Chapter 14 #2
I don’t like the tears welling in her eyes.
I don’t like the shakiness in her voice.
The trembling of her lip.
I like nothing about it.
And I feel this need to correct the situation.
To make it better for her, just like her apartment.
I’m itching to make this better, to remove the frown from her face. My mind starts racing with how I can find a solution, anything to make sure she’s no longer sad.
“Like, dude, everyone knows you’re in Australia.
Just stay there. Enjoy your new life with your new job and your new apartment and possibly your new wenches that you have crawling at your feet.
And why even text me? He wants to meet up?
Hang out? As if I don’t have a life of my own? Like is he trying to—”
“Take me,” I say before I can stop myself. It’s the first solution that pops into my mind, and as Blakely stares at me in shock, I realize this actually might be a good idea.
Yeah, she should take me.
I could protect her.
Be there for her.
Hold her hand . . .
Although from the look of shock and confusion that passes over her face, I’m gathering that maybe she’s not on the same wavelength as I am.
Quietly, she says, “What?”
Yup, you did it now. You said it. Now you have to follow through.
You wanted your chance.
Here it is.
Take it.
My eyes stay connected with hers so she knows how serious I am. “Take me to the wedding.”
“Wh-why would I do that?” she asks.
Yeah, Halsey, why would you do that?
Maybe because I’m practically in love with you.
Because I can’t get enough of you.
Because if I don’t take you to the wedding, you might fall for your ex again, and I don’t think I can handle that.
Because I want my goddamn chance at holding you for a night.
“You can pretend I’m your boyfriend and won’t have to worry about Perry at all,” I say, the words flying out of me before I can stop them.
She doesn’t answer.
Instead, she sits there, stunned.
Unmoving.
And I start to panic that my opportunity to take a chance will wildly backfire on me.
But what could really happen? She says no and you deal with rejection? Well, guess what? She considers you as her brother. Can’t get any more rock bottom than that.
Finally she asks, “You want to pretend to be my boyfriend?”
“Yes.” I say it with such certainty that she can’t decipher if I’m being serious or not. When she doesn’t say anything, I add, “This way, you can go to the wedding, enjoy it, and not worry about Perry. I’ll make sure he doesn’t go near you, and you don’t have to be alone.”
Her eyes lift, and through those thick lashes, she asks, “You’d do that for me?”
Oh shit . . . is she going to say yes?
My entire body tingles with anticipation.
Please fucking say yes.
Give me one night, Blakely.
I’ll prove to you how much I deserve you .
“Of course,” I answer. I want to hold her hand. I want to tell her I’d do anything for her . . . fucking anything, but I don’t want to show all of my cards. I think the desperation is already thick in my voice.
Her teeth run over her bottom lip as she looks away.
“Marco would die if you were at the wedding. He’s a huge Agitators fan.
I’m sure they’d have no problem making room for you if I told them we were dating.
” She winces. “But would that look bad? That I started dating someone new right after Perry and I broke up?”
“Who fucking cares,” I say. Fuck, she’s so close to saying yes. “You’re allowed to move on as quickly as you want without judgment. And if there is judgment, then those people shouldn’t be in your life anyway.”
She slowly nods. “You’re right.” She brings her legs up to her chest and rests her chin on her knees. “You really wouldn’t mind? I feel bad asking you to go with me. I know it’s your day off, but . . . you’ve already done so much for me. I’d feel like I’m asking too much.”
“You’re not asking me to do anything. I’m telling you to take me.”
“Yeah, I guess you are.” She blows out a heavy breath. “Okay, let me see what Arlene and Marco say.”
The biggest fucking smile wants to cross over my face, but I hold back. Instead, I turn back toward the game with a nonchalant reply. “Cool.”
Halsey: I did something big. Astronomical actually.
Posey: After the loss we suffered tonight, I’m hoping this astronomical thing is good.
Pacey: I let three goals go by, better be fucking amazing news.
OC: Silas is currently abusing the wall we share in the hotel room. I believe kicking, maybe punching. Either way, I don’t foresee him on his phone.
Penny: Eli has not texted me back. Is he okay? The fight he got in didn’t look good.
Posey: He’s good. Letting steam off with a beer. I’m sure he’ll get back to you soon.
Halsey: Maybe not the best time to text. Fuck. Sorry, guys.
Pacey: No, we need the distraction. Please just tell us you’re going to be back with us soon.
OC: Silas and I miss you.
Halsey: There’s a great possibility I’ll be playing soon. If anything, maybe just to get out there for a few minutes. We’ll see what Grace says.
Posey: Is that the good news? Because I’d be glad if it was.
OC: We all would.
Halsey: That’s not the news.
Penny: Eli just texted me. Did you know he got punched in the nuts?
Pacey: Yeah, he had to readjust his cup in the penalty box, which was awkward for everyone.
Penny: Who punches the cup?
OC: Someone who wants to be a dick.
Posey: I’ve done it a few times. You shift the cup to the side and force your opponent to readjust, and I’ll tell you right now, that shit never sits the same.
OC: Really fucking annoying.
Penny: So he wasn’t hurt, more inconvenienced?
Pacey: Exactly. Anyway, Halsey, what’s the news?
Halsey: Perry is coming back for a wedding that they’re both going to.
Penny: WHAT?! Why? Ew, did he say he wanted to get back together with Blakely? I will riot!
Posey: You’ll riot? I’ll throw a goddamn tantrum right in front of her.
Halsey: No, he said he wanted to “hang out.” So it was a “DTF?” IMHO. She looked really panicked, which I took as a good sign. So I told her to take me as her date, and I’d pretend to be her boyfriend.
Posey: You did?!?
OC: Is it weird that my nipples just got hard?
Penny: You’re pulling a Silas! Oh my God, this is amazing. What did she say?
Halsey: She said yes.
Posey: Boner . . . I have a fucking BONER! She fucking said yes? Slap me in the ass because I need to be woken up from this dream.
OC: Should I be concerned that I didn’t get a boner but my nipples are hard?
Pacey: Both of you are fucking idiots.
Penny: I approve of hard nipples and the boner because this is HUGE, Halsey. This is it. This is your in! Now you’ll have a chance to make your move.
Posey: I agree. This is it. This is monumental. You get to protect her from the ex she doesn’t want to talk to, and while pretending to be her boyfriend. You get to touch her, hold her . . . maybe even kiss her.
Halsey: I’m not kissing her.
Silas: Just catching up despite being in a shit mood. Kiss her. Touch her just like if she was yours. You get one chance, don’t fuck it up. Take it from me who went through this.
OC: I need to learn more about this fake dating thing.
Penny: Trust me when I say, this is where you move in.
Halsey: But things are already strained. What if I make a move and fuck it all up?
Posey: I’d treat this as the championships, man. You have to be all in, no matter what’s going on between you two. You either show her the man, the boyfriend you can be, or you let her go.
Pacey: I agree with everyone.
OC: **Eats popcorn** Just here for the storyline.
Silas: Is he kicked out again?
Posey: Yes.
Penny: Yes.
Pacey: I don’t know . . . I think he brings charm.