8. Sophie
Iwatch Xander as he processes what I just said.
His brow is at his hairline, like that was the last thing in the world he expected me to say.
I don’t blame him. Until about a minute ago, the thought of fake dating Xander didn’t even cross my mind.
I just came up with the idea to tell my dad that we’re dating to keep him from murdering Xander when that photo of us kissing went viral.
My dad was livid, of course, like I knew he would be. But when I stood my ground and defended Xander, he quit fighting me. And it felt…really damn good to stand up to him and watch him accept the boundary I had set.
Yeah, he wasn’t happy about it. Not even close. But he tolerated it.
And that gave me an idea.
Xander was a jerk for mistaking me for a stripper last night, but he apologized. He seemed genuinely regretful about it. And when I came up with that crazy idea for him to pretend to be my boyfriend in front of my ex, he was all for it. He seems laid-back and up for anything—perfect fake boyfriend material. Plus, he’s hot.
My cheeks heat. What a shallow thing for me to focus on…but it’s true.
Faking dating Xander is the perfect way to show my dad that I’m independent and can call the shots in my own life.
I just have to convince Xander to get on board.
I clear my throat and refocus as I look at Xander. “My whole life I’ve been sheltered and overprotected by my dad.”
“Really? That must have been hard to deal with.”
“Yeah, it was.” I hesitate, wondering how honest I should be in this moment. But what I’m asking him to do for me is huge. I owe him total honesty.
“He was even more protective of me after my mom died.”
Xander’s eyebrows furrow. Concern flashes in his hazel eyes. “Your mom died?”
I nod. “Car accident. I was thirteen.”
He steps toward me, narrowing the space between us. For a second, it looks like he’s going to reach out to me, but he keeps his arms at his sides.
“I’m so sorry, Sophie.”
I clear my throat through the tightness in my chest. “I love my dad. He’s the most loving and caring parent I could ask for. I’m so thankful for him, but I feel suffocated by him sometimes. I’ve spent my entire life living at home with him. I mean, I’m twenty-four and I live in the guest house on his property because he got so freaked out when I told him I wanted to get my own apartment. I went to college and medical school close to him. We even work together now.”
I shake my head and hug my arms around myself.
“I never told him about my relationship with Ethan. I knew he’d be pissed, so I kept it a secret.”
“I can understand why. He’s a little protective over you.”
“Yeah well, I don’t want to live my life like this, keeping things a secret from my father. I need him to accept and understand that I’m an adult, I’m going to date, and I’m going to do what I want, regardless of whether or not he likes it or approves.”
Xander nods. “I get it.”
“If he sees us in a relationship together, he’ll finally back off. I mean, when I lied to him and said we were dating, he was pissed at first, but when I defended us together, he accepted it. He just needs to see me as an adult in a real relationship for a while and he’ll finally back off.”
Xander is quiet for a second. “Okay. I’m in.”
“Really?” I’m shocked. I thought this would be a harder sell.
“Yeah. I mean, this could work out in my favor too.”
“How do you mean?”
He rubs the back of his neck and his gaze falls to the floor. “People don’t exactly take me seriously. Not like it’s their fault. All I do is play hockey and hook up with women. It would be nice if people saw me as something more than a guy who shoots pucks and hops from bed to bed.”
Wow. I wasn’t expecting him to say that. I figured Xander loved his casual sex, no-commitment lifestyle.
I take in the shy, vulnerable look in his eyes. It wasn’t easy for him to admit that to me. I guess I’ve had him pegged all wrong.
“I think people will be impressed that I managed to land someone like you,” he says, a cute smile playing on his lips.
“Someone like me?”
“Yeah. You’re a doctor. You’re beautiful. You’re a genius. You are way, way out of my league, Sophie.”
He says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. For a second, I just stand there, shocked. He’s a famous hockey star and he thinks I’m out of his league?
A hot flush works its way up my chest and cheeks. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
He leans his head down toward me, closing the space between us. That cute smile turns playful. “It’s true.”
My stomach flips at how sweet he’s being.
“This will be good for both of us then,” I say, trying to be as cool as I possibly can.
Xander nods and glances at the clock on my dad’s desk. “I’d better head to practice. I have a feeling that your dad’s gonna run my ass off.”
Guilt rattles me. “I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head and flashes an easy smile. “Don’t be. He always works us hard.”
“After practice, can we meet and go over some rules?”
He frowns. “Rules?”
I nod. “If we want this to look real, we need to set some rules and boundaries.”
The corner of his mouth hooks up. “You think of everything.”
Heat flashes up my chest and cheeks. The way he says it is so sweet. Like he’s complimenting me.
He makes his way to the door and opens it. “Text me the time and place. I’ll be there.”