Page 86 of Hockey Halloween
“Give me a second,” Gunther interrupts, trying to regain control of the situation.
Roman snorts from the other side. “A second? Sorry, Paisley, but if you want more than a second, I can help you out with that.”
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Gunther mutters under his breath, but there’s a softness in his voice, a flicker of something tender that curls around me and hugs tight. He looks at me with care in his eyes, soft and protective. “You good?” His words are simple, but the depth behind them is what makes my heart stumble.
I nod, swallowing against the sudden rush of emotion. “I’m good,” I say quietly, even though my pulse is still racing.
Gunther tugs open the door and steps aside, giving me space to leave. I step out into the hallway, only to catch Roman’s grin as he leans against the doorframe.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” he says with a wink.
“Shut the fuck up, Roman,” Gunther snaps, shoving him into the bathroom, and slamming the door shut.
And then his knuckles brush against mine, warm and familiar. The tenderness on his face hasn’t completely faded, but now there’ssomething else there, something steely in his eyes. His teeth clench, and he asks in a low, careful voice, “You still want to go get your guy?”
I nod, heart pounding, but I don’t say the words that are burning on my tongue. “I still want to get my guy,” I say softly, leaving out the part thathe’sthe guy I plan to get.
Gunther
I slide my arm around her and pull her in tight. Acting possessive, like I want her, need her, is not the hard part. The problem is doing it while she’s trying to make another man jealous. A man she might actually leave with tonight.
Yeah, and there’s one more hard part.
It’s between my legs, doing a damn poor job of hiding just how notfake this is for me.
She presses into my side, her arm gliding around my back like it belongs there, and I feel the whole damn room shift. Heads turn. Eyes widen. Evenhis—Jaxon’s. He tilts his head, studying Paisley with something new in his gaze. Interest. Heat.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
This shit actually works?
“Okay, who’s ready to play?” Gina grins, waving the mic at us all. “It’s karaoke costume night, and the winner gets an all-inclusive trip to Aruba.”
“Seriously?” Roman pipes up as he strolls out of the bathroom, clearly refreshed and clueless.
“No,” Gina laughs. “But close. The winners get a romanticnight at a cozy bed and breakfast in Vermont. Courtesy of Jaxon’s family.”
Of course, it’s from Jaxon. Because this night wasn’t complicated enough and if Paisley and I win couples karaoke, she’s going to want to take the guy who donated the prize. She’ll think it’s kismet or some shit. A sign. Meanwhile, I’ll be the guy in the Wonder Woman costume getting kicked in the heart.
“Who’s up first?” Gina calls, scanning the room.
Usually I’d be the first to volunteer—especially if there’s a spotlight involved—but I keep my damn mouth shut as Brighton lifts her hand.
Paisley turns to me, confused. “I thought you wanted to win this.”
I shrug, casual on the outside, imploding on the inside. What the hell am I supposed to say?Actually, Paisley, I don’t want to win because the idea of you sharing a candlelit breakfast with Jaxon in silk pajamas makes me want to punch a wall?
No. I can’t do that to her. Not if he’s who she wants.
But damn it, for a second—in that bathroom—I thought it was me. The way she touched me. Kissed me. That sound she made when I pulled her close, when our mouths met like they’d done it a hundred times before and never wanted to stop… That wasn’t fake. That couldn’t be fake. Because no one can pretend that kind of heat. That kind ofneed.
Unless, of course, you’re Paisley, who’s throwing herself into this role like she’s gunning for an Oscar. She’s got one goal tonight. Get her guy. And spoiler alert. It’s not me.
Fuck my life.
But honestly, I did this. I screwed it all up. I’m the idiot who went off with another girl in high school after she told me how she felt. I let her walk away thinking she wasn’t enough when she was alreadyeverything.
Now she’s using me to make someone else jealous. And maybe—maybe—this whole fake relationship thing is my shot to show her what we could be. That we make sense. That it’s us. All of this isunder the guise of pretending, which means if it blows up in my face, I can retreat without losing her. That’s the theory, anyway.
