“So, I think I might have a girl who would agree to the whole situation,” Cameron offers as he skates over to me during our warm-up. I’m currently in an almost split-like position on the ice, stretching out my legs before the guys start shooting at me.
I look up at Cam as I continue stretching. “I already took care of it and found someone.”
Cam tilts his head to the side, his eyes finding mine through the cage of his helmet. “Who?”
“Sydney.”
“Sydney Phillips?” Simon questions as he skates up to the two of us. “Shit. Are you sure you want her to just be your fake girlfriend? Because she’s quite the catch.”
“Yeah, but Sydney doesn’t date,” Sterling interjects as he shows up too. I glance behind him, noticing Hayden as he skates over with Logan and August. “Did you guys hear? Ash got Sydney to agree to be his fake date.”
“No shit,” August chuckles, shaking his head.
“Who’s Sydney?” Hayden asks and for a moment, I feel kind of bad. Too often, we all seem to forget that he’s still new here and doesn’t know anyone really, except for the team.
“Asher’s been friends with her since freshman year,” Cam explains to him, shrugging before wagging his eyebrows at me. “Although, with how close the two of them are, I find it hard to believe that Ash would really keep a girl like her in the friend zone.”
“Shut up,” I mumble, stretching my legs a different way as my skates slide through the ice. “Sydney has always been a friend and I’m not going to fuck that up. I’m just glad she agreed to do this for me, because I already know that I can stand her presence.”
The guys start laughing, all of them giving me shit about Syd like there’s something they know that I don’t. They’re not wrong—she’s definitely a catch and anyone would be lucky as hell to have her. But I can’t look at her like that. Sydney and I are too good of friends to go and ruin that.
“She agreed to pretend to be your girlfriend? Is she going to stay with your family for Christmas too?”
“Yep.” I smile at the guys, nodding as I practice my different stances in the crease of the goal. “She agreed to it all. We’re going to leave next Friday so we can get there the night before the wedding.”
“Holy shit,” Simon whistles as Cam shakes his head. “Who’s ready to start taking bets that this little fake relationship turns into something else?”
Hayden’s hand darts into the air faster than everyone else’s.
“Fuck the lot of you.” I chuckle as I hit Simon in the helmet with my stick. “Nothing is going to happen between us.”
“Mhm.” Cam nods, rolling his eyes. “We’ll see when you get back from Maine.”
“Are you girls done gossiping and ready to practice?” Coach calls out across the ice to us. “Our last game before break is this weekend. So, let’s get our shit together here. You guys can shoot the shit afterward.”
I silently thank our coach for getting everyone back on track so they can stop busting my balls about Sydney. It’s bad enough that I’m going to have her pretend to my family. I don’t need all the guys on my case too, although it’s completely expected from them.
We get back to practice and the guys are relentless as they take turns shooting their shots on goal. I attempt to block each shot, but my mind is definitely somewhere else right now. I’m already checked out and ready to get this winter break in full swing.
Which is completely weird.
I can’t recall another time in my life where I was looking forward to something other than hockey…
The weekend flies by in what feels like faster than the blink of an eye. Our game goes without a hitch and even though I’m distracted, we still manage to win it. It was a nice little send-off before we have our break for Christmas. As soon as the holiday is over though, it’s right back to the grind. And I’m weirdly looking forward to this break.
Something different, like a palate cleanser.
We don’t have classes at all this week, since the semester ended. Most of the other students already cleared out and headed home early. Since I moved here my freshman year of college, this is already my home. And since the wedding is this weekend, I’ll be spending more time in town than I have since my mom was diagnosed with cancer.
I feel pretty bad that I haven’t been back to see her sooner, but that’s life. And my life is here now. I am looking forward to going home and seeing her again. Especially with her being in better health now, although I know she’s still pretty anxious about what is to come.
She of all people should know that we have no control over the future. And the only thing that we should be focusing our time and energy on is what we can control. I guess that’s why she wants all of us to hurry up and get married. That is something she feels like she has some control over.
I spend most of the week just hanging with the guys and getting ready to go home. I spoke to Sydney earlier and she was practically ready to go already, just waiting until tomorrow. I told her that I would pick her up in the morning and we would begin our six-hour drive back to my hometown. She seemed nervous and excited, and there’s a part of me that can’t wait to show her my old stomping grounds.
None of this is real, though, and I have a feeling I might need to remind myself of that more often than not while we are away. It’s weird, knowing I’m going to have to pretend that she’s my girlfriend. I thought it was going to be simple, but I’m finding myself looking forward to things more than I should with her.
My phone begins to ring from my nightstand just as I climb into bed. As I pick it up, I notice my mother is calling and I accept the call before holding the phone to my ear.
“Hi, Ash,” my mom says sweetly when I answer. “Are you getting your stuff ready to come visit?”
A soft chuckle slips from my lips. “I’m already packed and ready to go, Mom. Just waiting until the morning to start my drive.”
“Oh, good,” she says, clapping her hands together in excitement. “I can’t wait to have all of my babies under the same roof again, even if it’s only for one night.”
“I know, I know. It’s been a while since we’ve all been together like that.” I pause for a moment, dropping down onto my mattress as I climb under the blankets. “How long are Catherine and Lucy staying?”
“They’re both going to be staying until after Christmas. Andrew and Evelyn are leaving for their honeymoon the day after the wedding, so we won’t be seeing them for Christmas.”
I already knew this because my brother told me when I called to tell him that I was bringing a date. Both of my sisters are so far up my mother’s ass, I’m not surprised they’re sleeping at our parents’ house, even though they both live in the same town as my mother.
“Andrew told me that you’re bringing someone with you,” she starts, her voice filled with hope and excitement. “When were you planning on telling me? I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.”
Swallowing roughly, I clear my throat. “Yeah, uh, her name is Sydney. I didn’t want to tell you sooner and get your hopes up in case she wasn’t able to come.”
“What changed that she’s coming now? The two of you are staying for Christmas too, right?”
“Yep,” I tell her, sighing as I drop my head onto my pillow. “Her parents are traveling for the holiday, so she’s able to stay with us. Just promise me that you’re not going to be overbearing at all, please? We haven’t been dating that long, so things are still new between us.”
My mother laughs softly and a smile touches my lips at the sound. “Oh, honey. I won’t scare her off, okay? Plus, this is the first time you’ve ever brought a girl home. The last thing I’m going to do is run her away.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” I mumble, closing my eyes as I inhale deeply. “Just be cool, Mom.”
“I will, Asher.” She pauses, laughing again. “Let me know when you’re leaving in the morning. You know how I worry when you’re traveling. Although… you won’t be traveling alone this time.”
Rolling my eyes, I purse my lips as I shake my head to myself. “Yes, Mother. I will let you know when I’m on the road. I love you and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I love you, honey. I can’t wait to see you and meet the girl who finally managed to catch your eye.”
We end the call and I toss my phone back onto my nightstand in exasperation. My mom doesn’t usually annoy me and I honestly adore the woman, but I know how exhausting she can be too. I just need her to act normal and not freak Sydney out. This is already a lot that I’m asking of her and she agreed to come meet my family.
Now, I just need them to all act normal and not scare Sydney away.
Easier said than done…
