But the caption reads:Mercenaries QB playing a boardwalk game with the team’s attorney.
Like the site thinks we’re cute?
Stephen’s gray eyes flicker with Machiavellian delight. “Fun pic, right?” He swipes the screen againand displays another. “Just like this one the reporter found.”
He shows me a picture I’ve seen before—the one taken at the first event at the hotel, in front of the Young Athletes banner for the charity.Here they are last month at the Young Athletes event. Hmmm ?
“And that gave you a vibe?” I ask, stripping emotion from my voice until I’m sure what he’s after.
“A vibe and an idea,” he says. “Especially when I came across this shot.” He hands me the phone once more. I gulp. The picture of the four of us leavingFake Playis new to me. Looks like it was taken from a distance. Was a photographer stalking Drew that night?
The caption readsQB and friends seeing fake romance movie.
“Where’s that from?” I ask, wildly curious.
Stephen shrugs. “Just some fan. Someone was eating at Ruby’s Taco Truck, then posted this shot of you guys too,” he says, like those details don’t interest him.
It seems Stephen’s not interpreting the handbook the same way I am, and his interpretation is the one that matters.
“We ran into each other. I was with my sister, and he was with his friend, so we all saw the movie together,” I explain, feeling like I’ve been called into the principal’s office.
And I’m doing a horrible job telling Stephen Iwant to date Drew. I’m backpedaling. I’muntellinghim.
I am the worst.
He waves a hand dismissively. “That’s all fine. The fake romance movie and the pics got me thinking. You two seemed like a real couple. And I thought, wouldn’t it be great if theyweretogether? This happy couple on the team. Maybe even going to dinner tonight in Venice Beach.”
Ohhhhh.
Is he saying what I think he’s saying?
“I thought we were having dinner with you tonight?” I want to be crystal clear on his meaning.
“You can take my reservation. Just the two of you. Let me be blunt, Brooke.” He clasps his hands together. “With all the shit this team went through last year, this potential love affair is looking to be a bright spot—the quarterback playing Skee-Ball with kids, and then with the woman he likes at a charity function. An upstanding, respected attorney. What a delightful story. Co-workers falling for each other. It made me think if I were writing a movie script, I’d craft this kind of romance because the press is eating it up.”
Oh, my stars. That’s why he sounds so…delightfully calculated. He wants me to date Drew? Or wait. Does he want me to fake date him? “So you want me to pretend date him? Or date him for real?”
Stephen smiles devilishly. “What a great idea youjust had.” He drops his voice to a whisper. “But make it seem real.”
But itisreal.
I try to make those words pass my lips, but he heads for the door, checking his watch. “I’ve got a call. The reservation is at eight under my name, and I’ll adjust it for two. Look natural if someone takes your pic. There’s little the public loves more than when the squeaky-clean quarterback wins the heart of a good woman, so carry on. There’s even that press tour next week of the new food booths here at the stadium. He’ll be there. You’ll be there. I’ll make sure HR knows, so everything’s on the up and up,” he says as he walks away, dropping the mic and leaving me to fake-date the quarterback with his blessing.
Or real date?
I don’t even know which one. Or if it matters. But I know this—I’m expected to be seen with him tonight at eight.
I sink into the chair, shell-shocked, trying to figure out how in the hell that happened. Then I open my phone to send Drew a text.
Brooke: So, this is an unexpected twist. Stephen got a vibe from us, he said. He wants us to be fake dating. Or maybe he thinks we’re real dating. It doesn’t matter. I was so shocked when he told me he thinkswe’re adorable together and that it’d be a great idea if weweretogether.
Drew:Holy fuck, that’s all that matters, honey! Because we are.
Brooke: This is so surreal. He even changed the dinner reservation this evening so it’s just for two.
Drew:Except it’s the real world, finally. We’re not in the parallel one any longer, and tonight, I’m taking you out.
I guess I didn’t screw this up. At least I don’t think so.