Page 180 of The Fake Date Agreement

Hallie dropsinto the seat beside mine in the arena. “Caleb looks happy.”

I glance at her, then focus on the men on the ice. “He looks the same as he always does,” I deny.

“Oh, he’s definitely happy.”

I squint at him. “How can you tell?”

He’s serious and focused the way he always is on the ice. Not a hint of a smile to be found anywhere on his gruff exterior.

But he was smiling with me last night.

He laughed when he nearly fell out of my bed and took me with him. And later, after we made another floor bed, I discovered that beneath that serious disposition lies the heart of a serial spooner. And he didn’t just read each page Max helpfully tabbed. He memorized it.

“You’re grinning like an idiot,” Hallie tells me.

“I know.” I’m stupidly happy and can’t help it. “You know, I would have accepted your apology when you said it if you hadn’t rushed off,” I tell her, still watching the practice.

“You’re a better person than I am,” she says softly. “I can hold a grudge like no one’s business.” She bounces her shoulder against mine. “But thanks.”

I nod. “You were looking out for your brother, and…” I’m not sure what compels me to say, “It’s not real. You were right when you said I was a puck bunny. What we’re doing is just pretend.”

Maybe I’m hoping she will chase me from the arena with a hockey stick because I have tried to end things with Javier, Caleb, and Reid, and I couldn’t do it. I don’t want to. I have never been happier than when I’m with them. Even my dad has picked up on it.

“I know,” Hallie says.

I snap my head toward Hallie. “Youknow?”

She smiles as she gets to her feet. “But I think you’re wrong. It looks pretty real to me. See.”

I turn back to the ice.

Caleb isn’t looking gruff or serious. His eyes are soft and warm, and they’re focused on me.

I have a feeling that if someone were to take a picture of me and show it to me, I’d be looking at him the same way.

Coach blows his whistle, and Caleb skates away, breaking eye contact.

I can’t help but notice that Reid is studying Caleb curiously. Javier’s expression is knowing. I haven’t told them about sleeping with Caleb. Since Caleb was nearly late getting to practice because neither of us wanted to get out of bed, it looks like they’ve worked it out.

I keep trying not to think about the future, but I can’t help it.

They’re heading into the NHL after graduation. I don’t know what team or even what city they will go to. If, by some miracle, I get into the grad school of my dreams, we could be on literally opposite sides of the country.

And then what?

How could we get things to work when we might not even be living in the same city?

My phone vibrates, and I answer it with a smile when I see who’s calling. “Hi, Dad.”

“Hey, Junebug. You still coming home for spring break?”

I’ve been Junebug since I tried to take a bite out of one of my dad’s records when I started teething. He’s loved the B-52s longer than I’ve been alive, and “Junebug” is one of his favorite songs.

“Sure thing. I’ll be on campus for the first couple of days, but I’m definitely coming home.” I need to speak to Javier about whatever it was he wanted me to stay on campus for.

To talk about our future?

“Is Marc staying with us or going to be with his family?”

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