Chapter 7
SEVEN
THE BEST FAKE DATE I’VE EVER BEEN ON
H olden
I was eight when my teacher noticed I had a talent for drawing. She had asked the class to draw their dream home for an art project, and I drew a whole damn city. I got an A on the assignment and after that I took as many art and design classes I could all the way through school.
I’ve always had a creative mind, and I’ve always loved technology. So, I figured if I focused on web design, it would be the best of both worlds.
After high school, I took a part-time job as a server at a bar to make money while I worked towards a diploma in New Media and Web Design in college. As soon as I graduated, I got an entry level job at the company I still work for now. It’s a great place to work, I get to be creative and utilize technology to solve visual problems. But my end goal is to start my own company one day. My buddy Nick, who I work with, and I have talked about going in as partners.
That dream is still a ways off. Right now, we’re just busy making plans for tonight. Our boss got us tickets to a Reed Point Outlaws pre-season college football game. Technically, it’s a work event—they’re calling it “team building”—but the reality is, it’s a free game and most of us are die-hard Outlaws fans. No one from the office is complaining they have to go.
Nick’s wife Zoe also works with us—they met at work. She’s hilarious as hell, is always changing her hair color from one wild shade to another, and always has an insane story from her weekend. The story of how they hooked up is also insane. Let’s just say it involves a blind date, an “incident” with the Reed Point police, and many follow-up meetings with HR.
“Are you bringing a date, Holden?” Zoe asks, leaning against my desk, sipping what is probably her fourth coffee of the day.
“I wasn’t planning on it.”
“But you could?” Her eyes widen as she fishes for info. “Sounds like you’re seeing someone. Is this new? Spill the beans, Banks.”
I look to Nick for help, but he just raises his hands. “You’re on your own, man. Good luck.”
The game invite was extended to spouses and girlfriends too, but I am one of the only a few who are going solo. I’ve gotten used to being the third wheel, but it’s always a bit awkward.
This time around, it has occurred to me that now that I have a girlfriend—albeit a pretend one—I could technically bring someone along. I have no doubt Briar would be up for it if I asked her. Besides, if we’re going to start fake dating, we might as well start now.
“I’m seeing someone, but it’s new,” I lie. “Her name is Briar. ”
“I love this. Are you going to tell us more?” Zoe leans closer to me, anxious for details.
“She’s a few years younger than me, she’s Canadian, and… she recently became my roommate.”
Zoe whistles through her teeth. “Dating your roommate? Scandalous.”
I wrinkle my brows. “You married your co-worker.”
Nick laughs. “Holden has a point. Don’t be judgey.”
Zoe narrows her eyes at her husband then returns her attention to me. “I really need to meet this Briar. Please bring her to the game.”
Nick nods. “I agree, Holden. Bring her. Need I remind you that you and Shirley from admin are the only people going without a date? And I love Shirley, but she’s like 60, dude.”
“Thanks. I’m well aware.”
“Yup, you should invite Briar. You know she would be welcome,” Zoe adds.
I weigh my options. This is probably the point where I should put a stop to this silly charade before it blows up in my face. But there’s no denying I want to hang out with Briar. She makes everything more fun.
“I’ll ask her and get back to you.”
A little while later on my lunch break, I dig out my phone and send Briar a text.
Me: Outlaws game tonight. Wanna come with your hot fake boyfriend?
Briar: Who is this and how did you get my number?
Me: Funny. It’s your better half and I got your number from Daisy. So, what do you say?
Briar: I’ve never said no to football. It’s a date.
Me: A fake date.
Briar: Whatever
I shake my head at my phone. This is such a bad idea.
Me: Oh, and it’s a team-building night for my work.
Briar: You should probably have mentioned that before you invited me.
Me: Too late. You said yes.
Briar: I’ve been bamboozled.
Briar and I stand at the top of our section overlooking the green and gold college football field. Our seats are in row 4 behind the Outlaws, but before we walk down to meet the group, I want to check in with her.
I reach for her hip, giving her side a pinch. “Nervous?”
“Not at all. I’m excited to meet your work friends.”
“Nerves of steel,” I say, smirking.
She shrugs. “One thing about me, Holden: I’m always up for meeting new people. Also, I’m never going to say no to free popcorn.” She pauses, eyebrows raised. “The popcorn is free, right? ”
I laugh. “As much as you want.”
“Perfect! Plus, I plan on asking your co-workers for all the dirt on you.”
I roll my eyes. “Behave, wild one.”
She snorts. “I’ll behave if you throw in some free candy too. Is it a deal, fake boyfriend?”
“I think I can spring for that. Are you ready? Should we go?”
“Ready, but you should probably hold my hand, Holden, if we’re going to pretend we’re in love.”
I playfully roll my eyes at her again before looking her up and down, admiring her outfit. She’s wearing an Outlaws jersey, a pair of boyfriend jeans, and an Outlaws baseball cap, her lips painted the prettiest shade of pale pink.
Her cheeks flush when she catches me checking her out. I smile, happy with myself for being the one to make her blush. She is the perfect combination of cute and sexy. She’s out of my league, but I’m not going to be the one to point it out.
Briar and I are the last ones to arrive to our seats and right before we do, she tugs on the bill of my baseball cap. “We’re going to put on a show for your friends. You better act like you like me.”
