Page 46 of Off The Rush
“Hey, it won’t be weird if none of us make it weird,” I reassure her, hoping to lighten the mood. Though a part of me isn’t entirely thrilled about sharing her attention with Alec and Luka, I know that if this is the only way I get a chance with Emma, then it’s worth it.
“Okay,” she finally agrees, though her hesitant tone shows she’s still not completely sold on the idea. “I’ll go on a date with each of you, and we’ll see where things go from there.”
With that settled, I can’t help but start thinking about how I’m going to plan the perfect date for Emma. But before I can get too lost in my thoughts, the sounds of the hockey game on the TV grab my attention.
Emma seems disinterested in the game, her brow furrowed as she tries to follow along. Sensing an opportunity, Luka begins explaining the ins and outs of the game to her. Not wanting to be left out, I chime in with additional comments and insights, doing my best to split her attention between Luka and myself.
Alec is sitting there pouting but he doesn’t leave.
As the night wears on, the four of us end up having a surprisingly fun time together once Alec relaxes. The tension from earlier seems to have faded, and even Alec doesn’t seem quite as pissed off anymore. I can’t help but feel excited about the upcoming date with Emma, but for now, this moment is pretty perfect all on its own.
Chapter 21
I step out of the practice room, rubbing my temples as I try to shake off Kenny’s intensity. He’s a talented musician, no doubt, but the way his eyes bore into mine during our sessions makes me uncomfortable. The cool evening air is a welcome relief.
My phone buzzes in my hand, and I see Luka’s name light up the screen.
Are you free tonight for that date?
My heart skips a beat, and I can’t help the giddy smile that spreads across my face. Still, there’s a nagging uncertainty; it’s insane that they all asked me out. I type a quick “yes” before hitting send.
His response comes almost immediately:
I’ll pick you up in an hour.
“An hour?” I mutter to myself.
I rush home, my thoughts racing with what to wear and what to say. As soon as I burst through the door, Tessa looks up from her book, her hazel eyes widening in surprise.
“Emma, what’s going on?” she asks, curiosity evident in her voice.
“I have a date with Luka,” I blurt out, already hurrying to my room. Tessa follows, her mouth hanging open in shock.
“Wait, what about Alec? Does Luka know?”
“Yes, he knows we are fake dating!” I tell her as I rummage through my closet, searching for the perfect outfit. “Luka knows about it, and so does JD. They all asked me out, and then Alec told me he likes me, too. They said I should go on a date with each of them. It’s insane!”
Tessa leans against the doorway, her red hair framing her face as she takes it all in. She’s always been my sounding board and right now I need one.
“So, you like all three of them?”
Thank goodness I know Tessa won’t judge me when I say, “I do. Is that crazy?”
She screams. “It’s amazing! Well, you better get ready then! You don’t want to keep him waiting,” she encourages with a grin.
“Right.” I nod, determination settling in. With Tessa’s help, I manage to pull together a cute outfit and fix my wavy brown hair just in time for Luka’s arrival. As I give myself one last look in the mirror, I can’t help but wonder what on earth I’ve gotten myself into. But there’s no turning back now.
A knock on the door startles me out of my thoughts, and I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. As I open it, I’m surprised to see JD standing next to Luka. Both of them are dressed casually but stylishly, with Luka in a crisp white shirt and dark jeans, while JD sports a black V-neck and gray pants that compliment his tawny skin perfectly.
“Hey, Emma,” Luka greets me warmly, his intense gray eyes meeting mine. “We thought it might be fun to combine our date into one and see how it goes. If that’s okay with you, of course.”
“Uh, sure,” I stammer, my confusion and shock evident on my face.
Why would they want to share their date?
But as I look at their hopeful expressions, I can’t find it in myself to reject the idea. After all, they’re both incredibly attractive guys and spending time with them together doesn’t sound bad at all. “Why not?”
“Great!” JD exclaims with a grin, his brown eyes lighting up. “Let’s get going then.”
