“I need your help,” I tell Cameron, my voice low as we follow the rest of the team after our practice. Cam stops short, turning around to face me just outside of the locker room.
“What’s up, Ash?” he asks, tilting his head to the side as he runs a hand through his sweaty hair. “Is everything okay?”
I shrug, clutching my helmet between my torso and my arm. “I need your help to find a girl. I need a date to my brother’s wedding.”
Cam raises an eyebrow. “Your entire family knows that you’re single, so why do you need to take someone? And isn’t the wedding at the end of the month?”
I nod, shifting my weight on my skates. “My mom has been freaking out with her cancer scare and everything. She won’t leave me alone about being single, so I would rather just show up there with someone and get her off my back. That way she can enjoy my brother’s wedding and shit. I literally just need to find someone who will pretend to be my girlfriend, travel to Maine for the weekend with me, and then we can go our separate ways.”
“And you seem to think that I might know of someone?”
“I don’t know. I’m at a complete loss here, so I just need help finding someone. Anyone, literally.”
“Have you talked to any of the other guys? You know, most people are going home for the holidays. It might be hard to find a date to go with you, with Christmas being so close.”
A sigh slips from my lips and we both begin to walk into the locker room. Cam is right and it wasn’t something I had really thought about. I don’t know why Andrew and Evelyn had to pick four days before Christmas to get married, but that’s what they did.
There has to be someone who doesn’t feel like going home for the holidays. Or someone who would rather get a free trip for Christmas instead.
Cameron doesn’t say anything to the other guys as we all begin taking off our gear in the locker room, although I don’t miss the way he keeps glancing at me expectantly. I’m not sure how to bring it up to them, but if there’s anyone who can help me find a date, it’s definitely one of the guys in here.
“Guys, I need all of your help,” I announce, my voice louder than the sounds of their laughter and conversation as everyone finishes getting changed. They all stand up, their attention directed at me. “I need to find a date to take to my brother’s wedding in two weeks.”
Logan and August break from their conversation, looking at me from where they’re seated. Cam has a huge grin on his face and he nods at me in approval. I know he was probably wondering when I was going to say something and it was probably killing him to not say anything. I glance around the rest of the room, my eyes going past Sterling and Simon, before landing on Hayden who leans against his locker with a smirk on his face.
“Where’s the wedding?” Simon asks, his voice curious from where he’s sitting. “And what’s the deal with the date?”
“It’s in my hometown in Maine. I need to find someone who will pretend to be my girlfriend and be my date, to appease my mom. After we get back, we can go back to how things were before.”
Hayden starts to walk toward me. “Do you have any girls in mind? You know with Christmas, it might be hard to find someone.”
Tilting my head to the side, I narrow my gaze on his. “Tell me, King,” I start to question him. “Do you plan on going home for the holidays?”
His jaw clenches and he doesn’t say a single word as he collects his things and leaves the room. It was fucked up of me to come at him with a low blow, but I already know the position I’m in right now. And Hayden doesn’t get to say a damn thing. The only reason he’s here is because he fucked up at the last university he was at. I know some of the guys know him from childhood and don’t get me wrong, Hayden King is a good guy, but he needs to check himself sometimes.
“That was a low blow, man,” Cam says, shaking his head at me. “You know that’s a touchy subject for Hayden.”
Swallowing roughly, I hang my head in defeat. I’m frustrated from the entire situation I’ve gotten myself in and Cam’s right. I owe Hayden an apology. That wasn’t fair to him, but shit. I already know how hard this is going to be to find someone to agree, not to mention how difficult it will be with Christmas so soon.
“So, you don’t have anyone in mind, do you?” Simon questions me again. “All right, boys,” he says to the rest of the guys. “We got some work to do. Find whatever girls you know would be down for a good time with our man here.”
They all begin to hoot and holler, like they actually give a shit about it, before everyone goes their separate ways for the night. Shaking my head, I pull out my phone and send Hayden a message to apologize before getting the rest of my stuff together. I head out of the locker room, leaving the guys to themselves as they develop a plan.
It’s Operation Find Asher A Date.
Who knows how the hell this is going to go…
“Hey, Ash,” Sydney’s voice floats through my ears as she walks up to me and takes a seat next to me. I glance over at her, her bright blue eyes shining at me as she flashes her perfect white teeth. My eyes trail over her face, free of any makeup. Her bright blonde hair is pulled up into a messy bun on the top of her head and I smile at her carefree appearance. “How was your weekend?”
I’ve known Sydney since freshman year. We met that year in some of our classes and we’ve been friends since then. Somehow, we ended up having the same major, so that ended up with us having a lot of classes together. Sydney has always been like a breath of fresh air, a friend that I look forward to seeing each day. She makes my classes a little more tolerable.
“Meh.” I shrug, offering her a small smile. “You know, same shit, different day.”
“Heard that,” she concurs as she unpacks her bag and slaps her notebook onto her desk. “I’m ready for this week to be over so we can finally have our winter break. Do you have any plans for our time off? Are you going home or anything?”
I nod. “I have to go back to Maine for my brother’s wedding and then I’m going to be staying for Christmas before coming back home. What about you? Are you going back to California for the break?”
Sydney barks out a laugh and rolls her eyes as she shakes her head. “Absolutely not. My parents are traveling for the holiday, so there’s no point in me going back there just to be alone.”
I stare at my friend for a moment as she drops her gaze down to the book in front of her. When I was trying to think of anyone who could be my fake girlfriend, Sydney didn’t even cross my mind until now. She would be perfect. We already have a great friendship and get along easily, I don’t think it would be a hard sell to my mother. And Sydney is going to be alone for the holidays, so it’s actually quite perfect.
“I have a proposition for you,” I offer, my voice quiet as Sydney lifts her blue eyes to mine. She’s full of nothing but curiosity as her gaze bounces back and forth between my eyes. “Would you want to go to Maine with me for Christmas?”
Sydney tilts her head to the side, her eyebrows drawn together. “You mean, to stay with your family?”
Swallowing hard over my anxiety, I nod. “So, my brother is getting married four days before Christmas. I’m supposed to be his best man and my mom is expecting me to bring a date with me. You wouldn’t have to stay for Christmas if you didn’t want to, but the offer is open if you want.”
“What’s the catch?” Sydney questions me with a look of curiosity mixed with mischief.
“You have to pretend to be my girlfriend.”
