Danny shakes his head in disbelief, mutters something unintelligible under his breath, and leaves the room.
Lily’s eyebrows squish together.
“He’s in Danny-mode now. Just do whatever he says, no questions asked. Nothing’s going to stop him at this point.”
“Danny-mode?” She chuckles. “Okay, I’ll do exactly what he says.”
A thought pops in my head. She seems to get Danny and me. Maybe with her, it would work. If she were willing to pose as my fake girlfriend for a while, I’d be able to breathe again. I’d be able to live without the constant fear of being outed. We could go out and take Danny with us. I know he’d love that. It’s one thing that we can’t live together openly, but another that we hardly ever go out anymore out of fear that it’ll cause rumors. But if she were to accompany us…
I look at Lily again, contemplating whether she’d be willing to do it.
Danny rushes into the room with a jar in his hand. “This will feel cold, but it’s going to ease the pain.” He applies some kind of balm to her back, entirely in his element. She’s sporting some nasty bruises. They’re black and blue and look super painful. As a hockey player, I’ve had my share of injuries, but hockey apparently isn’t the only sport where someone gets bashed up. I might have to rethink my opinion about horse riding. To be honest, I didn’t think it to be much of a sport until now.
She seems to be a tough little cookie, our Lily.
Our Lily. It feels right to think of her as ours. She looks like this is where she belongs, standing in between us. Would she say yes to my proposition? Perhaps she already has a boyfriend? She hasn’t mentioned one, but she’s a beautiful girl, not only on the outside but also on the inside, and might very well be taken already. Even if she’s still single, is she willing to sacrifice so much for two people she hardly knows? I’m pretty sure she won’t take money for this. She doesn’t seem the type.
Maybe I should talk to Danny first. We’ve already talked about this option but never wanted to trust someone with our secret. Lily seems trustworthy. She isn’t going to sell our story to the tabloids, not after what happened to Nathalie. It’s a tragic story and a truly sad one too, but because of that tragedy, Lily understands what’s at stake for us. She’s been exposed to homophobia and bullying regarding sexual orientation. That and the fact that I feel so comfortable around her make her the perfect candidate.
It’s now or never.
“Lily, there’s something I need to ask you before we get your car,” I hear myself say before I can rethink my proposition again. “Before I tell you about what I have in mind, I want you to know that I don’t expect an answer right away, but I’m asking you to seriously consider what I’m about to propose. Just know this—no matter what you decide, I’d like us to become friends.”
She tilts her head to the side and narrows her eyes. Even to myself, I sound weird.
“It’s nothing terrible,” I try to reassure her. “You know Danny and I have to hide our relationship. Because of that, people assume I’m still single, and I’ve been asked to participate in a dating show that’s going to air on my team’s social media channels. I’ll spare you the details because, in my opinion, it’s a lot of bullshit. Danny isn’t pleased about my participation either, to say the least.”
“Understatement of the year.” Danny snorts.
“Correction—he hates it, and so do I. The only way to back out of this nonsense would be for me to present a fake girlfriend to my team owner.” I pause, bracing myself. “Lily, would you be willing to be my girlfriend for a while?”
Chapter Five
Lily
I reach for the clock on my nightstand. It’s five o’clock in the morning. Only five minutes have passed since I last checked the time.
I’ve counted sheep, eaten a ridiculous amount of chocolate, and tried to think of my horses, but Danny and Tyler are still omnipresent in my mind. The fact that the smell of Tyler’s aftershave still lingers in my single apartment from when he walked me in earlier isn’t helping either. They didn’t just let me drive home alone, insisting on accompanying me back to the stable, making sure I arrived safely at home. Tyler wouldn’t even let me walk the short distance from the parking lot to the coach house alone, but went with me all the way inside.
Why does he have to be so perfect? The perfect man, and he’s gay. Unbelievable.
I try to find a better position underneath my blanket, but it doesn’t work. My mind is reeling.
