Page 44 of Just One Season
“Christ. That would be so much worse,” Atticus mutters.
“Listen.” I drink my beer, the only one I’ll have tonight. We all keep alcohol to an absolute minimum during the season. Except for the team retreat. “We’ll keep this above board. It’s all pretend.”
“And how, exactly, are you planning on keeping this above board?”
“Well, during our hike this morning, we talked about a few events we’d be seen at together.”
“Your hike? Now you’re hiking with her??”
“We were doing media training.” I shrug.
“Bullshit. You don’t need media training.” Atticus calls me out immediately.
“And making a fake dating plan.”
Lachlan slams his hand on the coffee table, and everyone jumps.
“The fuck?” Atticus glares at him.
“This is amazing.” Lachlan stands and clears his throat. “I want to officially kick off the first meeting of the Fake Dating Planning Committee.”
“No fucking way.” I shake my head.
“Yeah fucking way,” he says. “You will absolutely need help with this. And I’m sure Atticus will want to be able to offer input on the plan.”
I look at the ceiling, praying for it to fall down on our heads and end this.
“Go on,” Harley says, biting back a grin. Atticus growls at us and springs up to pace back and forth in the kitchen.
“Agenda item number one!” Lachlan practically sings and plops back down on the coach. “Official appearances of Lucy and Kellen. Kellie? Tell us what you discussed.”
“Alright.” I twist the bottle in my hand. “We talked about three times we’llpretendto be a couple in front of Paul and Savannah.” I look pointedly at Atticus, who rolls his eyes.
“Lellen? Kucy?” Lachlan cocks his head and looks at Harley. “Hmm, nothing really rolls off the tongue.”
“Lullen?” Harley suggests.
“Kellcy?” Atticus says, then scowls and appears to hate himself.
“Oh!” Lachlan points in the air. “That’s it! Kellen and Lucy are now officially Kellcy.”
“That is ridiculous. And I thought you didn’t approve of this.” I growl at Atticus. “Why are you helping?”
“What? I like to be creative.” Atticus finally stops pacing and settles back into the single chair. “In another life I might have worked in marketing. Or written a novel.”
Lachlan scoffs. “You don’t have a novel in you.”
“I might!”
“No.” Lachlan laughs and shakes his head.
“Whatever,” I say, trying to end the stupidest argument ever. “The first public appearance?—”
But before I can finish my sentence, a key jangles in the lock and all four of us move our gazes to the front door. Lachlan cackles with glee.
“That’ll be my fake girlfriend,” I say. Nerves jump around in my stomach. We’d agreed she’d show up and talk to Atticus at some point, but I didn’t think it’d be till later.
The door swings open to reveal Lucy, curls down and wild around her face, long legs bare below athletic shorts, a tight sports tank, and her phone held out in front of her.
