Page 61 of Just One Season
Savannah
You seem happy with the PR woman. Glad for you
I don’t show Lucy the second text.
“Sure,” she says.
I slip my phone in my pocket and pull her against me, leaving an arm around her shoulders. Lucy snuggles into my side and looks up with wide eyes and a smiling, tempting mouth.
I could fake date this woman all day long.
CHAPTER 17
Kissing by Committee
LUCY
Sunday, October 13
Icannot believe my dating life is being run by committee.
Raleigh and January are on Atticus’s screen, and he’s perched on the single chair in his living room. Harley and Lachlan are on the big couch. Kellen is sitting next to me on the love seat. Same setup as last time.
I feel like I’m on some kind of reality show, and we’re about to go into the hot seat with shark hosts about our relationship.
“As you all know, we’re here to discuss the progress of Kellen and Lucy’s fake relationship,” Atticus starts.
“Kellcy,” Lachlan sings.
“Kellcy.” Atticus nods solemnly, but I know he’s supportive of me fake dating Kellen. When Kellen asked me—or maybe let me invite myself—to coach his daughter’s soccer team, Atticus was happy that his teammate was helping me stay busy and also impressed that Kellen let me get involved with the Snowballs, even though it was my brother’s suggestion to begin with.
He told me exactly that one morning over coffee.
“First agenda item is to find out how the fallfestival went. Lucy, care to summarize?” January’s voice rings from the mobile phone propped on the coffee table.
Traitor.
My friends are getting way too much enjoyment out of me fake dating Kellen. And they’re totally in cahoots with the hockey boys on these damn meetings.
“It went well. The s’mores were delicious, as was the mulled wine,” I say, watching my friends roll their eyes in their little video call squares.
“We talked to Paul and Savannah.” Kellen shifts next to me. “Not for long, but then Savannah texted me afterwards asking to hang out.”
“What did you say back?” Lachlan asks.
“Nothing.” Kellen shrugs. “I feel like any texting with her is a bad thing, including her texting me without me answering back. Makes it look like we’re meeting up anyway but not documenting it.”
“So our job here is not yet done.” Lachlan nods and runs his hand over his blond beard. “Right, Harley?”
“Yes, correct.”
“I think the big problem yesterday was the lack of kissing,” Raleigh pipes in.
I groan. Although… I did notice that we didn’t get to kiss again. We were prepared to, but then the moment swiftly passed after we talked to Paul and Savannah. It’s okay. It wasn’t needed. We’re not going to just randomly make out. And the night was a lot of fun anyway.
“I can’t believe you didn’t kiss her, mate.” Lachlan shakes his head. “There was an obvious opening.”
My cheeks warm, and I avoid looking at Kellen.
