40. HUNTER
40
“ I got you some seats in the family section tomorrow.” Jensen drops his ass next to me on the couch, shoveling an omelet into his mouth while holding the plate below his chin. His black-and-white Knights t-shirt hugs his bulky biceps, matching my own. But his shoulders are built like a fucking cargo ship, being every bit the hockey player he is.
“Thanks, man.”
“Are you bringing the girlfriend?”
“That would require me to have one.”
“Fine, fake girlfriend.”
“Laurie is not my girlfriend. Fake or not. We’re just hanging out.”
He cocks an eyebrow, as if he wants to say, who are you lying to?
“What? She’s not!”
He shrugs, fixating back on his food. “I don’t know, man. Does she know that?”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s been here a lot the last couple of weeks. Didn’t know Netflix and chill was also required when you agreed to this whole theater.”
“We’re just getting to know each other.”
“Hmm,” he muses, then pins me with dark blue eyes. “Did you kiss her? ”
“ No. ” My molars grind together at half the lie, then I confess. “But she kissed me.”
He chews, disapproval dripping from his face.
“Don’t you start as well.” It’s bad enough to have Jason up in my game the entire time, telling me what an idiot I am for agreeing to this publicity thing in the first place.
“She’s into you, Hunt.” He rears his head back to the TV. “You might not be willing to commit, but she sure as hell is.”
Laurie and I did click. I have to admit that. I didn’t expect it, but if you look past the whole girly shit, she’s cool. Our first “date” went smoother than expected, and she wasn’t awful to hang out with. Definitely better than the girls in high school. Well, except for one.
“Do you like her?” Jensen drops his empty plate on the coffee table, propping his heels on top of it.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Hmm, convincing.” He pins me with a taunting smirk, then grabs my knee in a painful grip. “Word of advice? You have to let one of them go, or you’ll lose them both.”
“What are you talking about?” I scoff, becoming really good at pretending.
“You know what I’m talking about.”
I know. I just wish I wasn’t.