Page 17 of Damsel in Defense
“We don’t really get the summers off—even though it is the off-season.I still have to train and watch what I consume.That kind of stuff.But I do have a little more time for fun.”
“Fun like what?”
“Travel, golf, concerts.I build in time to be a person and explore new hobbies.Not just a player.”
There’s something about the way he says it—a person, not just a player—that lands heavier than it should.Like maybe he knows what it feels like to constantly beonfor the happiness of others.
Not wanting to really get into how many layers Mason has and how much we have in common, I finish the last bite of my burger and wipe my hands on a napkin.
“Okay,” I say, straightening.“I think it’s time to talk rules.”
Mason mirrors me, suddenly serious.“Hit me.”
With nothing to do this afternoon, I’d had plenty of time to think about some of the parameters I wanted to put in place.
I hold up a finger.“One: if we are to fake date, it must last for a reasonable amount of time to make it look real.Not like a hit-it-and-quit-it situation.That won’t help either of us.”
“I like it,” Mason replies, thinking my words over.“What were you thinking?Nine months?More?”
I literally jolt.Wow.That’s a long time.“No,” I say a little too firmly.“I mean, I was thinking around six.That way, when news breaks of us splitting, you’re about to go into playoffs—at least, that’s what Google has told me—and I’ll probably have an album announcement around then too.So the public will be focusing on those individual things instead of our relationship.Hopefully.”
“You had to google how long a hockey season lasts?Do you not watch hockey?”
“I know the bare minimum about hockey—but don’t get off track.Does that timeline make sense to you?”
Astonishment is all over his face at my lack of hockey knowledge, but he eventually shakes it off and nods.“Yeah, I think that’ll work if you do.”
“I’ll have had time to get my head on straight.Maybe figure out if I even want to make another album.See if my goddamn writing muse comes back to me.”
“You’ve not been able to write?”he asks, sounding genuinely upset.I shoot him a look.Throwing up his hands, he apologizes.“Sorry, getting off track.Alright.Rule one: we date for six months.”He bangs his fist against the island like he’s a judge with a gavel.It makes me laugh.
“For the next rule, I was, umm, thinking about…PDA.”
“Okay.”He draws out the word, encouraging me to continue, even though my face feels like it’s on fire.
“It’s not like we’ll bekissingkissing, but we do need to act like we’re a couple in public.That means…” I clear my throat, saliva having built up.“Hand holding, hugging.Maybe cheek kisses?Whatever we decide, PDA only happens when we’re actually in public.We don’t want to blur any lines.”
His smile twitches, and I swear I see the flicker of somethingveryunhelpful in his eyes.Something curious that makes my breath catch for just a second too long.
“Umm, does that work?”
“Yes, it works.But we may need to revisit that a little later.Like when my roommates are back.”
“Oh.”I struggle for air.“Yeah, we can do a check-in when that happens.”
“Great.”
“That was really all I thought of.Do you have any?”
“Yes.I think one should be around communication.If one of us starts catching feelings—” He pauses, looking deep into my eyes.“—then we need to communicate that to the other.”
“What do you mean—”
“Oh, sorry!”he laughs.“I meant, if we catch feelings for someone else.It’s better we talk about it and come up with a plan to call this off early rather than cheat.Because that defeats the purpose of this plan.”
The full-body flush I was experiencing at thinking this man was plotting an actual romance with me fizzles out.With the way he was looking at me and how he phrased that, I truly thought…well, it doesn’t matter.
“Love it,” I lie.“Rule three: communication is key.Those, I think, will do nicely until we can test this,” I wave my hand back and forth between Mason and myself, “out in the real world.”
