Page 51 of Faking it with the Billionaire
My top lip twitches at the mention of Jasper being mybaby brother. Tell me something I don’t already know. I’ve helped raise that kid since our parents passed away. I’ve looked out for him. I helped make sure he got a fair deal when he got drafted.
I trudge back toward the coach, wanting to keep this between us. “It’s nothing,” I say and glance away. It’s hard to ignore the steely gaze of Coach Malone. “I’ll walk it off.”
“You’d run laps if it were up to me, but I need you in game shape in under an hour. Get your head screwed back on, Greyson. If this is about your daughter—”
“It’s not,” I say and breathe a sigh of relief. Bristol is at home with Lia, and I don’t have to worry about either of them because I know without a doubt that the security system is top-notch, and if anyone came within several yards of the house, I’d be notified, as would Emerson.
“Then it’s about the girl.” Coach Malone’s eyes tighten. “Is your brother in love with her or something?”
“I’d kill him if he were,” I growl a little too quickly, and Malone’s gaze widens.
“Don’t let some girl come between brothers. There are a lot of fish in the sea, Greyson.”
“She’s not just some girl,” I say, and I inhale sharply at the realization that as much as Emerson gets under my skin, it’s because I want to be around her. I think I might actually be harboring real feelings for her.
He smirks, and his shoulders sag as he glances me over. “Is that so?”
“I’m just not sure she realizes that yet, how much she means to me. Can I—” I glance at his wedding band. It’s plain and simple, and yet it would be perfect for a ruse. “Can I borrow your wedding ring?”
Coach Malone squints at me, fiddling with his wedding band. “Are you sure about this, Greyson? Don’t be stupid over something your little brother said or did.”
“This isn’t about him,” I say.
The guys clearly don’t realize I’m serious about Em, and if I can’t convince them that our relationship is real, how am I going to convince the rest of the world?
FOURTEEN
EMERSON
“What the helldo you wear to a hockey game?” I glance over my shoulder at Lia and Bristol in the doorframe, waiting on me to hurry up.
I’ve tossed open every drawer in my bedroom, pulled apart the closet, and left clothes scattered on the bed, floor, and hanging over the bathroom door.
“A jersey,” Bristol says, matter of fact. She’s wearing an Ice Dragons hockey jersey that’s a little big but clearly a youth size. That won’t work for me. I have nothing to wear.
“Did you check Mr. Greyson’s closet?” Lia asks.
“No,” I gasp. Lia and Bristol part ways, letting me hurry across the hall.
They both follow close behind as they watch me tear apart Kyler’s closet.
“I don’t know much about hockey,” Lia says as she opens his dresser drawer and pulls out a jersey that I’ll be swimming in, “but this jersey definitely has the NHL logo.”
Bristol’s eyes widen, and she bites down on her bottom lip before grinning wildly. “You should definitely wear that. Dad will—” She snaps her mouth shut, and I hurry into his bathroom and close the door.
I slip into the jersey and wear black leggings to go with the ensemble. Lia has helped put everything back into place in Kyler’s room. Although he’ll know I borrowed the jersey, I’m sure he won’t mind.
“Are you sure these are for the same team?” I ask, glancing at the different emblem and colors.
“It’s vintage,” Bristol says. “Dad always goes on about how the old jerseys were so much cooler. Trust me. You’ll make him blush.”
I glance from Bristol to Lia. “What has gotten into her?” I laugh and pull Bristol to me for a hug. “You’d better be right.”
Lia hurries out with Bristol ahead of me. I shut and lock the house, climbing into the vehicle and letting Mitchell take us to the game.
“Are you sure you guys are ready?” Mitchell asks, glancing at us in the rearview mirror.
“It’s game time,” I say with a wry grin. The hockey game hasn’t started yet, but I’m looking forward to it.
