16. #CaughtInTheAct
16
#CAUGHTINTHEACT
SOPHIE
I ’m sprawled on Jessica’s obscenely comfortable couch, wondering if it’s socially acceptable to marry a piece of furniture.
The late January sun is doing its best impression of a mood light, casting long shadows across Jess’s living room. It’s that magical time of day when everything looks like it’s been dipped in honey—warm, golden, and sticky sweet. Kind of like my feelings for Liam. But we’re so not dwelling on that.
I’ve just handed over the gala dress to Jess, freshly dry-cleaned.
“So,” Jess drawls, settling into the armchair across from me. The fire crackles merrily in the background, like it’s providing a soundtrack to what I’m sure is about to be an interrogation worthy of the Spanish Inquisition. “Spill, baby girl.”
I blink at her, going for innocent. “Spill what? The tea? Because I haven’t even touched my mug yet, but thanks for the vote of confidence. ”
Jess rolls her eyes so hard, I’m worried they might get stuck that way. “Don’t play dumb, you little scoundrel. You know exactly what I mean. The gala. The snowstorm. You and Liam getting stuck at the bed and breakfast? In separate rooms, as far as Dad’s concerned. And you’re welcome, by the way…”
I groan, burying my face in her very expensive looking throw pillow. “There’s nothing to tell,” I mumble into the fabric, which smells suspiciously like it’s been laundered in liquidized hundred-dollar bills.
“Uh-huh,” Jess says, in a tone that clearly says she’s not buying what I’m selling. “That’s why you walked in here with that dopey smile. Because nothing happened. I can tell you got your cherry popped, girlie. So, how was it?”
I peek out from behind the pillow. “I do not have a dopey smile.”
“You do,” she insists. “It’s like you’ve been hit with a happiness stick. It’s disgusting. And I love it.”
I toss the pillow at her, which she catches with infuriating ease. “Fine. Maybe...maybe something happened. Or almost happened, then happened all the way. Ugh… Alright, alright,” I concede noticing her ‘cut the crap’ look. “It was amazing!” I blush to the roots of my hair, my face burning.
Jess leans forward, her eyes sparkling with more excitement than should be legal. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Start from the beginning. And don’t you dare leave out a single juicy detail.”
As I open my mouth to spill the beans, I ask myself how did I, Sophie Novak, pre-med student and certified nerd, end up with a story worthy of a romance novel?
Oh right. Liam O’Connor happened.
“Well,” I start, feeling my cheeks heat up, “it wasn’t exactly what you think. We didn’t... I mean, we did, but not right away. Ugh. Long story short, Liam was really patient.”
Jess raises an eyebrow. “Patient?”
I nod, fiddling with the hem of my sweater. “Yeah. He, um, he found out I was a...you know. I had no experience. And he said we’d wait because I had a few drinks at dinner. That he wanted me to remember everything.”
“Wow,” Jess breathes. “Color me impressed. And then?”
“Then he was... God, Jess, he was so gentle. And attentive. And passionate. It was...” I trail off, my face burning hotter than the fire crackling beside us.
Jess grins, leaning forward. “It was what, Soph? Amazing? Mind-blowing? Earth shattering?”
“Everything I ever imagined it would be,” I squeak, reddening to the roots of my hair.
Jess lets out a delighted laugh. “Oh, baby sis. I’m so happy for you. And a little jealous, if I’m being honest. Sounds like Liam’s got some mad skills.”
I peek out from between my fingers. “He really does. There’s so much more to him than I thought.”
Jess’s grin widens. “I can tell. You’re glowing, Soph. It’s beautiful to see.”
For a moment, we sit in silence, the fire popping occasionally. Then Jess’s expression turns serious.
“You know we can’t tell Dad about this, right?”
I nod, my stomach clenching. “I know. He’d freak out.”
“Freak out is an understatement,” Jess says, grimacing. “He’d probably bench Liam for the rest of the season. Or worse, trade him to a team in Tennessee.”
I gasp. “He wouldn’t!”
Jess gives me a look. “This is Dad we’re talking about. The man who once threatened to install a moat around our house to keep boys away. Trust me, he’d do it. ”
“But...but that would be terrible for the team,” I stammer.
“Exactly.” Jess nods. “Which is why, for now at least, this stays between us. And Liam, of course.”
I slump back into the couch, my mind reeling. “So, what do we do?”
Before Jess can answer, her phone buzzes. Once. Twice. Then it’s like a swarm of angry bees has taken up residence in her pocket. She frowns, fishing it out.
As she scrolls, the color drains from her face. Her eyes widen, darting back and forth across the screen.
“Jess?” I lean forward, my stomach dropping. “What is it?”
She looks up at me, her expression a mix of shock and...is that a hint of amusement? “So much for keeping it quiet.”
She turns her phone toward me. My jaw drops.
It’s an Instagram post. A series of photos, actually. Me and Liam, leaving the B&B. His hand on the small of my back. Us laughing as we navigate the snowy parking lot. The last one— oh God—shows Liam helping me into his car, but from the angle, it looks like we’re locked in an intimate embrace.
The caption reads: “Bad Boy of Hockey, Liam O’Connor, spotted with mystery brunette. New love interest? #LiamOConnor #NewGirl #HockeyHottie.”
“There’s more,” Jess says grimly, swiping to a TikTok video.
It’s a montage of clips from the gala, set to some pop song about secret love. There we are, dancing. Liam leaning in. Me laughing. The final clip shows us leaving together, Liam’s arm protectively around my shoulders as we brave the storm .
The comments are a mix of excitement, curiosity, and speculation.
OMG, Liam O’Connor is settling down?
Who is this girl? She’s gorgeous!
This is exactly what the team needs right now!
Liam in love = Defenders winning the Cup. Calling it now!
I feel like I’m going to be sick. “Jess, what do we do? Dad’s going to see this. He’s going to kill Liam. Then me. Then probably resurrect Liam just to kill him again.”
But Jess is already tapping away on her phone, a determined look on her face. “Okay, don’t panic. I’ve got this.”
“You’ve got this?” I echo, my voice rising an octave. “How exactly do you ‘got this’?”
She looks up, a glint in her eye that I recognize from countless childhood schemes. “Simple. We’re going to tell Dad it’s part of the plan.”
“What?”
“Look,” she says, showing me another post. This one’s from a sports blog. “They’re already talking about how this could help the team’s image. After the PED scandal, we need good press. What’s better than the swoony captain falling for a sweet, smart girl?”
I blink, trying to process. “So...you want to tell Dad that Liam and I are fake dating? For the team?”
Jess nods, grinning. “Exactly. It’s brilliant, right? Dad can’t argue with something that helps the team. And it gives you two cover to figure out...whatever’s going on.”
As the reality of the situation sinks in, I can’t help but laugh. It’s either that or cry. “Oh my God. I’ve become a plot point in a rom-com, haven’t I?”
Jess pats my knee sympathetically. “Welcome to the big leagues, Soph. Now, let’s call Dad before he sees this and decides to make Liam the official Zamboni driver for the rest of the season.”
As Jess dials, I sink back into the couch, my head spinning. Somehow, in the span of a week, I’ve gone from anonymous pre-med student to Liam O’Connor’s latest love interest.
What have I gotten myself into?