Page 143 of The Fake Date Agreement

I open my laptop and curse when I discover that my work for the last thirty minutes didn’t save.

“What?”

“Nothing,” I lie. “You realize I’m fighting an uphill battle with you not coming to speak to Coach yourself.”

“You’re changing the subject.”

“Which is exactly what you’ve been doing every time I’ve brought up the coaching position.”

He blows out a sigh and follows it up with a yawn.

As always, guilt is a heavy weight on my chest. Here I am complaining about a paper I hate while still getting to do the thing I love on a daily basis. Ryder loves hockey as much as I do, and he gave it up for me.

“No one is going to want to hire me as a hockey coach, Reid.”

“Of course, they won’t if you don’t put yourself out there. I wouldn’t be the player I am without you.”

“You’re a natural talent. You’d have done fine without a single word from me. Let it go, Reid. Hockey is in the past.”

“Then why are you watching all my games and giving me the same or better coaching advice than my coaches now?”

He doesn’t respond.

“You still love the game as much as you always have. Come and speak to Coach McIntyre. He’d hire you within five minutes of speaking to you. Once he’s on board, he’ll convince the school to take you on.”

Right now, I can’t convince Coach that Ryder wants the job when he won’t even interview for it.

“It’s over, Reid. Let it go.”

“That third assistant coach position won’t stay vacant for long. Once we win the championship, there’ll be more applicants than Coach can handle. There won’t be another chance.”

“It’s over.”

I rake a hand through my hair. “Then you leave me with no other choice than to be devious.”

“Devious how?” I can practically feel his frown.

“I have to go. Speak later.” I hang up.

I’ve been secretly recording his advice. Not so I could get him a job—the coaching position wasn’t an option before. I recorded his advice, and I played it over until I got everything down pat. Now those recordings are going to prove very useful.

My brother is stubborn. That’s okay. I know how to be stubborn too.

If he won’t come to speak to Coach himself, I’ll have to show him exactly what my brother is capable of.

I down my energy drink, glance at the clock, and tell myself I’ll work on the paper for fifteen minutes.

I’ll get ready for the party at seven.

Chapter 34

Tobie

My book isn’twhere I left it.

It’s six thirty, and I should be getting ready for the party tonight, but I just noticed it’s been a second since I saw the smutty book Max stuck with hot pink Post-it tabs.

“So, where is it?” I mutter, frowning as I think.

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