Page 10 of Arresting the Hockey Player
I snatch the pillow before she can smack me again with it. Grabbing it, I keep it out of her reach, holding it above my head. I'm quite a bit taller than Charlotte, and while seated, there is zero chance of her retrieving it unless she stands or climbs on all fours, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, having her straddle me for it.
"What kind of prank?" I pin her with my stare, wanting to get inside her head.
"We tell them we're getting married."
Her words stun me, and the throw pillow I'm holding above us falls ungraciously onto my lap. "That's a terrible idea."
She reaches for the soft blue linen pillow, grabbing it while unintentionally brushing against my crotch. At least, I don't think it's intentional, but she just suggested marriage as a prank. I'm not sure if she's crazy or brilliant. It would surprise Jasper, assuming he falls for it.
"So? Why not?" Charlotte quips, raising an eyebrow as she scoots back on the couch, guarding the pillow. She holds it against her chest and stretches her legs, resting them beside me. The gesture is intimate for two people who just met, but for some reason, I feel like I've known her my entire life.
"For starters, it's raining, and the courthouse is closed. No one would believe it."
"Gettingmarried," Charlotte emphasizes. "That doesn't mean we got hitched today. We'll tell them you proposed on our date, and I said yes."
I tilt my head back, staring up at the ceiling. "I'm dating a crazy person," I mutter.
"I heard that," Charlotte says, tossing the throw pillow at my head.
I catch sight of it out of the corner of my eye, and my arm goes up, blocking the shot. "It wasn't a secret," I say.
"So, we're dating?" She stares at me, a curious look on her face. Her blue eyes are a shade darker than before, and her cheeks are a slightly rosy hue that is beginning to match her fiery locks. The longer I watch her and study her features, the more I take note.
She has a slight dusting of freckles across her face, almost invisible, like she's hiding them behind makeup.
"We're not—not dating," I say, avoiding the question. The whole marriage prank was entirely her idea. I think it's crazy, but it's tempting. I've heard the shit that Jasper has done to his brother Kyler in terms of pranks. It would be pretty funny if Jasper fell for it.
"Dating aside—" She gestures, waving her hand in front of us, getting back to her point. "Are you in?"
"Am I in on the prank?" I ask, wanting to make sure she's not serious about this marriage proposal idea. Because I'm not marrying a chick I just met a couple of hours ago. I mean, I've seen her at hockey games and whatnot, but we haven't exactly been properly acquainted until today.
It's the kind of suggestion a puck bunny would give, like Jasmine, but in her case, she'd expect me to walk her down the aisle before midnight, like a fucked up fairytale.
My cell phone buzzes again on the coffee table, and Charlotte keeps her gaze locked on me. "Are you with me?"
"Well, I'm not against you," I say and lean forward, reaching for my phone. "You're crazy, and I'm nuts for going along with it." I stare at Charlotte while answering the call.
I can hear the gasp of breath from her lips as she watches me take the call, her chest rising and falling, and her breathing growing slightly faster. Is it nerves? Her cheeks redden. She'd be a terrible poker player. I can see all her tells.
"Hey, man, I've got great news," I say.
"Yeah? Did the date go well? Amber has been trying to call Charlotte to find out how it went, but she isn't picking up."
"Oh, that's because I'm still at her place."
"You are?" Jasper says, and he chuckles. "They're still together, babe!" he calls out to Amber.
"Oh! Then leave them alone. Let them get back to their hot date," Amber says.
"Put the phone on speaker. We want to tell you both the good news at the same time," I say.
Charlotte is grinning wickedly, her eyes bright as she nods enthusiastically.
Jasper pauses for a beat. "Okay. What's going on? Good news?" I'm sure the two of them are trying to figure it out before we share it with them.
Charlotte and I meet each other's stare. "We're getting married!" Charlotte squeals excitedly and jumps up from the sofa, dancing around like the news is real.
"What?" Amber's voice is far louder and in shock, more so than Jasper, who is dead silent. "Who proposed to whom?" she asks.
