Page 38 of Skating and Fake Dating
Nanna nods. “News travels fast around here. I hope you two will come by tomorrow.”
“I won’t be late.”
Nanna smiles, understanding me in a way that no one else in my family ever has, well, other than Pappa. “I know.” Turning to Carson, she adds, “And by you two, I meanyou. I cannot wait to hear this origin story.”
At a loss, my parted lips turn into a smile. “Of course.”
But there is no romantic tale of how we met because we’renot actually together. I can’t lie to my grandmother. Anyway, she’d see right through it.
Carson says, “It’s been quite the adventure. Definitely a story for the memory books.”
Brow wrinkled, when she’s out of earshot, I say, “You do not have to face the interrogation. I’ll make up an excuse. Tell her you have practice. Which you probably do.” Wincing, I still need to call Denise at the Lodge, but that requires me to sneak away with my phone.
Carson’s blue-green eyes flick to something behind me and then he leans close. “If anyone asks, we met in a bathroom.”
“No. That’s not true. Also, ew. Gross. We couldn’t tell that to our children, no less than to my grandmother.”
His eyes bulge. “What about the elevator?”
“Technically, we met in the galley kitchen dining area at the Ice Palace,” I say with a hush, lest anyone catch on that we’re not really a couple.
Wait. My entire body seizes. Tipping my head back to get a full view of Carson Crane’s face, I start to ask the obvious question, factoring children into the equation, “How long are we—?” But the wordsfake datingdon’t leave my tongue when the bride and groom greet us.
I elbow Carson. “Oh. No. Here they come. Act normal.”
“Me?” he asks.
“No, me,” I say through closed teeth. With a wide smile, I add, “Congratulations!”
Tori presses her hand to her chest. “It was so big of you to come. I mean, I know it must be hard, seeing what you’re missing out on.” She smirks at Tagg.
The corners of my lips drop. I’d like to tell them that my mother made me come, but I summon patience and grace.
In a perky sing-song, I say, “Wouldn’t miss it.”
Then a deep voice, from approximately eight inches overhead, says, “Me neither. It’s not every day I get to see such abeautiful woman dressed up and looking more delicious than a blondie smothered in frosting.”
Jaw. Floor. Mine.
I blink a few times. Carson winks at me and then laces his arm around my waist.
Tori goes still like she’s a computer having a glitch. “Oh. You brought a date.”
Carson extends his strong, calloused hand and introduces himself.
To my fake boyfriend, my ex-boyfriend says, “Be careful, Big Guy. I dodged a bullet with this one. She comes with a criminal record—” But as Carson’s hand closes around Tagg’s, he goes quiet as if he’s saying a silent prayer to walk away with all five of his fingers intact.
“Dodged a bullet? Nah. I got lucky. Bailey is beautiful, smart, creative, and has some very intriguing hobbies.”
Tori chortles. “Don’t tell me she’s trying to get you into making maple syrup.”
“This is Maple Falls, isn’t it?” Carson pulls me closer, causing my heart to race. “And whatever we do, we do it together.”
“Does that mean you got her on the ice? She’s the least coordinated, most unathletic—” Taggert starts, once more cut off with a simple look from Carson.
“I like Bailey just the way she is, but yeah, I’m working on getting her skating.”
More like skating into fake dating. Scratch that, sliding on my butt into the boards. Carson isn’t just playing along, he’s going all in on our fake dating scheme. But why? Why would he do this for me? Oh, right, because his reality slides toward him now that we’re here and he needs to put on a good show for the Ice Breakers, which means I need to get my act together.
