Page 44 of Perfectly Faked

For a moment, it feels like there’s still something left between us, a friendship that hasn’t totally died.

“Good, because it’s been a long time since I’ve had fun,” I add with a smile.

He looks at me, the heat of his eyes grazing over me. “Well, tonight we’re going to fix that. If there’s one thing hockey players are good at, it’s having fun.”

SIXTEEN

leo

When my teammates see me walk into Boots and Buckles with Victoria, I immediately regret this decision. Five minutes ago, this seemed like a safe arrangement—a night out with the guys, no pressure to rehash the past, and definitely no revisiting old feelings.

But who am I kidding? My feelings for her aren’t buried six feet under. They’re alive and clawing at the surface every time she’s near, making me feel things that honestly scare me.

Rourke sidles up to us, drink in hand, cheesy grin plastered on his face. “Well, look who’s here—Beauty and the Beast. And you can probably guess which one you are, Leo.”

I flash him a scowl. He lives to annoy me. The sooner this man goes away, the better.

“You wanna drink?” he asks Victoria.

“No,” I answer for her.

Rourke frowns at me. “It’s just a drink, man. Lighten up.”

“She’s here with me,” I say. “As my friend. So go away.”

Victoria turns to look at me—because calling her my “friend” in public is a huge step for me, even if it is just Rourke.

“Victoria!” Sloan yells from a table next to the bar. She waves her over, giving Victoria an escape from Rourke.

“Hey, Ego,” Sherrie says, wiping down a nearby table, then she turns to yell at a biker dude at the bar. “Don’t you dare hit on the girl Leo just brought in.” Then Sherrie opens her arms to give me a bear hug. “How you been?”

“Making it,” I say.

Despite Sherrie’s silver spiked hair, she’s like a grandma to me, and she won’t put up with a smart mouth or a half-truth. She’s tough as nails, but she’s also one of the most big-hearted people I’ve ever met, not to mention the best pie-maker in town. She’s been a permanent fixture at Boots and Buckles for longer than I’ve been alive.

“You heard the news?” I ask, turning a chair around backward to park myself in. Most of our team lives in this quiet town outside of Charleston because they like that the locals don’t bother them. There are rarely journalists around, and the guys can have all the fun they want without fear of being tomorrow’s headline.

“That you’ve been benched, or that you’ve turned into a figure skater paired up with that pretty one?” She nods toward Victoria across the room.

“Who told you?”

“I have my sources,” she says with a smile. Then she nods toward Brax and Vale, two more of her “boys.” “I’m just wondering how you’re taking it.”

“Trying to survive,” I say with a laugh. “But I don’t like it.”

Sherrie brings me a tall water and flashes the tattoo on her wrist that saysSherrie and Tom forever.Tom died five years ago from lung cancer, and Sherrie kept Boots and Buckles running in his memory, even though she considered selling the place. Shesays it’s a piece of him she can’t let go of. I know the feeling of not wanting to let go. I’ve been trying to ever since Victoria broke up with me.

Sherrie slaps a hand on my shoulder. “Tell me about your new partner.” She nods toward Victoria, who is laughing at something Jaz just said. “I heard you used to date her. Think there’s any hope of getting together again?”

I shake my head. “Hate to disappoint you, but she’s the one who broke things off. Don’t you go spreading gossip either.” I lift a warning eyebrow at Sherrie.

“You haven’t been here lately. Thought maybe you found yourself a nice girl to settle down with.”

“Sherrie, you know I’m not the settling type.”

“Same thing Tom said when he met me.” Then she cackles with laughter and walks away.

Sherrie’s one of my favorite people, and I trust her not to gossip. But looking around, it feels like everyone is wondering if the new girl in town is available or with me.

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