Page 45 of Romancing the Grump
Now I’m supposed to do it while pretending to have a girlfriend?
“Look like a couple,” I read from my phone. “How are we supposed to do that?”
Summer lifts her eyebrows, her expression playful. “How? You want me to explain how to look like you have a girlfriend?”
“I just mean, how shouldwedo it?”
“I mean, you did a pretty good job in your bed this morning,” she says with a coy smile. “Maybe try something like that?”
My shoulders drop. “Very funny.”
“I’m serious,” she says, nudging my arm. “This isn’t a big deal. Just hold my hand, put your arm around me. It’ll be fine.”
I’m gladshe’sconfident because I feel like crawling out of my own skin. Usually, I’m only nervous before a gamebecauseof the game. Now, I’m worried about fan expectations and out-of-control hashtags and, more than all of that, Summer’s comfort. Herfeelings.
She drops a hand onto my arm. “Hey, do you think we should maybe let the team know? Or, I guess not all the team, but…the ones who will realize something is up if we get off the bus holding hands.”
“The dream team,” I say without thinking, and Summer freezes.
“The what?”
Oh, man. Oops.
“Nothing. Nevermind. I’ll text everyone and let them know.”
“No, no, no,” Summer says. “Back up. Did you just call your friends thedream team?”
I breathe out a sigh. “We never say it publicly. A reporter once used the term, referring to the Appies’ starters, then Alec renamed our group chat as a joke. But we don’t really think of ourselves that way.”
Summer’s expression softens and she lifts a hand to her chest, pressing it to her sternum. “You have a group chat?”
“Is that weird?”
“Not at all. I’m just wondering if you did it on purpose. Made all the best guys on the team your best friends.”
“Maybe they’re the best on the teambecausethey’re my best friends.”
“Okay, maybe we ought to start callingyouEgo. You’re giving Alec a run for his money with a comment like that.”
I give Summer a playful smirk, then pull out my phone, navigating to the group text thread that we started right after Eli got married. It was Felix’s idea—an effort to stay connected now that three of the six of us are in relationships.
Nathan
Heads up. The hashtag thing has gotten out of hand, so Parker suggested I pretend to have a girlfriend for a little while to make things easier.
Summer’s helping out.
Don’t give her crap about it.
Or me.
Alec
I was wondering why you were sitting up there with her instead of back here with us.
Van
I assumed it was because Alec is wearing enough cologne for the whole team.
