Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
“A insley! Oh, girl, tell me it’s true. Are you dating Zac Parotti?” Rosie sounded thrilled.
“We’re getting to know each other,” she said cautiously. Which was true, no lie there.
And while it was good to have her agent pleased with her, she’d realized late last night just how close a fake relationship was to living a lie. So she’d messaged Zac and he’d answered—maybe he couldn’t sleep either—and asked him to do his best to not lie either. She couldn’t be responsible for leading a new Christian astray. Which made her curious about what had tipped him into faith. Clearly, that was a conversation to have another day.
There was a lot to learn about this man, which she now had opportunity to do. And while there was a lot she could learn on the internet, she didn’t want to trawl through it, especially with his relationships. She gathered from what she read that Zac was one of hockey’s biggest stars, which explained her dad’s fangirling. She also gathered that sports words used to describe him like “clutch” and “stud” were positive, and his many awards over the years certainly seemed to suggest he was intensely focused on being the best at his sport. Which probably meant he’d had little opportunity to be so cavalier in his relationships as suggested in some of those reports.
She still couldn’t get over the fact that such a big sports star had said yes to her proposition. Even the way he asked her out felt a lot more comfortable than what she’d vaguely imagined would happen. The fact he had asked her out meant she could say that, which is what she’d said when Cassie messaged her this morning after Ainsley had switched on her phone and discovered pictures of their handholding had flooded the internet.
“So, you two are going out?” Rosie asked again.
“He asked me out.” For real this time, not just his friend. After she’d asked him to, but whatever. It was still true.
Just like some of the other things she could say that tiptoed through this minefield of truth and lies.
“Getting to know each other.” True.
“We’re taking things slow.” Also true.
“Enjoying each other’s company.” True. Well, she hoped it was. She enjoyed his company, and he’d seemed to enjoy hers. And the fact they’d laughed together had to mean something, didn’t it?
“These pics are gold!” Rosie said.
Ainsley studied the one most circulated. Zac, holding her hand, Ainsley smiling at him, a connection so believable it would translate well to the screen. Had he ever acted?
“My phone’s been running hot this morning, I’ve had so many people ask me about the rumors about you two.” Rosie exhaled. “What do you want me to say?”
Hmm. Another question she should’ve thought through and discussed with Zac. “You could say ‘We’re quietly hanging out’.”
“Or that the rumors are true.”
“Or that you can confirm the rumors are true,” Ainsley said. Because there were plenty of rumors—that was one hundred percent true.
“Ooh, I like! That way we build up more speculation, huh? If we’re only suggesting rumors are happening then there’s still room for more talk.”
That wasn’t exactly what she meant. “Look, I’m not sure—”
“Ainsley, I couldn’t have picked a better person than him for you. Well done. Zac Parotti is one of the biggest names in sports, and you will probably find this will have an awesome crossover, with your fans becoming his, and his fans becoming yours. Great work, girl.”
“I don’t know how many hockey fans are going to start watching As The Heart Draws .”
“Never underestimate the power of a good story. Don’t you remember how many people started watching Suits after Meghan Markle married Prince Harry? Exactly.”
“Zac is not Prince Harry.”
“I’ve heard him described as the next Wayne Gretzky, and in this country, that’s better.”
Dad would certainly agree. Oh dear. That’s right. Dad. Mom. Mack. She’d need to tell all of them the real truth before things got even more out of hand.
Which meant messaging—or calling—Zac again and explaining to him what she should’ve said before. Ugh. There was so much more to fake-dating than she’d first thought.
She ended the call with Rosie, and started to type her message to Zac, then realized leaving a voice message would be far quicker. So she dialed his number, anticipating what his voice message greeting might say, so she’d not sound dumb and flounder around getting to the point, and—
“Hello?”
He was actually answering his phone? “Um, Zac?”
“Um, Ainsley?”
She heard the tease in his tone and relaxed. “I wasn’t expecting you to answer your phone, so I was figuring out my message, and then you answered.”
“I’m about to start training.”
“I won’t keep you.” She dropped her voice. “Has anyone, um, asked about us?”
“Yes.”
“Well? Don’t leave a girl in suspense. What have they said?”
“That I’m a lucky guy.”
Her heart softened. “Really?”
“Well yeah, and it’s true. We all know I’m lucky to be going out with Ainsley Beckett.”
This was said in a slightly louder tone that made her wonder who he was saying it to for them to hear.
“And it’s true,” he added more softly, in a tone she thought he meant only for her to hear.
“This is pretend,” she reminded him. “You are letting them know we’re taking it slow, aren’t you?”
“For sure. I got the memo.”
Huh. That comment didn’t make it sound like he was pleased to have got that memo. “Look, I was just speaking to my agent who said we could tell our friends and family or teammates or whatever to say that they can confirm the rumors are true. If you like.”
He chuckled. “Oh, I think there are some people here who would like.”
“Good.”
“Is that all?”
