grins at me. “A couple of the freshmen have suspiciously small feet. You know what they say about guys with small feet?” He waggles his eyebrows suggestively.

“They wear small shoes?”

He laughs. “Your cute sense of humor won’t save you. Come on, Tobie. It’s fun. Grab a seat. I’ll help you put them on.”

This is the first time anyone has accused me of having a sense of humor, let alone a cute one. It’s what distracts me when Reid circles my wrist and presses me into the bench closest to the rink entrance.

“Because you think if you give them to me, I’ll run away instead of putting them on?” I try to get up when I realize my distraction has cost me.

“Exactly.” He nudges me back down, and I blow out a sigh so heavy he flashes me a grin and drops into a crouch in front of me. He tugs off my sneakers before helping me into the skates.

I look at the top of his head. “You kissed me last night.”

I told myself I would not talk about it. I would just pretend it never happened since he seemed like he was pretending it didn’t happen when he knocked on my door this morning.

He peeks up at me through hooded eyes. “Yup.”

I study him some more. “You didn’t have to. I mean, not that Marc believed we’re dating, even with the kiss.”

“Oh, he believed it,” he says cheerfully.

“You looked like you were getting ready to punch him.” I’d been frozen as Reid stepped up to Marc, all his amusement melting away as he aimed a hard stare at my ex-boyfriend.

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