Page 40 of Hockey Boy
“That’s why she hasn’t been coming to appointments with me. I found out in the elevator after our first meeting.”
“Oh my god, Aiden.” She splays a hand over her heart, the move making it hard not to fixate on the peek of cleavage exposed where her robe crosses over her chest. “Are you okay?”
Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I rock back on my heels. “It’s embarrassing that I didn’t see the truth, but yeah, I’m okay.”
“So the wedding planning?” She nibbles at a pink fingernail, searching my face.
“You said you needed the job.” I shrug. “So Gavin and Millie are your bride and groom. We’re going to make it the best wedding ever so that your boss sees how awesome you are.”
“Aiden,” she says softly, her eyes going misty.
A lump forms in my throat, but I swallow it down. “What?”
“You did all of that for me?”
“I’d do anything for you, Lex. So tell me what needs to be done so you can access to your trust.”
With a shake of her head, she steps back from me again.
All I want is to reach for her, hold her, but I keep my hands where they are.
“Unless you are offering to marry me, I don’t think there’s much we can do.”
My heart trips over itself at the prospect, but then it’s up and running. “Okay.”
Mouth ajar, she scoffs. “I was being sarcastic.”
“Why not? You need a groom, and I was supposed to be one. Maybe it’s fate,” I tease, though in reality, I can’t help but believe that’s exactly it.
She rolls her eyes, but a laugh slips out. “Be serious.”
“I am. I want to help you, and honestly, you’d be helping me out too.”
Frowning, she studies me. “How?”
“My brothers have been worried about me since things ended with Jill. Honestly, even before that. This will get them off my back. It will geteveryoneoff my back.”
And it’s the perfect opportunity to be close to her again. To win her over. This might be my best plan yet.
“It won’t be real, Aiden. You want marriage, babies, the white picket fence. I don’t want that stuff.” The words are so sincere I almost believe her.
I give her an easy shrug. “I just got out of a really bad relationship. I get that this would be fake.”
“Do you? Can you promise you won’t fall in love with me? Because I’m not built for long-term commitment.”
“I won’t fall in love with you,” I promise.
And once again, I’m not lying. I can’t fall when I’m already on my ass in love. I’ve been in love with her since I was fourteen years old, and there is no chance in hell I’ll allow someone else to take this role, fake or not.
Worrying her lip, she scrutinizes me for a long moment without a response.
“Lex, I’m offering this as a friend. That’s all. It would be beneficial to us both.”
“But you said you never got over me.” Her voice is soft this time. Almost like she’s nervous to have brought that up.
“It was the heat of the moment. You were in a pretty dress. Reminded me of prom. I got carried away.” It’s true. Dancing with Lennox at a wedding. Being able to hold her. Spending all this extra time with her. It’s dangerous and yeah, I played my cards too early. I’ll do better. Ihaveto do better. I find her eyes. “I can do this Lex. For the both of us.”
“But what if one of us catches feelings?”