Again and again, I’m going over what happened just hours ago—Danny, Tyler, their whole situation, my possible involvement, and… the kiss.
Of all the above, the kiss is the one thing I can’t overlook. I’ve never felt like this before. It was magical, and it could happen again if I agree to pose as Tyler’s fake girlfriend. But do I want to be a fake girlfriend?
The evening has been an emotional roller coaster ride for me. I’m glad I stepped in when I did, but I’m also utterly confused.
Not being able to help Nathalie all those years ago left me with a big bucket of guilt looming over my head. By helping Tyler and Danny today, and if I were to help them in the future, I could redeem myself to a certain degree.
Ty’s words replay in my head again. “Do you want to be my girlfriend for a while?”
What would that even mean? We haven’t talked details yet, but I’m sure my life wouldn’t be the same as before. I have goals of my own I want to achieve. Are they compatible with playing Ty’s girlfriend? Even if they were, do I want to pose as his fake girlfriend for a while?
Tyler is a public person. I’d expose myself to media coverage attending functions with him. Do I really want that?
I hated when people talked about me in school, and this would be a whole new level. Media coverage would reach more people, people who’ve never met me in person. They’d judge me and our “relationship.”
How would my colleagues react? Ryan would be over the moon, I’m sure of that… but it’d be an act. I’d have to lie to him, and I hate lying. I’m not even sure I could pull it off, anyway.
I can’t lie to my mom though, not long term. She knows me far too well for that. I’d have to lie to her for a while or at least omit some facts, and I don’t want to do that, but I also want to help Tyler and Danny.
I saw the hope in Danny’s eyes when Tyler asked me to pose as his girlfriend. I’d hate to let either of them down. They’re just two men who love each other, and they deserve all the happiness in the world.
I’m a shy person and don’t click with people quickly, but with them, I had an instant connection. I hope Ty is right and we can stay friends even if I don’t agree to be his girlfriend. It was a wonderful evening, and I felt comfortable with Tyler and Danny, as if we’d known each other for forever.
But there’s still my reaction to the kiss.
Even hours later, my body tingles when I think of how our eyes met before he bent down to kiss me, and it wasn’t a real kiss for him. Imagine my reaction if it had been.
I have limited experience and haven’t been attracted to many guys, and so far, it has never worked out with any of them.
So why was I so affected by this particular kiss? It’s been a while since I broke up with my last boyfriend. Looking back, we were never right for each other in the first place. He didn’t like horses and never understood why I spent so much time at the stable.
Am I desperate for human contact? Do I need to start dating again? Or was it the whole situation, the adrenaline?
Or is it Tyler himself who affects me more than anyone before?
I can’t develop feelings for him. He’s gay and has a boyfriend, but he’s the most attractive man I’ve ever seen—although, his boyfriend is equally as gorgeous. Can I be around them without falling in love?
Can I touch and kiss him, play the couple in public, without getting my heart broken?
I toss and turn, but I’m getting nowhere at this point. It’s time to get up anyway. The horses are
hungry, and they don’t care about how confused I am. They simply want to be fed.
At least I can solve that problem.
* * *
I dismount from Bellezza three hours later. The little mare has outdone herself. She’s never been better in training, and I finally feel like myself again after solely concentrating on riding for the last hour.
“Good girl.” I pet her and remove the saddle, putting it down on the ground beside her. Besides Cornado, she’s the other super talent I’m allowed to ride. While he’s testing me constantly and sometimes works more against me than with me, she’s been incredible, always trying to please her rider and willing to work.
“Good job, Lily.” Ryan puts his hand on my shoulder, but whatever he wants to say next is interrupted by Jess running toward us.
“How do I not know about this?” She waves her phone under my nose.
I lift an eyebrow, looking at Ryan, but he shrugs.
“What exactly are you talking about?”
“You and that hockey hottie. It’s all over the news. Why didn’t you say anything? I thought we were friends.”
While she’s rambling on, I take the phone out of her hand and tap on it.
