Page 51 of Skating and Fake Dating
“No, but it’s a start.”
Gotta say, I appreciate his encouragement and confidence in me. I can’t let them down. I’m here to win for them, if only to keep my career.
Back in the locker room, the mood is lighter. Even Cade seems less prickly, grudgingly complimenting my cross-ice pass. Asher chatters about the upcoming Maple Fest. The wordmaplecasts a net in my thoughts again.
“You okay?” Lucian asks quietly, observing from the neighboring stall.
“Yeah,” I say, unlacing my skates. “Just …” Giving my head a shake, I remind myself that I cannot be thinking about the wildcard local who dragged meintotown in handcuffs.
However, as I shower and change, hope bobs to the surface. Not just for salvaging my career, but for building something new.
Coach calls for our attention once more. “Oh, and don’t forget about the Ice Breakers inaugural bash. We encourage you to bring a plus one. Please inform Cal Shipley, the new team assistant,how many tickets you’ll need before next Monday. See you tomorrow. Bright and early.”
That means no breakfast with Bailey. I left all thoughts about her and last night in the locker room before suiting up, but I pick them right back up after our meeting and practice. Okay, not all of them. Most. Some. A lot.
The memory of Bailey in the dress, how she makes me laugh—who sneaks contraband maple syrup into a diner?—the funniest and prettiest woman I’ve met in a long time … no, ever.
On my way to the Jeep, my phone rings. It’s Gabe, my agent.
“Bro, how are you getting settled in?”
“It’s been eventful. I just finished practice. What’s up?”
“New team, new opportunity to turn around your public image. I trust everyone is playing nice and minding their manners.”
Clearly, this is directed at me and let’s just say the road rage I experienced on the ice late last season will not get a repeat showing.
“Yes, Dad. I said please and thank you.”
He chuckles. “Have you given any thought to what I said about using a fake girlfriend to show the league and fans that you’ve changed? That the gentleman wingman is back and better than ever? Ooh. I like the way that sounds. I’ll be sure to leak it to the press so they use that phrase.”
I don’t like the implications ofusinganyone to improve my image, but he has a point.
Gabe trills, “I know a few ladies who’d love to visit you in the locker room.”
“Actually—”
“Hear me out,” he persists in telling me exactly how this could help my career and assures me that it would be a secret and that no one would find out thanks to my legal team.
This brings to mind Bailey’s stash of maple syrup and skips back in time to the porch swing and every charged moment between us since our ride in the elevator. Then I remind myself that everything that’s happened since arriving in Maple Falls has been under the auspices of being her fake date at the wedding, but Gabe doesn’t know that.
He says, “You have the Ice Breakers inaugural bash coming up. I’ll fly Jenna up there—remember her? Tall, model goodlooks, makeup influencer—and we’ll get the ball rolling. Or should I say the puck sliding?”
“You don’t need to do that. I, uh, have a girlfriend who’ll go with me.” Genuine warmth spreads across my skin, but then I tell myself, I did Bailey a favor. She’d just be doing me a solid in return.
The line is quiet for a long moment. “You have a girlfriend?”
“I’ve got it. Don’t worry.” My words are garbled, but there’s also something so natural about referring to Bailey as my girlfriend that I don’t back down.
“I’m not convinced. Send me some photographic evidence I can use on the down low.”
I let out a breath, not wanting to play any game other than hockey, but Gabe did save me from myself last spring, so I ought to trust him.
“I have to jet. Talk soon.” Gabe ends the call.
Thankfully, we don’t talk again soon, but the week slips by with me going to practice in the morning, doing dry-land training in the afternoon, and settling into Maple Falls.
Bailey is a pro at her job and instead of staying at the Hawk River Lodge for a few days while I waited for the SkyBnB to be ready, I’m all moved in. The rental is great with a chef’s kitchen, fireplace, and it backs up to great trails for running.
