Chapter 16
Poppy
Igaze out onto the ice, watching the Hollis U men’s hockey team take on the California State Bears.
I shiver and zip up my jacket.
“Cold?” Anna asks while sitting next to me.
“A little.”
“Here.” She offers me her scarf. I wrap it around my neck and smile at her. “Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”
She just laughs. “You’ve got a lot to learn, hockey girlfriend.”
Never in a million years did I think I’d be sitting in the stands, watching Nick St. George play hockey while pretending to be his girlfriend.
I think back to high school, how I’d sometimes go with Anna to watch him play. Whenever she’d ask me to go, I’d almost always go with her. I had such a huge crush on Nick as a teenager that I used it as an opportunity to low-key ogle him…as creepy as that sounds.
But I was an awkward teen who didn’t know how else to deal with my crush on a guy totally out of my league.
Until he orchestrated that prom-posal prank. I stopped going to his games in high school after that.
The sting of his rejection lands at the center of my chest, like it always does when I think about it.
If I’m being honest, I don’t want to be here, cheering him on as he plays. But he’s right. We’re faking dating, and if I want our relationship to be believable to the people around us, I need to show up at his games every once in a while.
I shove aside those lingering hurt feelings and pay attention to the game.
“Nick’s on fire tonight.” Anna nods at the ice.
I watch as he flies across the ice. He is the fastest guy on Hollis U’s team. And faster than any of the California State players, too.
“He really is,” I say.
Even I can’t deny how impressive Nick is on the ice. Even with all the pads and equipment he’s wearing, he moves like lightning. He handles his stick like it’s an extension of his body.
He’s strong and fast. Even when someone checks him, he moves like it barely fazed him, righting himself and racing away, his eyes always on the puck.
He runs after one of the California State players who has the puck and is over on our side of the ice. Anna and I are seated a few rows back, so we have a clear view. I watch as Nick skates over and scuffles with the California State player for control of the puck.
Another Bears player skates over and shoves Nick. My eyes go wide at the sound of his shoulder landing against the boards, but he barely frowns. He glances up, his gaze landing on me.
He smiles, winks, and blows me a kiss before turning his attention back to getting the puck from California State players.
I try to ignore the small dip that hits my tummy, but it’s almost impossible. Nick is always ridiculously smooth, even in the middle of an intense hockey game.
A few people sitting around us turn to look at me.
A guy behind us chuckles. “Looks like St. Nick is showing off for his girl.” A woman sitting nearby goes, “Aww!”
My face heats as I try to fight a smile. I notice Anna giving me an amused look.
“You’re blushing pretty hard there for a fake girlfriend,” she says, her voice soft so only I can hear her.
In the scuffle against the boards, the puck goes flying, but Nick is all over it.
He maneuvers around his opponent and snatches the puck before anyone can get to it. Then he takes off and heads toward the Bears net.
A couple of Bears defensemen trail him, but he’s too fast. He zeroes in on the goalie and takes a shot. The goalie is a half-second too late with his glove. The puck sails past and sinks into the back of the net.
The home crowd is on their feet cheering. I stay sitting and clap while watching Nick’s teammates crowd around him and celebrate his goal.
When they break apart, Nick looks over at me. He raises an eyebrow, his lips slanted up in an amused half-smirk.
“Stand up,” he mouths.
I shake my head, a weird, excited feeling bubbling up inside of me.
“Naughty girl,” he mouths before he skates off to center ice for face off.
That excited feeling lingers. I like giving him a hard time. And judging from his reaction, he likes it too.
A few minutes later, Anna’s parents sit down next to us.
Anna’s mom, Shannon, hugs me before sitting down next to Anna. Her dad, Scott, says hi and pulls out his phone to record the game.
“Sorry we’re late. Traffic on the freeway was bad. What’d we miss?” Shannon asks.
“Nick just scored a goal,” Anna says.
Shannon beams. She and Anna look a lot alike.
They have the same eye color—a shade lighter than the deep bourbon of Nick’s eyes.
And their hair is lighter than Nick’s, too.
Anna’s is light brown, while Shannon’s is blonder.
They have the same petite build, except Anna is a few inches taller than her mom.
“That’s our boy,” Scott says before then heading down to the glass to film so more on his phone.
Shannon turns to me, a bright smile on her face. She gives my hand a soft squeeze. “It’s so good to see you, Poppy. I feel like I don’t see you much now that you girls are in college.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, I guess I’ve been staying pretty busy.”
“Try insanely busy,” Anna says. “Poppy’s always on the go. Such an overachiever with her full schedule and her job at the Writing Center and her volunteer work.”
“That sounds like you too, sweetheart,” Shannon says. Anna smiles and shrugs.
“You girls are just amazing. So smart and driven and hardworking.” She gives my hand another squeeze. “I know I’ve said it a million times, but I’m so glad you’re Anna’s best friend.”
I blush at Shannon’s praise. She’s always been so sweet and supportive of me.
Always showering me with praise and building me up.
That’s part of why I loved going over to Anna’s house all the time, Shannon was always so nice and welcoming.
It was a nice break from being at my house and around my parents, who were always pushing me to do more.
“Your parents really hit the jackpot with you, Poppy,” Shannon says. “How have they been? Busy with work, I bet?”
“Yeah, like always.”
“How was that conference they went to last month that you mentioned?” Shannon asks.
