Page 36 of In the Offensive Zone with My Fake Bride

My stomach feels like a swarm of bees took up residence, but I settle back into the seat, resigned to spending the next two hours planning an event for children who might never get the chance to do something like this. Like I never did.

“Okay, count me in. Where do we start?”

Sophie opens her notebook. “Today’s all about brainstorming.” She jots down Mia’s idea with a fancy number one beside it in blue ink.

I lean a tad closer to study the page. “I fully expected pink.”

Mia rolls her eyes. “If you only knew.”

Sophie giggles. “She’s still a little salty about that. I used pink ink when I was planning her wedding.”

“And I about went blind trying to read it until I begged her to switch to a darker color.”

“But my notes were pretty. You have to admit that.” Sophie implores her best friend with a humorous expression.

“No, I don’t.” She dips a hushpuppy into the sauce and pops it into her mouth.

I nab one and do the same just so I can tell Payton I at least tried them. An explosion of flavors hits my tongue, almost making me groan. He’s right. These things are doughy balls of heaven. “Wow. Payton said these were good.”

Sophie sets her pen down. “Be careful. They can be addictive.”

Mia finishes chewing and sips her water. “How did you two meet exactly? I don’t think I’ve heard that story yet.”

I grab the glass of water they so thoughtfully had waiting for me and take a long drink, mentally composing my first words. “At a pub. Turns out we had a few friendsin common.”

Sophie nods. “Ah, that makes sense. Payton’s kind of shy.”

Shy? Maybe awkward at times like that first night trying to figure out our sleeping arrangements, but there was nothing bashful about Payton when I helped him take a shower, especially that last comment of his.

I nab another hushpuppy and break it in to pieces on my napkin. “I’ve never thought of him as shy.”

Mia and Sophie glance at each other.

Now my interest is completely engaged. “What am I missing here?”

Sophie smiles. “I’m guessing Payton never mentioned he tried to ask me out once.”

I snap my gaze to hers, feeling a sudden rush of heat and discomfort in my chest. Am I jealous? Is that jealousy? No, it can’t be. There’s no reason to feel that way. This is just a job.

“No, he didn’t.” My words sound clipped even to me.

Sophie rests her hand on my arm. “It was nothing. Seriously. Just an awkward moment when I did his interview for the paper.”

“Did you turn him down?” Why am I asking this? It’s not like I care…

She giggles again. “Didn’t have a chance to. Luke walked in and basically staked his claim on me.”

Mia snorts, then laughs. “Hockey players.”

Sophie beams a smile at me that’s pretty much irresistible. “If Payton wasn’t shy with you, that just proves you two are meant to be together. I’m so glad Payton found his person.”

I nod, then nibble on a piece of hushpuppy as I sift through this odd mix of emotions running through me. “Me, too.”

That seems the right thing to say in this situation, for believability. But I can’t help wondering what that would feel like. To be someone’s person…to be claimed by someone…to be wanted.

Payton’s quirky smile and humor, his agility and speed onthe ice, and his concern for me…he’s the total package. I’ve never encountered anyone like him before, and I may never again. But none of this is real. That’s what I need to keep telling myself, or else I could easily fall for a guy like him. And not just him. His group of friends, too.

Hopefully, my heart will start believing what my head is screaming at it.

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