Page 60 of Just One Season
I take her hand and follow her lead. The crowd of people at the table has thinned, and Paul and Savannah are standing by themselves. They haven’t spotted us yet.
“Let’s go.” Lucy drags me right over to their table. I’m too stunned to question her methods—I’d have needed to gather the nerve to approach them.
“Hello, Lucy,” Paul says. His eyes flick to me, then down to our linked hands. “Kellen.”
“Soccer player? That’s brave of you.” Savannah tilts her head and smiles at Lucy. Paul watches the interaction.
“I guess I’m a soccer girl at heart.” Lucy squeezes my hand.
Savannah looks at me, then back at Lucy, calculating. Not unkindly. I bet she’s thinking of the cafe kiss she witnessed.
“How is your father?” Paul asks Lucy, who shrugs.
“Haven’t talked to him recently.”
“Things going well with the work here?” Paul looks like he’s taking mental notes.
“It’s going great,” Lucy says too enthusiastically. Savannah raises her eyebrows.
An older man calls Paul’s name, and he holds up a finger.
“We have to go. Enjoy your evening.” Paul nods his head at us.
“Bye, have fun tonight.” Savannah follows Paul but looks over her shoulder as they walk away. There’s an interested look on her face.
Shit. I should’ve kissed Lucy before we walked up to Paul and Savannah. Should I kiss her now? Savannah’s no longer watching. They’re long gone.
“Um, did our plan work already?” Lucy asks.
A panic rises in my belly at the idea of us achieving our fake dating goals too early and ending this delightful charade.
“Nah. It’ll take more than two appearances to convince them for sure.”
“You think?” A pair of kids dressed as minions runs past us, and Lucy smiles and watches them. “Even with the HR paperwork we signed?”
“Yeah. Did you see that look she gave us?” I feel like an asshole immediately. It wasn’t a mean or vengeful look. If anything, it was a wistful one, like she’d rather hang out with us than talk to another old dude.
“I guess you’re right. Maybe we should have kissed in front of them.”
I swing my head to look at her, eyes wide. She’s got a corner of her mouth turned up. I consider suggesting a practice kiss but totally chicken out.Wouldshe let me kiss her right now?
How had Lucy’s idiot ex cheated on her? I take the last sip of my mulled wine and place the empty cup on the table just as my phone buzzes.
It’s a text from Savannah.
Savannah
Can we meet up for a drink? I don’t think Paul even remembers the whole NHL Tea picture thing
I flash the text to Lucy, relief washing over me. Relief that Savannah is not yet off my back.
What is wrong with me?
“Look,” I say, ignoring my inner thoughts. “It’s not working well enough yet.”
“Oh.” Lucy smiles after reading the text. Is she relieved as well? Because I feel like this—whatever it is we’re doing that’s possibly not only fake dating—is just getting started.
“Want to go on a hay ride?” My phone buzzes again in my hand, and I glance down.
