Page 49 of The Wild Card
“Nope.” Thayden claps a hand on Collin’s shoulder, giving him a squeeze. “I told you—trust me, and I’m going to handle this. All of it. You’ll be fine.”
“Ididtrust you,” Collin says. “And now look what you’re suggesting—that I get a fake girlfriend to help with my ex-girlfriend.”
“Keep your voice down,” Thayden says. “You know this town is full of gossips.”
“Takes one to know one.” Collin speaks through gritted teeth. “Maybe we shouldn’t be having this conversation in a public place.”
“Then maybe you should call or text your lawyer back so he won’t have to hunt you down and deal with the situation.”
“I thought we were choosing to just ignore Liza and her posts,” Collin says.
Thayden takes a sip of his coffee. “That was before her little videos reached several of the parties interested in buying the gym. They’re concerned about bad press and how it might impact the business’s reputation.”
Collin is selling his gym?
Sounds like his life is in about as much upheaval as mine. And I’m getting only tiny bits and pieces of information through this conversation.
Collin’s jaw tightens, and his gaze drops. I half expect to see smoke forming from the hole he appears to be burning in the table. The urge to help him is almost primal.
Maybe because I know he’d do the same for me—he already has.
“Would it actually help Collin sell his gym if there were positive posts on social media counteracting the other things?” I ask Thayden.
“Yes. I think that having a large account with someone as well-liked and wholesome as you could help turn the tide of public opinion,” Thayden says. “Which would, in turn, help ease the minds of these buyers.”
“How would this help, though?” Collin asks.
Thayden’s smile stretches wide. “What do people love more than shipping a new relationship? Absolutely nothing.”
He’s right, of course. I haven’t ever bought into that side of influencing, but I know it’s a very common tactic for content creators to fuel rumors of dating or even to pretend to date to build buzz and grow followers. That’s a line I’ve always drawn in the sand for myself.
Until, I guess, now. Funny how the right guy and the right set of circumstances can have me wanting to erase that line in the sand altogether.
The idea of continuing to fake a relationship is a lot more palatable to me if it would be beneficial to Collin. Then I wouldn’t feel like I’m using him. I’d be helping him just like he’s helping me.
This wouldn’t be helpful to the very real feelings you’re having, some little voice in my head tries to tell me. But I ignore it.
Because I really hate seeing Collin look as miserable as he does talking about his ex and the news about the gym.
“But is this really necessary?” I press. “I mean, Collin isn’t even active on social media.”
Collin grins and leans forward. “Have you been stalking me, Molly-girl?”
That nickname again. His flirtatious smile that makes my stomach flutter. It’s vastly preferable to his stressed-out look from moments before. Though it’s not helpful to the feelings I’m trying to dampen.
“I wasn’t stalking. I just … looked you up.”
“Stalker,” Collin whispers, and he taps my foot under the table lightly.
“It sounds like this arrangement would work well for you both,” Thayden says, as though the matter is decided. “Who knows? Maybe it would even be fun.” Thayden winks.
I swear, this man’s favorite hobby must be playing with fire. Collin shoves Thayden bodily out of the booth. But the lawyer was prepared because he hops to his feet like he planned it, stretching his arms over his head. His smile never wavers as he picks up his suit jacket and slips it on.
I still have no idea what’s going on with Collin online or what we’re doing, but Thayden is apparently done.
“I’ll call you later, Collin,” Thayden says, then bends down and speaks quietly near my ear. Notthatquietly; I’m still sure Collin can hear every word. “Consider it, Molly. I think it’s a good idea for a number of reasons. Oh, and by the way, I’d like to point out that this is not so dissimilar to how I convinced my wife to marry me, so?—”
Collin erupts out of the booth after his lawyer, but Thayden anticipated the move and is already speeding out the door, laughing as he goes.