A picture of Tyler and me appears on the screen. We’re kissing—holy crap.
I scroll down to read the article underneath.
Not So Lonesome Anymore
Ladies, unpack your tissues. Boston’s most eligible bachelor was caught locking lips with a mystery woman after last night’s game. Hockey god Tyler Wolfe (worth $10 million a year) got up close and personal with a raven-haired beauty in the Ice Tigers’ arena parking lot after scoring the game-winning goal against Dallas. Wolfe, nicknamed “Lonesome Wolfe” by his teammates, was expected to be Romkey’s hottest participant, but it seems he’s already found his mate.
If you haven’t heard about it yet, Romkey will give you the opportunity to date your favorite Ice Tiger. Applications can be submitted online until the end of October. And although Wolfe is unlikely to participate anymore, there are still a lot of other hot hockey hunks to choose from. Don’t miss the opportunity to find the love of your life. Apply today and romance your hockey hottie.
I groan inwardly. It seems the decision has already been made for me. The picture is a little blurry, but people who know me will recognize me.
“You’re dating Tyler Wolfe?” Ryan takes the phone out of my hand and looks in disbelief at the picture in front of him.
I desperately try to think of something to say. “Uh… yeah, we’ve only been dating for a short time.” Crap, we should have thought of this. The paparazzo still made some money. What am I going to say now? I need to talk to Tyler, and fast.
“How did you guys meet?” And there’s the first question I can’t answer. Jess is practically jumping up and down. Luckily for me, she’s way too excited to give me time to answer and just goes on. “It must have been so exciting for you to see him score yesterday. You’re such a lucky girl. He’s smoking hot.”
Ryan isn’t as easily distracted, though. “Did he ask you to keep it private? He’s a very private guy, isn’t he?” Thank you, Ryan. And thank you, Tyler, for guarding your personal life.
“Yeah, he likes to keep his private life private, and like I said, we’ve only been seeing each other for a short time.” I think I’m selling this, but I don’t want to answer more questions before I talk to Tyler.
“I should probably talk to him. He’s not going to like this. Can you please take over, Jess? I’ll talk to you later.”
I place Bellezza’s reins in Jess’s hand and walk away, leaving them openmouthed.
Chapter Six
Tyler
I’m surrounded by a cocoon of warmth when I’m rudely awakened by a shrill sound from what has been the best sleep I’ve had in a long time. Whoever is calling me while I’m still asleep on one of my rare days off can wait, so I let the phone ring, but someone is persistent.
I reach for the nightstand, refusing to open my eyes, and grab the phone. It’s torture to crack one eye open, but I manage and look at the caller ID. It’s my agent. What the hell? He knows better than to disturb me after a game.
I press the Accept button without saying anything. Frank damn well knows who he’s calling.
“How come I don’t know about your girlfriend?” He doesn’t greet me either. “What game are you playing, Tyler? Your participation in Romkey was a done deal. What am I supposed to tell your GM? Could you not have hidden her until after Romkey is over?”
“What are you talking about?” My heart beats faster. Did he say girlfriend? How does he know about Lily?
“Don’t play dumb, Tyler. You’ve been caught. No point denying it. The pictures are all over the internet.”
I sit up and gently free myself from Danny’s embrace, not wanting to wake him, and fetch my tablet. And there they are, photos of Lily and me in the parking lot. We’re kissing each other in the first one, and in the second one, I’m helping her into the car. The headlines accompanying the pictures are cheesy and ridiculous.
Damn, I should have thought of this. The pap wasn’t stupid. Of course he’d sell the pictures.
“It’s my private life, Frank. We’ve had this conversation before. I want to keep my private life as private as possible. I’m aware that the fans are interested in what goes on in my life, but I don’t have to like that, and I want to give them as little as possible.” I hate to force this on Lily, but there’s no way around it anymore. Lily has become my girlfriend overnight.
“I get it, but you already agreed to be a participant, and now you have a fucking girlfriend?”
