Page 46 of Just One Season
“It’s simple,” I say. “We have three events: the fall festival in October, the retreat in November, and some kind of coffee shop date next week.”
“Right,” Atticus says, nodding slowly. “I always see Paul and Savannah at Deep Roots Cafe on weekday mornings. Like eight o’clock or so on the days I stop by on the way to the arena.”
“We can show up before then.” I glance back at Lucy, who nods.
“And do what?” Lachlan asks, eyebrows raised, a fake innocent look on his face.
“Have coffee? Say hello to them?”
“If you do that, they’ll just think you’re cooperating with the sponsorship project, like Paul demanded of all of us. Ofyou.” Harley’s the calmest person in the room.
“You will need to kiss.” Lachlan rubs his hands together. He’s our resident fucking chaos director.
Lucy gasps, Lachlan laughs, there are squeals from the phone, and Atticus shouts.
“I don’t think that’s necessary, do you?” Lucy looks at me, then the rest of the group. Her wide eyes are mildly panicked.
“Totally necessary to convince them you have a thing going on.” Lachlan says it like an irrefutable fact. “We’ll be away at a few preseason games this week. What day were you thinking?”
“Hang on.” I look over at Lucy, who is white as a sheet. “You okay?”
“This is ridiculous,” she says to me, voice wobbly but with a sprinkling of amusement, like she’s holding back nervous giggles. “It’s not what we planned.”
“I mean, I know,” I say quietly. “But he’s kind of right?” My traitorous eyes dart down to her lips. Red and full and shiny, like she just put lip gloss on. I bet they taste fucking amazing. I lower my voice to a whisper. “Okay, sweet potato?”
Lucy cracks up, which was my intention.
“Fine, puppy dog.” It’s just for me to hear.
I grin.
“Kellen!” Atticus says. “Stop whispering with my sister! And you will not be making out with her.”
There are shouts and laughs coming from the phone. Atticus calmly reaches down and lowers the volume on Lucy’s friends.
“He will be,” Harley says. “And you know it.”
Lucy grabs her phone and increases the volume.
“I agree, Lucy. You probably need to do something like that to convince them it’s real,” her blonde friend says, practically bouncing on the screen.
“Absolutely.” The one in London nods enthusiastically. “Kissing is necessary.”
“And hand holding,” Lachlan adds.
“Lach.” I attempt my stern father voice.
“Long, lingering looks,” blonde friend says.
“Raleigh Durham.” Lucy shakes her head.
“Back massages,” London friend adds.
“Enough!” Atticus shouts.
I’m trying to hold in the laughter, because as stupid as this all is, I’m having more fun on a Saturday night than I have in ages. Even Lucy is laughing now.
“Everyone has one vote. This is the official firstmeeting of the Kellcy Fake Dating Planning Committee, and we are the founding members.” Lachlan stands again.
