“The sharks are circling,” Marcus says.
We’re hanging out by the boards near the table of coffee and bagels. We’re both watching as five women are grilling Riley.
“Hey, are you alright?” Marcus waves his hand in my face. “You’re very preoccupied right now.”
“It’s nothing.”
But it’s not nothing. It’s something. All I can think about is that kiss. It was so instinctual, so automatic. I looked into her eyes and I felt like she was inviting me to do it. It all happened so fast. And I want to do it more.
“I saw that kiss,” Marcus says. “You must really like her, huh? First the gallery, now this.” Marcus dips a piece of sesame bagel into his coffee.
“We’re getting along pretty well.” I look back at Riley. She’s skating in circles. “She’s funny, smart, sweet. She’s different.”
How could I not kiss her when she’s looking so cute in those jeans and those white skates?
Marcus laughs. “I can’t believe this! Logan Drake—the eternal bachelor. The guy who used to have a drunken, naked photo in the tabloids every other week.” He takes a big bite of his coffee-soaked bagel.
“Oh, come on. It wasn’t that often. And besides, I don’t think Riley would ever do that to me.”
Marcus looks around and leans in. “Listen, don’t get your heartbroken.”
I wrinkle my brow. “What do you mean?”
“She’s from an app, right?”
My heart squeezes in my chest. “Err—what are you talking about?”
“Spinner suggested it for me a few months ago. He suggested it for you too, didn’t he? Hiring a fake girlfriend? It’s kind of his go-to move for issues like this.”
I don’t say anything. Instead, I simply look into Marcus’ eyes, trying to figure out if he’s about to use that information against me, but all I see is kindness and a tinge of worry.
“Don’t fall in love,” he says. “She’s only with you for the paycheck. Don’t forget that.”
“I—” I’m about to argue with him when I realize he’s right. I’m hiring Riley. I paid off her tuition. Obviously that’s why she’s being so flirty with me in public. That’s why she kissed me back. My stomach sinks. Even though my attraction for Riley seems to be growing with every passing minute, I can’t risk blurring the lines between fantasy and reality because once theyrsquo;re blurrred, they risk disappearing completely.
I sigh internally. Why did I put myself in this situation? Am I really this self-sabotaging?
“And don’t let anyone find out,” Marcus continues. “Journalists do not like being duped. They will drag you in all their papers.”
“Nothing I haven’t dealt with before.”
“And they’ll never vote for you for any award again.”
I sigh. “Right.”
“You need to keep this under wraps.”
“I will. And you won’t tell anyone, right?”
“Of course not.” Marcus grabs another bagel and takes a bite causing a cascade of poppy seeds to tumble down the front of his shirt. “Trust me, don’t mess this up.”
“Hey.” I furrow my brow. “When’s the last time I messed something up?”
Marcus slaps me on the back. “Good joke, buddy.”
“Seriously though,” I answer back. “Have you seen our stats lately? I’m not the one messing up.”
“Those are fighting words.” Marcus pushes me strong enough to send me down the ice. “Bet you can’t get two points next game.”
I skate back towards him. “You’re on.”
Someone calls out for Marcus and he skates away. I stare across the ice at Riley again. She’s showing one of the kids how to do a spin.
She wouldn’t hurt me like some of the other women I’ve dated. She wouldn’t take photos of me naked to humiliate me in exchange for money. She wouldn’t sabotage me for her own gain. Deep down, she respects me. She may even like me.
I catch her eye and she smiles before skating over to me.
“How am I doing?” She asks as she stops in front of me.
“I knew you’d get along great with everyone.”
She puts her arm around my waist. The intoxicating smell of her apple shampoo surrounds me.
“Race you around the rink?” She asks.
“You think you can out-skate me?”
“Duh.” She pushes off the ice and begins skating without any kind of warning. I smile to myself as I chase after her.
I’m not gonna mess this up.
