Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” I tell him, starting to breathe a little easier.
And then he continues, “My question is, who is she?”
All eyes turn to Tara. She binds her hands together in front of her and rocks back and forth on her feet. I should have known that by her coming in here with me, there would be questions. Well, there’s no turning back now.
I smile at her and hope she forgives me for this. If I don’t give them the information, they’re going to get it somehow, and I’d rather it come from me. “That is Tara Brooks. She is my sister’s best friend, and… she’s my girlfriend.”
Everyone starts talking at once. I answer a few questions. “Yes, it’s a new relationship.” “Yes, she loves the Jasper Eagles.” After a few minutes, I hold my hand up. “Okay, thank you everyone for coming out today and for supporting me and the Jasper Eagles.”
I walk off the stage and straight to Tara. I put an arm around her shoulder and then take her through the tunnel to the private offices. As soon as we’re behind closed doors, I’m apologizing to her. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s my fault. I wasn’t thinking when I showed up… you did so good up there, Cruz. Are you okay?”
She’s not mad. I half expected her to throw a fit because I just threw her life into a tailspin. But maybe she doesn’t realize it yet. “Tara, I really am sorry. Most of them are good people and will leave you alone, but some of them are going to want to know more about us.”
She shrugs. “It’s fine, but seriously, Cruz. This was supposed to be one date.”
I nod. “One Valentine’s Day.”
She laughs. “Yeah, and so far it feels like we’ve been on a date every day since we’ve made this agreement.”
“Three days,” I mutter.
“What?” she asks, not making the connection.
“It’s only been three days since we’ve made this agreement.”
She reaches up on her tiptoes and brushes a piece of hair off my brow. “It feels like longer.”
“It does.”
She’s smiling, and then all of a sudden, she shakes her head and takes a step back. “But this is all fake, right? We need to remember that.”
I nod, but the truth is, none of this feels fake. If anything, this feels more real than anything I’ve ever felt. “Right. Fake.”
I hold my hand out to her, and she puts her hand in mine. She has to be the easiest, most laid-back woman I’ve ever met. I half expected her to freak out about all the attention, and the fact that she isn’t makes me happy. It makes me wonder if maybe she would be okay being in my life.
Her phone vibrates, and she holds it up. “It’s your sister. I bet she’s heard about the press conference.”
All I can hear is Tara’s side of the conversation as we walk through the stadium to the private car lot. “No, we’re not really dating.”
“Yes, of course, I’d tell you if we were.”
“Lexi, you do remember this was your idea.”
“Okay, I love you too.”
She hangs up and pockets her phone. “Your sister was a little excited.”
I grip her hand a little tighter. I figure I should gauge my sister’s reaction because I’m sure she’s going to be calling me soon. “Happy excited or mad excited?”
“Uh, you probably don’t want to know.”
We stop next to my car. “Oh no, you definitely have to tell me now. What did she say?”
Tara rolls her eyes. “You do know that she has this whole plan, right?”
I tense, wondering if I’m part of a game or something. “What plan?”
She releases my hand and steps backward. “She has this whole idea that you and I will get together.” She laughs and holds her hands up, palms out. “Don’t worry, though. I told her it was all fake.”
There’s that word again. Fake. Nothing that I feel right now is even remotely fake.
Tara looks around the parking lot. “Shoot, I should have paid attention. I think I parked on the other side of the stadium.”
I open the door to my car. “Get in. I’ll drive you around.”
She huffs but gets in. “You’re a regular knight in shining armor, Cruz Payne.”
I resist leaning in. “For you, I will be.”
I walk around to the driver’s side of the car and get in. I remind myself of all the reasons why this wouldn’t work. She’s too young for me. She’s my sister’s best friend. And I think she’s still in love with her ex-boyfriend.
11
TARA
My phone dings as I’m turning off the shop lights. I pull it from my pocket and start to climb the stairs to my apartment. It’s been a long day, but I’m finally caught up with all the orders.
When I see Cruz’s name on my phone, I almost drop it as I try to open the text. As soon as I do, I read it three times because I’m wondering if I read it right or not.