“Sorry, I know you have training to get to, so I don’t want to keep you any longer. But I did want to say that if you had any rules that you want me to follow then I think it’s only fair that you tell me. I know I’ve given you a lot.”
“I’m happy if you’re happy, honey.”
Endearments. Darn. Another thing she should’ve thought of. “Are you really going to call me honey?”
“I’ll call you whatever you want me to, Snugglepot.”
She laughed. “Not that.”
“Cuddlepie?”
“Or that. Where are you getting these ridiculous names from?”
“Would you believe me if I said I saw this kids’ book at a friend’s place that was named that?”
“Really?”
“Really. I kind of like it.”
“Well, I don’t.”
“You’re so bossy.”
Oh. “Sorry.”
“I kind of like that too.”
He did? Careful. Some of the things he was saying, and the way he was saying it, she was almost inclined to think he perhaps wasn’t as into the fakeness as she was. “So, I’m going to guess that means you don’t have any rules for me.”
“None that I can think of at the moment.”
“Okay. Well, if you do think of any, let me know.”
“Yes, boss.”
He meant that in a good way, right? “Oh, and I know I don’t have any right to ask this, but I just want you to promise me that you won’t fall in love with me.”
“Excuse me?”
“I promise the same. This is strictly platonic. Just two friends helping each other out, okay?”
One beat passed. Two. Three. Then, “Okay.”
“Thanks.” She glanced at the oversized kitchen clock. “Oops, I need to go. I have to call my parents and let them know, then I’ve got to get to work.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
There was a strain in his voice that hadn’t been there before. Had she been too bossy with all her instructions? “Are… are we okay?”
“Yep. Gotta go. Bye Ainsley.”
* * *
Zac stowed his phone in his locker, taking care to lock the combination, wishing he could so easily lock down his heart. Not fall in love with her? His agreement was likely a lie, especially as he’d thought his appreciation for her could easily tip into more. He liked her looks. Liked her smile. Liked her flustery ways, then how she tried to tough things out. He even liked her boss moves with her personal boundaries—no lie there. So many other women had proved calculating that the fact she was upfront and candid felt like cool water on a hot summer’s day.
Which made him antsy, like his own actions and motives weren’t so pure. Which meant he had to guard his heart, just like he had to guard his phone. He had zero desire for any of the guys to send Ainsley messages on his behalf, especially now they all knew about their so-called relationship, thanks to Drew’s excited comments when he’d arrived this morning.
“And that was a clutch move from Parotti, saving the girl one day, sliding into her DMs the next.”
“So it was you.”
Drew pounded him on the back. “You can thank me later.”
Other guys made various comments about Ainsley, and her obvious lack of taste in men, seeing as she’d picked up Parotti. He knew it was tease, except for Logan, who only glared at Zac and, for once, said nothing.
Chris, now padded up in his practice goalie gear, thumped him. “You, me, we’re talking after training, ’kay?”
“Okay.” It’d be good to talk to someone he could be real with. And given the great unreality of it all, he was fast craving someone who might be able to give some good advice.
“You’re telling me that whole message thing from Franklin’s sister was because Drew pretended to be you and messaged Ainsley?”
“Yep.”
“And she’s really single, and wants to fake-date you?”
He jerked his chin.
“So none of this is real?” Chris persisted.
“Nope.”
“Wow.”
Zac slid a look at Diana, who seemed equally confused.
Chris’s invitation to dinner at their house had been marked with tantrums from Tanner and Jack. Clearly the new medication wasn’t working, or maybe that was the failure of Zac’s prayers. But now the kids were in their rooms and the adults could finally talk, Zac found the conversation a little harder than he had imagined.
“I don’t understand why she wouldn’t want to date you for real.”
He shrugged. “She said something about being too busy for a real relationship.”
“Yeah, you’re never too busy if you actually care.”
Which reinforced that she didn’t. Good to know. Good to remember . He shrugged. “I don’t know. I was in shock, and I found myself agreeing before I realized all that was involved.”
Diana’s eyes narrowed. “Do you like her?”
“Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. I barely know her, but I like what I know,” he added honestly.
“Dude.” Chris shook his head. “You’re gonna get into trouble.”
“It’s day one and I already feel like I’m in trouble.”
Diana winced. “Why not just tell her how you feel?”
“Because if I do that, she’ll just dump me, and then her agent will find her someone else who isn’t a Christian.” And reading between the lines, those guys would likely not treat her with the respect she deserved. He knew—only too well—what guys could be like. “I don’t want that for her.”
“Or for you,” she said, way too insightfully.
“Does that make me a bad person if she only wants to fake-date me and I want more?”
“Yes,” Diana said.
“No.” Chris said, glancing at his wife. “Why would you say that?”
“Because when she finds out that he likes her, then she’ll just think he’s a stalker and being creepy about all of this, when he should just be upfront.”
“Or he learns to control his feelings and treat her as a friend and helps out a friend in her time of need.”
