Page 116 of Faking the Shot
“Ainsley, how are you doing?”
“Things seem to be calming down. At least on the social media front.”
She explained a little, but didn’t share too much.
“But enough about me. What’s happening with you? It must almost be time for your baby?”
“Things are going well. I have a couple of friends who have been really helpful in advising on what to expect.”
Ainsley closed her eyes. A baby. A family. It seemed impossible for her. Especially with the breakup that loomed a mere two weeks away.
She tuned back into Jackie’s happy chatter.
“… Lincoln has been looking at starting a production company.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He’s said it’s been on his heart for a while now, so we’ll see. It’s hard to find companies that are willing to make Christian stories that some might consider more gritty, but we’ve been praying.”
Her pulse increased. Was this an opportunity? She was tempted to admit her interest, but something held her back. “Thank you for calling.”
“You’ve been on our hearts since that awful picture made the rounds. You know that we’re praying for you.”
“Thanks. Please continue to pray. There are so many other things that need resolving.”
“Like Zac kind of things?”
She was tempted to tell Jackie the truth about that arrangement as well, but kept her lips sealed. It wouldn’t be fair to have all these people know the details when he was the person most affected. Telling the truth like that would just expose him and wasn’t kind or what a friend should do.
And he had to remain a friend. Had to. Something that would be put to the test at the All-Stars game.
Rosie was wrong.Far from Ainsley picking up hockey fans, the people watching the NHL’s best players seemed blissfully unaware of her existence. Which might’ve had something to do with her deciding to dress incognito, in jeans and boots, and a nameless jersey. When Zac saw that she was not wearing his Parotti jersey, he looked a little disappointed. But she didn’t want to draw attention to herself, didn’t want to embarrass him. Already it felt like coming here was a mistake, giving weight to hopes she couldn’t fulfill. She wished she could support him and this could be real, without all the messy motives. How different things could have been if she hadn’t made him agree to this ridiculous arrangement.
At least it was a chance to get to know some of the other women connected to Zac’s online Bible study group. Hannah James and Bree Vaughan she’d met before, but to meet Jai Mullins’s wife Allie, and Holly Karlsson and her fellow Aussie Sarah Walton, wife of Toronto’s star defenseman Dan, was a thrill. But even as she swapped notes with them about travel and movies and the Three Creek Ranch, she felt a sense of shame too. She was here, playing a part. This wasn’t real. Not like it was for these women who wore wedding rings, and had babies, and hadn’t faked relationships. They’d earned their husbands fair and square. The fact that she was using Zac to salvage her reputation felt so wrong in comparison. And while he might’ve agreed, she still felt like she was doing him wrong.
The All-Star game this year was a different format to normal, or so Holly said. She should know, having attended the last five All-Star games to support her husband, whom many considered a legend in the sport. She gathered from what she heard some of the others say that Zac was considered of a similar caliber, which made her feel a little bit honored that he would want to spend time with someone like her, whose knowledge of the game was not vast. She tried to admit this to the others, and was met with smiles and laughter.
Bree shrugged. “I grew up with hockey, but I didn’t love the sport. In fact, I always felt like I grew up playing second fiddle to it, but I suppose that’s what happens when Brent plays like that.”
Sarah smiled. “I knew nothing about the game when I first met Dan. He actually liked that because it meant I wasn’t a groupie.”
“I was the groupie,” Allie admitted. “I’ve always loved the game, and might’ve once run a fan club for Jai.”
“No way.”
“Not that he knew.” She winked. “Let’s just say it worked out.”
“You might’ve known about the sport, but it’s not like you were just about Jai,” Bree said. “You’ve always had a thing for art, and he respected you enough to move from Chicago to San Jose for your new job.”
“Wow.” Kudos to the man. That was impressive.
Holly nodded. “I think Brent was similar. He liked the fact that I wasn’t clingy and that I had my own career.”
“Holly is studying medicine now, but is an Olympic gold-medal-winning short-track skater,” Bree said proudly.
“Wow, congratulations.”
“Yeah, it was a while ago now, but thank you.” Holly looked at her. “Maybe that’s part of why Zac appreciates you. You’re independent, and don’t need him in your life to the degree that some women might. I think we underestimate the fact that there are men out there who appreciate their wife having a degree of independence.”