Page 97 of Just One Season
Lucy’s eyes widen in surprise to see me in her doorway.
“Get over here,” she says with a grin when she recovers, and pulls me in by my shirt.
I kiss her and feel her smile on my mouth. I push the door shut behind me.
It’s only kisses, and even if they notice we’re both gone, so what?
Sneaking around with Lucy, kissing her in hidden corners and secret rooms… I don’t want to be anywhere else.
CHAPTER 26
(Not In) the Mile High Club
LUCY
Wednesday, November 27
Atticus ended up between me and Kellen on the plane. We’re in first class—thanks, hockey player salaries. They chatted, I stared out the window.
Since the last Kellcy Fake Dating Planning Committee meeting on Saturday, it’s been a busy week for all of us. The team traveled, then returned to Fort Collins for a home game. I was wrapping up the Blizzard food and coat drive, which was a huge success thanks to the players dropping off cases of canned goods and brand-new jackets.
Tuesday morning, there was a vanilla oat milk latte and a piece of crumb cake waiting on my desk with a note:Good luck with your interview -K
The video interview with Winchester FC went really well. I probably won’t hear for a few weeks, and I’ll be busy enough that hopefully I won’t keep thinking about it. I hardly had time to recover when Kellen walked in to check how it went and ask what he should wear to dinner with my father on Thanksgiving. It was agood distraction, especially when he shut the door to my office and pushed me up against the wall.
Then he left to get ready for the home game that night.
Between that kiss and the stolen one at the KFDPC meeting on Saturday, I’m embarrassingly desperate to get him alone again. I couldn’t have him spend the night on Saturday because we’ve not revealed to anyone that our fake dating has turned decidedly real. We haven’t even directly acknowledged it to each other.
We arrive at Mom’s house at nine o’clock at night, and she’s waiting at the front door with the biggest smile on her face.
“Hi, Mom.” I wrap her in a giant hug.
“Hello sweetheart, welcome home.” Mom’s voice is muffled against my shoulder.
Even though I never lived at the vineyard full-time, it’s always felt like home. To me, my mom is home.
“Atticus.” Mom envelops my brother in a long embrace. She gets so angry when my father ignores him, dismisses his accomplishments, overlooks the man he’s become. Atticus melts into her arms and looks more like a little boy than a hulking hockey player.
Kellen lingers behind us. We told him earlier that our mother is in on the fake dating scheme. In fact, when I told her, she giggled in delight.
Mom leans back and releases Atticus.
“Mom, this is Kellen.” I almost finish withmy fake boyfriend, but I can’t say that out loud any more.
“I’ve heard all about you and how wonderful you are. Come here for a hug.” She pulls Kellen in and gives him her special mom hug. He’s stiff for a second but then relaxes his shoulders. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
Lordy, Mom. My face heats.
“Mom. Not sure I called him wonderful?”Did I?I didn’t tell her that this thing between me and Kellen is turning more than fake, at least not directly. But I’m sure she caught the idea when Iexplained all the things we were doing to convince the team owner that we’re together.
“Thank you for having me.” Kellen stands up straight when Mom releases him. He’s got a sweet blush creeping up his neck.
“Well. Happy you’re here. And I was absolutely delighted when I heard of this plan to stick it to my asshole ex.” Mom smiles at each of us. “Come on, come in, drop your stuff in your bedrooms and let’s have a glass of wine.”
We follow Mom into her house. She waves down one hallway and looks at Kellen.
“Kellen, there’s a spare bedroom next to Lucy’s. She can show you.” Mom looks at me and winks.
