Chapter Four
The words I need a date shot out of my mouth like a badly aimed dart, wobbling in the air before sticking to him, and I wondered how in the beans I was going to recover from that.
“March fourteenth,” Jeremy said, smooth as silk.
I blinked, watching him wander closer to sit on the armrest of my chair, his face half in shadow but his wavy hair catching the light just right. “What now?”
“It’s a date.” His expression was completely deadpan, which only made it worse.
I frowned, unsure whether to laugh or groan. “A date? For what?”
“You said you needed one, so I gave you one.” He grinned, clearly pleased with himself.
It hit me, and an involuntary snort escaped before I could stop it. “Wow. Ten out of ten for confidence. Six out of ten for execution.”
He raised an eyebrow, mock-offended. “That’s harsh. March fourteenth is a perfectly good date. It’s my birthday, too. A bonus.”
“Your birthday? Oh, well, that makes it completely logical to offer up randomly.”
“Exactly.” His boot scuffed the grass, and the faint smile pushing up on the left side of his face suggested he wasn’t offended in the slightest. “Anyway, you were saying something about needing a date?”
“For the hospital fundraiser next Saturday,” I added quickly, because that definitely clarified things. For a moment, he just stared at me, and I scrambled to fill the silence. “My ex is going to be there, and—look, it’s complicated, but let’s just say it’d be really helpful if I didn’t show up alone.”
Jeremy blinked, then rubbed the back of his neck, his hoodie sliding slightly to reveal the collar of a plain old white shirt underneath. “So, what you’re saying is...you want me to be your fake boyfriend.”
A fake date and a fake boyfriend were two completely different things, and when he said it like that, it sounded absolutely insane. “Well, yeah,” I said, trying to sound casual. “But, you know, just for one night. You don’t even have to do anything. Just...exist.”
“Exist,” he repeated, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I think I can manage that.” His strong hands rubbed down the length of his thighs. “Don’t you have a boyfriend already?”
“We broke up. Three days ago.”
“That’s the one you were going to give that huge bouquet to?”
“That’s the one.” I shifted uncomfortably, not realising how much Jeremy had overheard. “I don’t know a lot of people here, and the few guys I do know are already taken, so if you’re willing to help me out, I’d be appreciative.” My eyes went wide. “Actually, I take that back. That was so wrong of me to presume that you’re single, and if you have a girlfriend, I don’t need her hating me.”
He shook his head and his voice was calm. “No girlfriend. Very much single.”
“Oh, okay. Good. I mean…” I clapped my hand to my forehead. “It’s unfortunate you’re single, but it’s a lucky break for me.”
“It’s all good.” But his smile hadn’t faded.
Could I be more of a stumbling idiot? Maybe? The bar was set pretty low.
“In exchange for helping me out with this little problem, I’d be more than happy to help you out.”
“How so?”
Clearly, I hadn’t thought that all the way through. “I suppose with whatever you need.” I cringed inside, hoping whatever it was I was agreeing with, wasn’t something devious, although Jeremy didn’t look the type.
“How well do you know Star Wars?”
Slowly, I narrowed my eyes. “The movies, or the Star Wars universe in general?”
He grimaced. “The movies, I think?”
“I know three, four, five, and six really well, but the others are a bit of a lost cause. Never really did get into the last trilogy, and after episode eight I lost it. The cannon was totally trashed.” Such a disgrace, I actually yelled in the theatre, and then promptly left alone. “But most of the spin-off series were surprisingly decent, and …”
Jeremy tipped his head back slightly, laughing as he did. “You speak like a fan.”
Dang. I didn’t want to show off my inner nerdiness. It was enough that he knew I could handle a few random trivia questions, and I was in a jazz band. I didn’t really need to highlight that I was knowledgeable about the force too.
When I was younger, as the breakout star of an award-winning TV show, I had the opportunity to meet Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, and in meeting them, it cemented them to my soul forever. They were the sweetest and kindest actors I’d ever met, and I’d hoped to one day work with either of them. Unfortunately, Carrie Fisher passed away before that dream could ever come true, but there was still hope with Mark Hamill.
The breeze blew, and I shivered slightly. “I know a little bit.”
“Perfect. That works.” He slipped fully into the chair. “I’ve wanted to beat MacMillan for years. I’m always second place. This year, I’d love to be first.”
“I always love a good challenge.”
“The trivia night is Tuesday. Starts at seven at Jasper Pizza, but I always eat dinner beforehand.” He tapped his temple. “Gives me brainpower.”
I stuck out my hand, ready to shake on the agreement. “Perfect. I’ll be your dinner date-slash-trivia partner on Tuesday, and you’ll be my black-tie fake date for the fundraiser.” I hesitated. “I should warn you, though—it’s formal. And my ex will be there, so ... you know. High stakes.”
Jeremy cocked an eyebrow, looking almost amused. “Do I get bonus points if he cries?”
I laughed, startled. “Maybe. Let’s see how convincing you are first.”
“Fair enough,” he said, his hand brushing against mine as he reached out to shake on it. His grip was firm but warm, lingering just a second longer than I expected. “I guess I should mention that the trivia night has an additional contest for best dressed?” He cocked an eyebrow in questioning.
Surely, I could throw together a Princess Leia costume. I had white jeans, grey winter boots, a white sweater, and a beige vest. My hair wasn’t super long, but I was sure I could braid it into Leia’s Hoth look without too much difficulty. “I think that could be arranged.”
