Page 20 of Touchdown Under the Mistletoe
“Well, obviously. You were really upset when you read all those texts from her and listened to her voicemails. I get it, she’s your girlfriend, and the press made it seem like we were… well, in love.”
I shake my head. “Those texts and missed calls weren’t from her at all.”
“What do you mean?”
This is it. I could keep lying, like my contract demands of me. Or I could choose to be honest with the only person in the worldwho truly gets me. She does. And it’s weird to only now finally realize this, but Riley is it for me. She’s smart, gorgeous, funny, passionate, and she understands me. That means she deserves the truth, doesn’t it?
“You have to swear not to tell a soul what I’m about to tell you.”
She frowns. “Okay. Unless it’s something incriminating. Then I have to tell the police, right?”
“Trust me, this is nothing the police want to be involved in. It’s… the thing is…” I run a hand through my hair, trying to find the words. “Riley, Sienna and I aren’t together. It’s all fake. Part of a million-dollar PR contract. Telling you this can cost me everything, but you need to know.”
Her eyes grow wide, and she stares at me like I just told her Christmas has been canceled. “What?”
I nod. “My agent set it up months ago. Sienna needed publicity for her new movie franchise, and I needed to improve my marketability for endorsement deals. So we pretend to date, show up at events together, and post cute couple photos. It’s all orchestrated by our PR teams.”
“You’re joking.”
“I wish I were. There’s a morality clause in my endorsement contracts. Family-friendly image, all-American boyfriend, the whole package. My agent convinced me this was the best way to maximize my earning potential before I retire.”
Riley’s mouth opens and closes a few times. “But I saw the photos. The beach walks. That charity gala where she was wearing your jacket around her—”
“Staged. All of it,” I say, cringing at the memory of that particular moment when I had to drape my jacket around Sienna’s shoulders.
“I don’t understand. Why would you agree to something like that?”
I run a hand through my hair. “Because I’m thirty-eight and my career has maybe three or four years left if I’m lucky. Everyone was telling me it was a smart business decision. And the thing is, I didn’t think it would matter since there wasn’t anyone in my life I actually wanted to date. Not when I signed the contract. But there’s a clause that forbids any real relationships or even the appearance of one during the campaign. If the sponsors think I’m cheating on Sienna, they can pull their deals.”
“So those photos of us are hurting your and Sienna’s career? That’s why you were so frazzled?”
“I don’t know. A week ago, that contract made perfect sense. But now we’re spending Christmas together, and I have to stand in front of everyone and pretend nothing’s happening between us when really I’m—” My throat tightens. I can’t say it.
“When what?” she asks, her voice full of hope.
I want to tell her,The best day I’ve had in years was skating with you. Seeing you cry because of something I caused makes me want to punch something. Every time I look at you, I forget why I agreed to this stupid fake relationship.
But I can’t say any of that. Not yet. Not when I haven’t figured out what to do about the fallout about Sienna or that I’m leaving in a few days.
“When you’re one of my oldest and best friends,” I finish instead, feeling embarrassed and dirty for not being completely honest.
A look of disappointment crosses her face. “Right. Friends.”
“Riley—”
“It’s fine, Travis. I get it. It was a business decision. Now, we should probably head back before your grandma sends out a search party.”
“My grandma knew exactly where I was going.”
Riley manages a small smile. “Nothing gets past her, does it?”
“Not a single thing. She’s terrifying. Come on. Let’s get home.”
As we walk back through the dark, I can’t shake the feeling that I just made the biggest mistake of my life. And that mistake is not the one that jeopardized the PR contract with Sienna. It’s not leaving Riley at the ice rink.
It’s lying to her about what she really means to me.
Chapter Nine