“Good, I think. I’ll ask them the next time I talk to them,” I try to smile, despite the gnawing feeling in my gut.
I’ve been putting off calling them for our usual catch-up chat every week because I know their first question is going to be if I got that internship. I can just imagine the lecture I’m going to get from them about all the things I could have done differently to get it.
“It’s nice to see you girls out instead of studying for once,” Shannon says. “It’s been ages since we’ve seen you at a hockey game, Poppy.”
I tuck my hair behind my ear, working up the nerve to tell her about Nick and me.
“Well, um, I figured I should. Since Nick and I are, um, dating.”
Shannon’s gold-brown eyes go wide as she gaps. “Oh my goodness, are you serious?”
I smile, hoping it looks natural. But she barely looks at me before pulling me into a tight hug.
“Oh, this is just the best news ever!” She squeezes me hard.
“Is it?” I chuckle.
She leans back, breaking our hug, but holds my face in her hands. “Absolutely, it is. Her eyes are bright, and she’s never looked happier.
“Easy, Mom. It’s not like they’re getting married. They’re just dating,” Anna says.
“Oh, I know that. I’m just so excited! You two have known each other since elementary school, and now look at you. A couple!”
She squeezes my hand. “So what did Nick do to charm you? Because as much as I love my son, I have to admit, he’s not much of a thinker.
” She chuckles. “All the boys you dated in high school were pretty darn smart. And I mean, I get it. You’re so smart, just like my Anna.
You need a guy who can hold their own in a conversation with you. That’s why Anna never dates.”
Anna wrinkles her nose. “Oh my god, Mom. Please no more comments about my dating life.”
Shannon pats her daughter’s hand and gives her a warm look. “I’m not saying a word.” She turns back to me. “All of my focus is on how amazing it is that Poppy and Nick are a couple.”
My cheeks flush as I try to think of a convincing lie to tell this sweet woman. “Well, I, um, started tutoring him for school. All that time spent together made me see him in a different light.”
She smiles at me, clearly waiting for me to say more.
“Plus, he’s really handsome,” I say quickly.
Shannon just laughs. “Oh, that is so sweet! That’s exactly what drew me to Scott. His rugged good looks. He was the most handsome guy in our college class. He was so muscular.”
She glances down at Nick’s dad, who’s taking photos of Nick while he plays.
Anna makes a grossed-out face. “Please, no more talk about how hot you think Dad is.”
Shannon just laughs. When the period ends, Scott comes back over. Shannon tells him about Nick and me.
He aims a surprised smile. “I’ll be damned, really?”
I nod, feeling the slightest bit guilty that I’m lying to Scott and Shannon, who are the sweetest people I know. But Nick and I swore that we’d fully commit to this fake relationship, and that means we have to play it off as real for everyone, even his parents.
Scott laughs. “I always thought Nick got on your nerves.”
I chuckle along. “He definitely did.”
“What great news. And my son’s a lucky man to snag such a smart and lovely young lady,” Scott says. Shannon nods along.
When the game ends, we all stand up and file out of the stands. We head outside and wait at the entrance for Nick to come out with the rest of his teammates.
When he walks out and sees us, he grins. He hugs his parents, blushing when his mom raves about how well he played.
“And Poppy told me the amazing news that you two are dating,” Shannon says, giddy as she looks between Nick and me.
He steps over to me, slinks his arm around my waist, and pulls me against him.
He kisses my cheek. “We’re a cute couple, aren’t we?”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes and keep smiling.
“The cutest,” Shannon says.
Travis walks out and walks over to us. Shannon pulls him into a hug.
“And you, Mr. Star Goalie! You were amazing, blocking all those shots.”
The corners of Travis’s mouth curve up in a small smile. “Thanks, Mrs. St. George.”
She gently pats his arm. “I’ve told you to call me Shannon a million times. Mrs. St. George makes me feel so old.”
“You’d think one of these times you’d actually listen and call her what she prefers,” Anna mutters.
Travis glares at her. “I’m just trying to be respectful.”
“Respectful. Sure.” Anna rolls her eyes and looks at her phone.
“Come on, you two. Don’t bicker,” Shannon says good-naturedly.
Anna and Travis don’t like each other. I think back to the first time we all met, when we were all in middle school. They’ve always gotten on each other’s nerves since then and try to stay away from each other.
“I should go. Good to see you all,” Travis says. He gives Nick a nod and walks off. Everyone except Anna says bye to him.
Shannon turns to me. “Are you busy tomorrow, Poppy? We’re having family dinner, and we’d love for you to join us. It’s been ages since we’ve had you over.”
Nick’s hold around me tightens. He turns and lifts his eyebrow at me, his smile knowing. “Yeah, you should come.”
Part of me wants to say no. I feel bad enough lying to his parents’ faces about us being in a relationship, and I’d hate to do it more than I have to.
But Nick seems okay with it. And I’ve had tons of family dinners with them when I was a kid and teenager. It’ll be just like those times.
I raise my eyebrow at Nick, silently asking if he’s sure. He just grins.
I look over at Shannon. “I’d love to come.”
Shannon claps in delight. Nick kisses me on the cheek, his lips grazing the hinge of my jaw before pulling back and looking me in the eye. I clear my throat and try not to swoon.
Nick quirks an eyebrow and leans his mouth to my ear. “So glad you’re coming, hot tutor,” he says in a low, soft growl that only I can hear.
Goosebumps flash across my skin as I fight a smile. “Me too.”