Page 36 of Faking the Shot
I’ve just been defeated by the smallest, most stubborn person on the field.
When I look up, everyone is pointing and laughing. Scottie’s doubled over, clutching her stomach, and even my fathers are chuckling from the sidelines.
“Traitors. All of you,” I grumble, but my words only fuel their laughter.
The sun warms my back, the grass tickling my cheek, and I feel a rush of air as Valentina finally rolls off me. Her laughter rings out, clear and bright, filling the air like wind chimes on a breezy summer day.
She sits up, her hair wild around her face, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes bright with energy. Out of breath but still grinning, she wipes a bead of sweat from her brow and glances at me.
“Well,” she says between breaths, “I hope you didn’t think you’d score that easily. You know I’m not just a pretty face on the field.” Her voice is teasing, lighthearted, but there’s a competitive edge to it that makes me grin.
I chuckle, the sound rumbling up from somewhere deep, surprising even me. “You got me there,” I admit, still catching my breath. “I didn’t stand a chance.”
But as the laughter around us fades, something shifts. I glance at her—her hair messy, her face glowing with effort, and her eyes so full of life—and a warmth spreads through me. It’s unsettling, unfamiliar. A part of me wonders what it would be like to win her over in a completely different game.
Before I can dwell on the thought, Lucian jogs over, smirking like the shit-stirrer he is. “Hey. You two lovebirds planning on getting back in the game or what?”
Valentina rolls her eyes and stands, brushing herself off. “Well, if he wasn’t so easy to take down,” she calls over her shoulder, then turns to offer me her hand.
Her fingers wrap around mine, and as she helps me up, I realize something I didn’t expect: this might all be for show, but pretending Valentina Holiday is my girlfriend and future fiancée might not be as hard as I thought.
Chapter Sixteen
Valentina
The Art of Kissing Away Anxiety
I can’t remember the last time I’ve had this much fun with anyone.
Kaden showed me a side of himself I’m sure no one in the media ever gets to see. If they did, it might paint him in a completely different light. The grumpy, no-nonsense KadenCrawford turns into someone else entirely when he’s with his family. A guy who laughs. A guy who competes with just the right amount of fire. A guy who lets loose.
All that warmth and joy evaporates the minute we board the helicopter to head home. Reality hits hard when I check my phone. The media’s all over Kaden’s public breakup—and me.
They’re speculating, of course. Was the breakup because of us? Is he a cheater?
Fuck. That’s not going to fly.
Thankfully, the few pictures his family allowed me to take have already been sent to Kimmy. She’ll use them to spin the narrative. I’m the girlfriend, the real deal. Brittany? Just someone who got too attached and misread the situation. We’re not trying to villainize her—she did enough of that herself—but we’re not coming to her defense, either.
“So, now you’re my side piece,” Kaden says, settling beside me and adjusting his headphones.
“Don’t count us out just yet, Crawford.” I wink at him instinctively, then immediately cringe. What the hell am I doing? When did we get on such good terms? I’d never wink at anyone else I worked with. I’ve spent years building my professional reputation, making sure people take me seriously. And now? I’m winking at one of hockey’s most eligible bachelors like I’m auditioning for a reality show—or maybe a romantic movie.
“So, what’s the next part of the plan?” Kaden leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“Kimmy’s using the pictures we took at your parents’ place,” I explain. “Then, we’re letting the media ‘accidentally’ see us out together.” I use finger quotes, because nothing is ever accidental in this business.
As the helicopter blades start whirring and we prepare for takeoff, my anxiety creeps in, climbing like a relentless tide. Thesecond we lift off the ground, my body locks up, every muscle tense. My hands clamp down on the armrests so tightly my knuckles turn white.
“You need a drink? We can turn back,” Kaden offers, his voice more gentle than I expect.
“No, I’m fine,” I bite out, my words clipped. I’m not trying to be short with him, but my brain is already spiraling at the thought of being tossed into the air in a tin can.
“Hey.” His voice cuts through the haze, and his hand grabs mine. His fingers lace through mine with surprising ease, and the warmth of his touch pulls me back, grounding me. “You’re going to be fine. I’m right here with you, okay? Just look at me.”
I force myself to meet his gaze, his dark brown eyes holding mine with a quiet intensity that draws me back to the moment.
“Uh-huh,” I whimper, gripping his hand like it’s the only thing keeping me from losing it completely.