His strong hand continued to gently wrap around mine. “Then it’s a deal. Brush up on your trivia, and I’ll find a suitable black-tie outfit. Any particular colour scheme?”
“I’ll be wearing what I wore tonight for the concert—all black—so nothing to you’ll need to match to. If that was your plan,” I added quickly.
He rubbed his jaw. “I’ll make it work.”
“Me too.”
“Is the plan to make this ex-boyfriend jealous?”
Is that what I wanted? I wasn’t sure myself, but the words breathed out of me before I had a chance to think it all the way through. “Maybe? I think so?”
But was that it really? Mainly I wanted to prove Derek hadn’t broken me, that I was still standing. That I was worthy of being with someone.
“I can work with that, and I promise to be a complete gentleman.” He ran a hand through his thick locks. “Unless … you need someone to be rougher so he’ll rescue you from me. Like a Marty and George McFly kind of thing.”
“Oh no!” I shook my head, as a flood of adrenaline hit my system hard. “Kindness is much appreciated. Dazzle him with your…” My mind went blank.
“My stellar looks?” He laughed, rising, and pocketing his hands.
Jeremy wasn’t the kind of guy who turned heads in a crowd—he lived in blue jeans and hoodies, occasionally switching things up with a vest. Not exactly Derek-level swoon material. But there was something about him...a quiet confidence, maybe? Or the way he stood there, hands in his pockets, like he didn’t care whether anyone was watching. It wasn’t flashy, but it felt...solid. Like you could lean on him, and he wouldn’t move an inch.
“Of course,” I said quickly, not wanting to hurt the guy’s feelings. “I was going to say wit and charm.”
“Well, there’s that too.” His smile turned from self-mocking to genuinely shy. Did he not get a lot of compliments?
The clouds completely covered the moon, and with it, the breeze picked up. Although I was bundled in a winter jacket with a blanket tucked around me, it wasn’t enough. I was cold and the thought of a nice bath with a glass of white wine would be the perfect way to end this day. Lifting the blanket, the cool air rushed in and a shiver rolled through me. I rose, folding the blanket and tucking it under my arm.
“Well, my friend, I’m calling it a night. Need to brush up on my trivia for Wednesday.”
“Tuesday.”
“Right.” I needed to make sure I added that to my calendar. If I don’t hold up my end of the deal, I sure as heck can’t expect him to uphold his.
I grabbed my uneaten bag of chips and headed up the dirt path back toward the motel with Jeremy a few steps behind me. The path ended at the corridor separating the north wing of the motel from the south. The laundry and storage facilities on the right, the side with the motel check-in suite on my left. Together we crossed the short distance to the front of the motel, where the parking lot was, as well as the entrances to the rooms. He walked me to my door, the third one south of the check-in suite.
“Thanks. There wasn’t any need to accompany me.”
“It’s all part of the service.”
“What service is that?” I put my key into the lock and twisted it open.
“Well, if I’m going to be your fake boyfriend—”
“My temporary boyfriend, in order to make my ex jealous.” Deep down, I wanted to show Derek that I was more than just someone to pass the time with—I was a suitable partner, someone who could do the long haul. I’d just never had a chance to prove that to anyone.
He leaned against the doorframe. “Correction. If I’m going to be your temporary boyfriend, then it’s best I play the part most convincingly.” He straightened up to his full height and put his hands up. “Which includes ensuring the lady makes it home safely. But please, let me know if I overstep.”
He was too sweet.
“I’ll try my best.” I removed my hat and fluffed my hair. Stepping into my room, I tossed the toque toward the bed but kept my hand on the door. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Molly.” His smile fell as he spun on the heels of his work boots and started walking away.
“Jeremy?” I called, poking my head out.
“Yeah?”
“Are you hungry? Would you like to grab a late-night snack with me?”
“I could go for a slice of pizza.”
Actually, once he mentioned it, pizza sounded great. All cheesy and greasy, loaded with pepperoni and pineapple. My stomach rumbled at the thought. “Perfect. Let me grab my purse.”
I tucked the blanket back into the bottom of the drawer and retrieved my personal effects. Keys dangling from my fingers after I locked up, I asked if he minded if I drove.
There was a slight hesitation on his part, but he drove a big truck—a pig on gas kind—whereas I drove a tiny car.
He glanced around and slowly nodded. “Sure.”
“I promise my driving isn’t that bad.”
“Where’s your vehicle?”
“Cabernet’s at the end. Single door ding spot.” I pointed to the south end of the motel we started walking toward.
He came to a full stop. “Wait! You named your car after a wine?”
I tipped my head to the side. “Yeah, it’s my favourite blend. Is that weird?” I always had a bottle of the red available for any impromptu moment.
“Not at all.”
“Your truck have a name?”
He put a few steps between us while sweeping random pebbles with his boot onto the asphalt.
“It does.”
“And?” I waited for him to announce it.
“Guess?”
“Big Red?” I guessed, glancing at the Chevy Avalanche parked across the lot.
Jeremy winced dramatically. “Wow. That’s the best you’ve got?”
“Hey, don’t judge me! I don’t know your taste in names.” I paused. “Wait—is it based on the color?”
“You’re on the right track. Sort of.” He leaned in slightly, grinning like he was holding onto the world’s best secret. “It’s Merlot.”
I stopped in my tracks, my mouth falling open. “Shut up. You named your truck after a wine?”
“I did. And before you ask—yes, it’s a very dignified truck.”
I laughed so hard I almost didn’t notice the parking curb behind me. Almost.