Page 30 of Wish You Would

“I do. I’m a big fan. My best friend married their head coach, Tucker Collins, so she’s always asking me to come to games with her.”

“How lucky are you?” Zoe adds. “Is that how you met Holden?”

“It is.” Briar’s eyes lift to mine. We talked about this earlier, what we would say if people asked how we met. We figured we’d just go with the truth. “We spent some time together last year, then I moved back home to Vancouver for a year. It’s a long story, but when I returned, the adorable apartment I had leased was under two inches of water. Holden was kind enough to let me move in with him.”

“Holden’s your knight in shining armor. This already sounds straight out of a romance novel.” Zoe beams.

“Briar loves those things. There are stacks of them taking up space in my living room. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the shirtless guys.”

“Okay, I’m definitely making a point of asking you for a recommendation. I love to read. You can tell me yourfavorites.” Zoe rubs her palms together. “I’m going to need to get your phone number before the game is over.”

Apparently, my fake girlfriend and my co-worker are going to be friends after tonight. I didn’t see that one coming. I’m also not surprised. Briar is likeable. She’s funny and smart, enthusiastic and outgoing. It’s impossible not to like her. If the time comes that I ever want to date again, I’d want a girl just like her.

The game endswith a win for the Outlaws, 24-14. Before leaving, we gather on top of the concourse saying our goodbyes to the group. Zoe and Briar have their cell phones out and are exchanging phone numbers while Nick and I talk about the insane play that our quarterback called.

Briar had made an impression on my friends, but she made an impression on me too. She went out of her way to talk to everyone at the game and everyone loved her. It felt good to have a girl as fun and hot as my fake girlfriend on my arm.

Her ex-boyfriend was an absolute idiot for not treating her right. It blows my mind how any guy would let a woman like her get away. She’s the perfect mix of chaos and sunshine. I should probably send him an expensive bottle of scotch for fucking things up with her. His loss was my gain. It brought Briar into my life— even if we’ll just be friends after all of this is over. Fuck, I hope we can remain friends after the wedding, after we stage our fake breakup. After today, I know I like having her around.

“She’s cool, man.” Nick elbows me gently in the side. “You’re different with her than with the last one. You’re less uptight. There’s less—”

“Arguing?”

“Yeah, that,” Nick laughs. “I think this one’s going to make you work your ass off. She’s going to keep you on your toes.”

My stomach twists. Nick doesn’t have any idea how right he is. Briar has been busting my balls since the moment she moved in. I don’t see that changing anytime soon if ever. The crazy thing is, I’m kind of liking it.

After the girls have finished their conversation, they walk over to join Nick and me. He tugs his wife into his side, so I do the same to Briar. Briar nuzzles in close, flattening a palm over my abs, her other arm wrapping around my lower back. I dip down and roll my chin against her hair, liking the feel of her little body pressed against mine.

Too bad it’s just pretend.

“You guys have been so nice. Thank you for welcoming me today.” Briar lets go of me to hug both of them.

“We hope to see a lot more of you.” Before they turn to go, Zoe flashes me an enthusiastic thumbs up while Briar isn’t looking.

“I had fun!” Briar lets go of my hand as we approach my truck.

“I had a lot of fun.”

She smiles. “It’s always a good time, it seems, when we’re together.”

“Temporarily together.”

“I know, Holden. You don’t have to worry. I won’t ask you to propose to me at the end of this.”

“You wouldn’t have to ask me. You are a cool chick, Bee. You deserve a guy who will treat you like the incredible catch you are.” I reach for the handle, opening her door, helping her inside. “Thanks for making tonight so fun.”

“Thank you for asking me. That was the best fake dateI’ve ever been on. I will be hoping you invite me to all future team-building events.”

She smiles. My heart rate skips.

Team-building events only happen twice a year, so Briar and I will no longer be “together” when the next one rolls around. I know I’m going to miss having her with me when all of this is over.

I shut her truck door, walking slower than usual around the hood.

I need to be careful, to keep Briar at a distance. She won’t be in my life for long, at least not like this. Once the wedding is over, our fake relationship will be too. Besides, she has been hurt enough as it is by her ex-boyfriend.

I can’t be the one to hurt her again.

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