Page 19 of Faking Ties

“What’s brought this on?” Quincy asks.

I could tell them about my plan on how to get my contract extended, but it’s depressing to admit that I’venever cared about getting close with the team. Instead, I say, “I thought it might help us win this year.”

Jake gives me a long look, as if he doesn’t believe me, but Quincy’s quick to jump into ideas. His advice is everything I’ve been told not to do my entire life. My dad never let a conversation between us stray from film review or upcoming plays. The personal lives of my teammates? It didn't matter, and he’d scold me for becoming distracted by locker room gossip. Over the years, my focus on winning built a wall between my teammates and me.

And now Quincy is suggesting doing the opposite. His first step? To actually eat with the team during training camp, instead of eating alone like I usually do. He even proposes that I ask someone a personal question. It should be an easy first step, but my skin crawls at the thought of doing that.

I chug my beer, already dreading the uphill battle I have on my hands.

ELODIE

My small apartment above the garage is the cleanest I’ve ever seen it. My clothes are all put away, the bed is made, everything is organized, and the surfaces are all dust-free. I’m not sure who did it, but I’m not mad about it.

“Hey, bestie,” Nina says, busting through the door as if she owns the place. She’s my opposite in a lot of ways with brown, wavy hair, tan skin, and killer curves. “I’ve only got a few minutes before my shift starts but”—Nina takes one look at me and breaks out into laughter—“oh wow, red is not your color.”

“Thanks a lot.” I self-consciously touch the red wig Rachel insisted I wear for this trip so no one would think I’m Stella. She also insisted I wear a pair of ugly, thick-framed glasses. It’s the worst disguise I’ve ever seen since it’s so bad it’s abnormal. But Rachel threatened to fly me commercial and not in the private planethat Stella owns. I laughed and said that private planes are scary and that more celebs die on them than commercial. I made that fact up, but it didn’t stop Rachel from letting out a long-suffering sigh as she stared at the ceiling yet again. She does it so much, I’m thinking I should add a funny picture to the ceiling of every room I’m in to give her something to look at when she does it. Maybe I could carry one around with some tape to spontaneously add it when needed.

“How are you?” Nina asks, sitting on my bed.

“Oh, no. You go first. Tell me what I missed.” I open the closet and scan my clothes, needing to decide what to bring with me.

“Nothing. Greg is still shit in bed. Other than that? I’m boring. It’s just been work and more work. For such a small town, you’d think the hotel wouldn’t get much action. But it’s been nonstop. So, let me live vicariously through you instead. How was your date with Hunter?”

“Funny, then weird, then good.”

“Explain.”

“Well, it started with a memorial service for my old phone and ended with him asking to fake date me.” I glance at Nina who looks more confused than anything. “And then I agreed?”

“That’s…not what I thought you’d say.”

“I know, trust me, I wasn’t expecting it either. But just know fake dating him is necessary, and I don’treally have a choice in the matter. It’ll be fine though; he seems friendly.”

“Friendly, hmm? Perhaps also with a side of benefits and you can finally lose your V-card.”

“I’m not a virgin.” I glare at her, unzipping a suitcase I’m borrowing from Mom.

“You might as well be.” She laughs at whatever look is on my face. “It’s a rule. If you haven’t had sex in more than six years, you’re revirginized.”

“Should I be worried that you’re keeping tabs?”

“Well, someone should. I do think you should enter your whore era while you’re Stella. Or at the minimum live it up to the max.”

“And ruin Stella’s reputation? No way. I can’t do that. She’s super kind and caring. And let’s not forget that the paparazzi follow her every move.”

“Well, thank fuck for the paparazzi. It’s like I’m with you, following your comings and goings because of them. I don’t even need a presentation from you; Google has made it for you.”

I shake my head and laugh. Leave it to Nina to appreciate something like that.

“I don’t know what I should bring,” I say, spinning in a slow circle, surveying my limited belongings. It’s not like I’ve ever had extra money to buy anything not needed.

“I’d suggest leaving most of the stuff here and buying new things. But underwear could be helpfuluntil you buy new. Unless you decide to go commando, and if so, I fully support freeing the vag.”

“You should make a shirt that says that.”

“Who says I haven’t already done it?”

I wouldn’t put it past her. She loves to sew and make clothes. It started as a way to make our thrifted clothes cooler, but she’s really good at it.

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