I squeeze her hand, already used to the way it feels in mine. “The thing is, I do like you, Busy Bee. Don’t you forget it.”
With a smile, I flip my hat so it’s backwards then I kiss her on the cheek. She melts into my side, going all in with the public display of affection. For a moment, I wished I kissed her on the lips instead.
“Banks, what up?” Nick calls from the center of the row.
I pull Briar along to where the team is sitting, introducing her to the group. Most wave and call out a hello, but Zoe immediately jumps to her feet and greets Briar with a tight hug.
“You can sit with me! Nick is too focused on the game, he never talks to me,” she says, motioning to the empty chair beside hers. I say hello to a couple of people one row up and then sit on the other side of Briar, who is already deep in conversation with Zoe about the game and the lineup.
“I love your commitment to the Outlaws.” Nick points at her jersey. “Do you come to a lot of games?”
Briar leans into my side, putting her hand on my inner thigh. She’s really playing this girlfriend thing up, so I raise my arm and wrap it around her back, so it rests on her shoulder.
“I do. I’m a big fan. My best friend married their head coach, Tucker Collins, so she’s always asking me to come to games with her.”
“How lucky are you?” Zoe adds. “Is that how you met Holden?”
“It is.” Briar’s eyes lift to mine. We talked about this earlier, what we would say if people asked how we met. We figured we’d just go with the truth. “We spent some time together last year, then I moved back home to Vancouver for a year. It’s a long story, but when I returned, the adorable apartment I had leased was under two inches of water. Holden was kind enough to let me move in with him.”
“Holden’s your knight in shining armor. This already sounds straight out of a romance novel.” Zoe beams.
“Briar loves those things. There are stacks of them taking up space in my living room. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the shirtless guys.”
“Okay, I’m definitely making a point of asking you for a recommendation. I love to read. You can tell me your favorites.” Zoe rubs her palms together. “I’m going to need to get your phone number before the game is over.”
Apparently, my fake girlfriend and my co-worker are going to be friends after tonight. I didn’t see that one coming. I’m also not surprised. Briar is likeable. She’s funny and smart, enthusiastic and outgoing. It’s impossible not to like her. If the time comes that I ever want to date again, I’d want a girl just like her.
The game ends with a win for the Outlaws, 24-14. Before leaving, we gather on top of the concourse saying our goodbyes to the group. Zoe and Briar have their cell phones out and are exchanging phone numbers while Nick and I talk about the insane play that our quarterback called.
Briar had made an impression on my friends, but she made an impression on me too. She went out of her way to talk to everyone at the game and everyone loved her. It felt good to have a girl as fun and hot as my fake girlfriend on my arm.
Her ex-boyfriend was an absolute idiot for not treating her right. It blows my mind how any guy would let a woman like her get away. She’s the perfect mix of chaos and sunshine. I should probably send him an expensive bottle of scotch for fucking things up with her. His loss was my gain. It brought Briar into my life— even if we’ll just be friends after all of this is over. Fuck, I hope we can remain friends after the wedding, after we stage our fake breakup. After today, I know I like having her around.
“She’s cool, man.” Nick elbows me gently in the side. “You’re different with her than with the last one. You’re less uptight. There’s less— ”
“Arguing?”
“Yeah, that,” Nick laughs. “I think this one’s going to make you work your ass off. She’s going to keep you on your toes.”
My stomach twists. Nick doesn’t have any idea how right he is. Briar has been busting my balls since the moment she moved in. I don’t see that changing anytime soon if ever. The crazy thing is, I’m kind of liking it.
After the girls have finished their conversation, they walk over to join Nick and me. He tugs his wife into his side, so I do the same to Briar. Briar nuzzles in close, flattening a palm over my abs, her other arm wrapping around my lower back. I dip down and roll my chin against her hair, liking the feel of her little body pressed against mine.
Too bad it’s just pretend.
“You guys have been so nice. Thank you for welcoming me today.” Briar lets go of me to hug both of them.
“We hope to see a lot more of you.” Before they turn to go, Zoe flashes me an enthusiastic thumbs up while Briar isn’t looking.
“I had fun!” Briar lets go of my hand as we approach my truck.
“I had a lot of fun.”
She smiles. “It’s always a good time, it seems, when we’re together.”
“Temporarily together.”
“I know, Holden. You don’t have to worry. I won’t ask you to propose to me at the end of this.”
“You wouldn’t have to ask me. You are a cool chick, Bee. You deserve a guy who will treat you like the incredible catch you are.” I reach for the handle, opening her door, helping her inside. “Thanks for making tonight so fun.”
“Thank you for asking me. That was the best fake date I’ve ever been on. I will be hoping you invite me to all future team-building events.”
She smiles. My heart rate skips.
Team-building events only happen twice a year, so Briar and I will no longer be “together” when the next one rolls around. I know I’m going to miss having her with me when all of this is over.
I shut her truck door, walking slower than usual around the hood.
I need to be careful, to keep Briar at a distance. She won’t be in my life for long, at least not like this. Once the wedding is over, our fake relationship will be too. Besides, she has been hurt enough as it is by her ex-boyfriend.
I can’t be the one to hurt her again.