“That’s what I thought at the time,” Zac confessed.
Diana huffed. “Sure it was.”
“Come on, honey. Cut the man some slack. He’s trying to do the right thing.”
“The right thing is telling Ainsley how he feels. No woman likes to feel like she’s been manipulated, which is how she’ll feel if you carry on pretending that you don’t have any feelings for her.”
Man.
“What is God saying to you?” Chris asked.
Zac sighed. “I thought maybe He was saying yes. Because I might’ve talked to Him about her.”
“You did?”
He shrugged. “At the White Night event.”
“Ha!” Chris rubbed his hands together. “Remember I said to you that you might meet your match that night?”
He nodded.
“I wonder now if that was the Holy Spirit.”
Diana rolled her eyes.
“Come on, hon,” Chris said to her. “We never know what God has in store for those who are willing to trust Him.”
Part of him wanted to scoff, but another part didn’t dare. Chris knew a lot more about God stuff than Zac did. And hadn’t God opened a way to get to know Ainsley?
“I knew you were interested in her after the White Night.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You kept going on about how you didn’t want to steal another man’s girl. A guy wouldn’t say that unless he wanted to steal the girl.”
“That’s quite observant of you,” Diana said.
Chris smirked. “Not just a pretty face, this one.”
She checked out the ceiling again and sighed. “Look, Zac, I know you’re trying to figure out how to do relationships as a new Christian. Maybe you just need to have some time out of dating. Learn who you are in God so you’re secure enough in God to offer that to the right girl when she comes along.”
“What if the right girl is Ainsley?”
“Maybe she is.” Diana shrugged. “But she won’t be if she finds out that you care for her in a way that’s not platonic.”
“Maybe this is his chance to do that,” Chris said. “To take all of the emotions out and just be the friend she needs who shows up when she needs it.”
“But the emotions are already there, aren’t they?” Diana asked Zac.
“A little bit. Maybe.”
“Enough that you can tamp them down and just be a friend? Or are they going to be stirred up into more?”
“I can tamp them down,” he said stiffly. “I can be her friend.” Even if he’d never been friends with a girl before. His sister didn’t count.
Diana’s look was dubious, but she nodded. “You better. Because things will not go well for you if you don’t keep things platonic.”
“Understood.”
“So will you?” she persisted.
“I will be her friend, and nothing else. Unless she wants it,” he added frankly.
“Hmm. Well, I’ll be praying for her. And for you. I don’t want to see either of you get your heart broken.”
Neither did he.
Diana glanced at her husband. Chris nodded. “And you be sure to let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.”
“Thanks.”
A scream from the kids’ playroom drew Diana’s sigh and her departure. Leaving Chris to eye Zac in a way he wasn’t sure was completely friendly.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Are you going to be able to deal with these feelings?” Chris asked.
“I’m gonna do my best.”
“Hmm. I have a feeling you need more than that.”
“What do you mean?”
Chris pointed to the ceiling.
Oh, right. God. “I have been praying about this.”
“I know. But it doesn’t hurt to have some extra prayer support.” He clapped a hand on Zac’s shoulder and—once again—just leaped off into praying without warning.
“Hey God, You see the situation that Zac has got himself in. Thank You that this has not taken You by surprise, even if it’s shocked the rest of us.” Chris laughed.
Zac cracked open an eyelid, then closed it as Chris kept praying.
“Lord, please help Zac with all that this involves and bless him and bless Ainsley and lead them into the future that You have for them. Amen.”
“Amen,” Zac muttered.
He opened his eyes. Caught Chris’s look of pity. “What now?”
“Look, keep praying and asking God to help you. I know it’s not what you want, but like you said before maybe this is going to be something that God uses to help you learn how to relate with a woman in a godly way and not just how you’ve always done.”
“I haven’t been treating them badly.”
“But have you been unselfish?”
Wow. That was a thing? Relationships for him had always been more about the physical rush and, oh… right. “Probably not, no,” he admitted.
“It might seem hard to believe in this world we live in, but we’re able to control our feelings, we don’t have to let them control us. If you’re a Christian, you’ve got the Holy Spirit inside you, who is there to help you when you feel weak. And it might come as a huge shock to lots of people that Zac Parotti might ever feel weak, but I’m going to guess that this is a fight you’re not used to playing, and there will be times when you need some Holy Spirit help to treat Ainsley right. So when you’re in those moments, ask God for help.”
“I already do that.”
“Good. So keep reminding yourself that you’re doing this for her, not for you.”
“She told me not to fall in love with her.”
Chris laughed. “Then make sure you don’t.”
Zac blew out a breath. “This sounds like the complete opposite of everything else you’ve ever said about how to treat your wife.”
“But Ainsley is not your wife, is she? She’s not even your real girlfriend. And she doesn’t want to be. You gotta keep remembering that, and that’ll probably help you deal with your feelings.”
“Man.”
“Yep. Nobody said this was gonna be easy.”
That was for sure.
God, help me.