Chapter Twelve
Lincoln
I hold out my hand to Callie after I open the passenger door. We just arrived at the bar where we’ll celebrate the Atlanta Armadillos’ victory with my teammates and their girls. This is the first time since I joined the team that I’m bringing a girl with me. Usually when we celebrate, I’m all alone. It feels nice to have someone with me, even though our relationship is fake. And I didn’t lie when I told her I was happy to have her support. I guess I’ve been so caught up with trying to win all our games that I didn’t realize just how much I needed it.
Callie was very supportive of me today, even more than she had to be. And every time she smiled and cheered along with the crowd, I felt like I impressed her. Which is strange because I’m not trying to impress her.
She’s a very nice person to put up with football—to share something I love. She could have made some excuse and not shown up. Or she could have pretended to be into it. But Callie wasn’t pretending earlier today. From the bright smile on her face, I know she genuinely enjoyed the game.
I don’t know why having her there made me feel supercharged. But maybe that’s not the best thing, since we’ll eventually break up, but for now it’s great to have her support.
“Why are you staring at me?” she asks, pulling me out of my thoughts. I didn’t realize her hand is laced with mine and she’s waiting for me to help her out of the car.
Shaking my thoughts away, I smile. “Sorry. Was just thinking about the game.” I gently pull her out of the car. “Have you ever been to this bar?” It’s a pretty popular one in Atlanta.
She shakes her head. “I’ve mostly stayed in Spring Falls all my life. And I’m not really a big drinker.”
I wrap my arm around her, leading us toward the doors. “I’m not much of a drinker, either, but when the occasion calls for it, I’m game.”
“Yeah, same, but I don’t have much to celebrate.”
I lift a brow at her. “No? What about when you write an amazing article that readers love?”
She shrugs. “I’ve never had that moment yet, but I know I will one day. Right now, I mostly write book and movie reviews.”
“Yeah, I read one of your book reviews. It was so well-written and interesting that it made me want to pick up the book.”
Her face lights up in surprise. “Really? You don’t seem like the type to read.”
“I don’t normally read, but you never know.”
We reach the entrance to the bar and walk in. The place is as packed as usual. That’s normal most nights, but it’s different tonight because of the game.
As we walk further inside, many people congratulate me on the game, some women give me flirty smiles and giggle as they touch various parts of my body, and I catch a few making faces at Callie. I tug her close to me.
“Linc!” my friends call from the back. I give everyone smiles and waves as Callie and I make our way to them. My teammates and their girls are seated around a table, chatting and laughing.
Jett pushes out a chair for me and one for Callie. “Thought you lovebirds wouldn’t make it,” he says as we sit down. “Figured you’d be off making out somewhere and celebrating.”
“And leave you losers to party without me? Never,” I joke.
Chris raises a brow. “Who’re you calling a loser? We dominated tonight.”
Well, it was a close game, but why focus on the details? The point is we won.
After I introduce Callie to the guys and their girls, everyone starts talking about the game. I add in here and there, but Callie is mostly quiet. She only answers questions the others shoot at her. Of course she doesn’t have to talk if she doesn’t want to, but I wonder if she maybe feels uncomfortable. She doesn’t know these people.
We hang out with them for over an hour, just having fun and basking in our win. Then I bend toward Callie and ask, “Do you want to get out of here?”
“I’m fine staying if you want to stay.”
Yeah, but the thing is I don’t want to stay.
I slide my hand in hers. “Let’s go for a walk?”
“Sure.”
We tell the others we’re heading out. They, of course, start teasing us “lovebirds” that we can’t get our hands off each other, which makes me chuckle. Callie seems a bit relieved that we’re leaving. She, like me, doesn’t like large crowds. I’m actually glad we can hang out just the two of us. As her fake boyfriend, I want to get to know her better. We are going to be spending the next few weeks together after all.
“Sorry about that,” I tell her as we head for the park a few blocks away from the bar. I’ve got my cap low on my eyes because I don’t want fans following us. As much as I love them, I’d like to spend some alone time with Callie. She’s wearing a hat to hide her identity, too.
“What are you sorry about?” she asks.
I shrug. “All the attention. I know you said you signed up for it, but it must be so hard for you.”
“Yeah, it is, but I’m good.”
I stop walking and face her, taking both her hands in mine. “You know, you can tell me when you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. We’re putting on this big show to the world, but I care more about your well-being.”
She just stares at me. “Oh, thanks. But I’m okay. No one has sent me death threats yet.”
“What?”