“I never agreed, per se. Everybody assumed it, but I never signed the agreement.”
He sighs. “All right, all right. I’ll take care of it, as always, but be prepared to attend a few charity events to clean up this mess, preferably with your lady.”
He hangs up, and I release the breath I’ve been holding since the conversation started. The good news is, I’m out of Romkey, but the bad news outweighs my relief. How am I going to explain this mess to Lily?
“What’s the matter?” Danny sits up and hugs me from behind.
“Lily and I are all over the internet.” I show him the photos.
“‘Not so lonesome anymore.’ Yeah, well, I agree with that one.” He’s beaming. Of course he is. No Romkey for me.
“It’s not a big surprise, you know, with the pap being there yesterday.” He browses through the articles.
Danny’s right, of course. It was bound to happen. It was what I wanted to happen when I kissed her, if I’m honest with myself, but seeing the pictures now, I feel terrible. I’ve forced this on Lily. There’s no way out of it. She has to pose as my girlfriend, at least until Romkey is over. The choice has been taken away from her, and she doesn’t deserve any of this shit.
“I have to talk to Lily.” I take the phone out of his hands and search for her number. It’s only half past eight, but she answers on the second ring.
“Hello.” Her voice sounds different over the phone.
“Hey, Lily. It’s Tyler.”
“And Danny,” he chimes in from the back. I raise my eyebrow at him but put the phone on speaker so he doesn’t have to yell in my ear again. Is he always that loud?
“Good morning to both of you, then.”
“I’m—” I start, but correct myself, looking at Danny. “We’re sorry to disturb you this early in the morning, but something has come up. We’re—that is, you and me—we’re all over the internet. The pap sold pictures of us kissing.”
She sighs. “I know. I’ve already seen them.”
“You have?” I’m surprised; she doesn’t strike me as someone who reads tabloids and hockey blogs.
“My coworker pointed them out to me.”
Well, that makes more sense.
“How did she know it was you?”
“She was with me at the game last time and knew what I was wearing.”
�
��The blue coat?” Danny asks, leaning his head on my shoulder.
“Exactly.”
“How do you feel about the new development?” I hold my breath.
She sighs, and I can hear her breathing.
“Well, I guess the decision has been made for me—for us, I mean. Jess knows, and Ryan was standing right beside me when she came to show me the article.”
“What did he have to say about it?”
“He was surprised and maybe a bit taken aback that I hadn’t even told him I was seeing someone. He asked how we met.”
“What did you tell him?” Danny’s lips move against my neck. Damn, that feels good.
“Nothing yet. He knows you’re a very private person. I told him I wanted to talk to you about the pictures and walked away.”
“We need to come up with a story. Can you come over to discuss everything?” Danny and I had planned to spend a lazy day in bed, but this is more important.
“Yeah. I’ll ask Ryan for personal time. He’ll understand. We really need a story.”
“Bye, Lily,” Danny and I say in unison, then break out laughing.
“Bye, you two. See you soon.” Lily laughs.
“So I guess you just got yourself a girlfriend.” Danny lies back on the bed and folds his hands behind his neck.
“Yeah, I think I did. It’s the ideal solution. I really like her, and if I’m not mistaken, you like her too?” I turn to him and search his eyes for approval.
“I do. I think she’s the ideal candidate. She understands what’s at stake, and I trust her. It’ll be good for us. I could go with her to the games and see you play. I actually like the idea of hanging out with her and getting to know her better.”
“Don’t overwhelm her.” Danny means well, but he can be a bit over the top sometimes.
“Don’t you worry. I’ll bring my A-game. A relaxing massage would do her good. Jesus, did you see those bruises? She’s a tough little cookie.”
“She definitely is.” But so is he for putting up with me and the baggage that comes with it. I pull him in for a kiss. “I love you. Thank you for putting up with this craziness.”
Defying Gravity: An Ice Tigers Hockey Novel Page 4
