Page 45 of Off The Rush
All is fair in love and war.
“Emma, how was your day?” Luka inquires casually, his gray eyes meeting hers.
“Pretty good. I had a great practice session earlier,” she shares enthusiastically, her passion for singing evident in her voice.
Luka nods encouragingly. “That’s awesome. I’m sure your performance will be amazing. I can’t wait to hear it.”
“Thanks,” she blushes, clearly appreciating the compliment. I can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. I should’ve been the one to say that.
“Have you ever watched a professional hockey game before?” I ask, trying to redirect her attention to me.
“No, I’ve only ever watched hockey when I went to see you guys play,” she exclaims, turning her expressive eyes towards me.
“Trust me, you’ll love it,” I assure her, loving the way her face lights up when she’s excited about something.
Alec returns from the kitchen, a soda in hand, and hands it to Emma. He grinds his teeth when he sees where Luka and I are sitting, but keeps his mouth shut. I wonder why he isn’t snapping at us but then realize that Emma probably doesn’t know he told us their dating was fake. He wouldn’t want us to spill the beans and ruin whatever fragile connection they have.
“Cheers to a great game,” I say, raising my drink in a toast. Emma giggles and clinks her can against mine.
“Cheers!” she echoes, her eyes sparkling.
As the game begins, I decide it’s time to rock the boat a little.
“So, Emma,” I begin casually, trying not to betray any nervousness in my voice, “how did you get into fake dating Alec in the first place?”
Alec’s face turns an impressive shade of red, and Emma looks at him in shock.
“Alec, did you tell them?” she asks, her voice wavering slightly.
“Y-yes,” Alec grinds out, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation taking this turn.
Emma takes a deep breath before explaining. “Well, Alec interrupted my audition for the Spring Showcase, and I needed his help to convince the dean to give me a spot. He agreed, but only if I fake-dated him until then to improve his image.”
I glance at Luka, who seems just as intrigued as I am. He wastes no time seizing the opportunity.
“Emma, would you go on a date with me?” he asks, his gray eyes full of sincerity.
Her green eyes widen in shock, and I can’t help but feel curious about what she’ll say. Alec, on the other hand, looks furious.
Luka continues, “Since you and Alec are only fake dating, I’d like to take you out on a real date.”
Emma looks back and forth between Alec and Luka, uncertainty etched across her beautiful face. I can’t let this moment pass without throwing my hat in the ring.
“Emma, I feel bad piling on here, but I don’t want to lose my shot either, so… I’d like to ask you out too,” I admit, hoping I don’t sound too desperate.
Alec is floundering as Emma’s eyes bounce between the three of us, clearly overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of attention.
She opens her mouth to speak, but Alec cuts her off, speaking loudly and passionately. “I want to take you on a real date, Emma. I have real feelings for you.”
The room goes silent as the weight of Alec’s words sinks in. Emma looks shocked, and I can’t help but wonder if this is the first time he’s been so open about his feelings.
We all hold our breath, waiting for her response.
“Um, I… I don’t know what to say or what’s going on,” Emma stammers, her expressive green eyes darting between the three of us. It’s clear she’s overwhelmed, and I can’t blame her.
Luka steps in, his flirty demeanor a soothing balm in the tense room. “Emma, listen, we’re not trying to pressure you. What if you just try one date with each of us? Just one date, no strings attached. Then, we can see where things go from there.” His intense gray eyes meet hers, and I can see the charm that makes girls swoon over him.
“I don’t want to lose our friendship,” she says hesitantly, biting her lip. God, even that simple action is enough to make my heart race.