She playfully slaps my arm. “I’m just kidding. I told you a million times that they’ll get bored of me.”
I’m not so sure about that. There have been many posts online and in articles asking who Lincoln’s mystery girl is. Her name has been released and many people know where she works.
“Please don’t worry about me, Lincoln,” she says. “I’ll be fine. And I’ll let you know whenever I don’t feel safe.”
“Thanks.”
We enter the park and walk past the beautiful trees and plants. There are some parents and kids here. Luckily, no one seems to recognize us. It feels pretty darn good to spend time with Callie without making a show for the public.
“So…I have something weird to ask you,” she says after we’ve been strolling for a few minutes.
“Okay.”
She hesitates. “You don’t have to say yes. Well, maybe you kind of do because she usually gets her way. Like, she’ll make it happen.”
I just stare at her. “What? Who’s she?”
Heat rises to her cheeks. “My mom. She, uh, wants you to come over for dinner next week. She and my dad want to meet you.” She hangs her head. “I know it’s not part of our arrangement, but it’s not like I could say no to her. She would have called you and invited you herself.”
Her hands are moving all over the place, like she’s nervous. I place my hand on her arm. “Callie, I’d love to have dinner with your parents.”
“You would?”
“Of course. I’d love to meet the people who raised you. And honestly? It’s been quite a while since I’ve had a home-cooked meal.”
She bends over, her shoulders heaving in relief. “Oh, wow. I was so sure you’d refuse. I mean, meeting your fake girlfriend’s parents seems a bit crazy, doesn’t it? What if they love you and then we break up and…?”
“You think they’ll love me?”
Her mouth snaps shut. “Of course they will. You’re nice and sweet and you have this killer smile…” She searches my eyes. “Wait, are you nervous?”
I laugh lightly as I run my hand through my hair. “A little. I know our relationship is fake, but I’d still like to make a good impression. If they don’t like me, they might try to convince you to break up with me and that would put a strain on their relationship with you. I’d never want that to happen, especially because this is all fake.”
“That’s really kind of you, but I know they’ll love you. I mean, all you need to do is smile at my mom and she’s sold.”
That might be true, but I don’t want to win over her parents because I have a nice smile. I want people to get to know me as more than just the hottest bachelor of the year. I don’t know why it’s so important for Callie’s parents to see me as more than just a popular football player. I want her to see me as more than just her fake boyfriend.
“So it’s settled, then?” she asks. “Should I tell my mom you’re coming?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll call her later. And if you need me to do anything for you, just let me know.”
I take her hand and give it a squeeze. “Right now, all I want is for me to be me and for you to be you and for us to just enjoy this wonderful world we live in.”
She smiles. “That was actually really nice. Sometimes I forget how beneficial it is to just sit back and appreciate nature.”
“When you’re in the spotlight all the time like me, you appreciate the moments when you’re alone with your thoughts the most.”
And it’s also nice to be with someone who sees me as a person and not the quarterback for the Atlanta Armadillos. Callie hasn’t treated me differently like many other people do. She doesn’t demand selfies or autographs, or throws herself at me. When she smiles, it’s genuine and she doesn’t want anything in return. And when she talks to me, I feel like she’s getting to know a normal guy and not a celebrity.
And more importantly, I feel the most comfortable and like myself when I’m with her. There are no fake or forced smiles. With her, it’s real.
We walk around the park for a while, talking about nature, movies and TV shows we’re watching. I don’t have a lot of time to watch anything other than football, but I do catch a movie here and there.
“And I’m guessing you don’t like romance,” she says
I lift my hands in defense. “Action is my thing.”
She releases an exaggerated heavy breath. “Oh, man. You just killed me. Isn’t it just the most wonderful thing in the world when the hero and heroine, who have been pining over each other throughout the entire movie, finally get together in the end?”
It warms my heart to see the bright, excited smile on her face. It lights up her entire self.
I reach to tuck some hair behind her ear. “Can’t say I’ve ever seen that, but if you want, maybe we can watch one of those movies together.”
“Really?”
My fingers brush her warm cheek, and a strange feeling passes through me. It’s something I have never felt before.
I drop my hand, placing both of them in my pockets. Callie’s eyes dart to the ground for a second before she meets my gaze again.
“Of course,” I tell her. “And maybe we can watch my favorite action movie.”
She just gives me an odd look, like she’s wondering why I want to hang out with her privately. I want to tell her that I enjoy her company, but maybe that’s too much. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.
We talk more until it gets late and we, unfortunately, have to leave. I drive her home, where we talk some more, and then I wish her good night and sweet dreams.