Page 22 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
“What do I do?” Olly’s a smart bastard, smart enough not to knock up an ex. “If you were in my position, what would you do?”
He stares off for a minute, and then he smirks. “I’d move in with Sienna and use her as a beard.”
Now I’m no dummy. I do well in school, always have. But I have no idea what the hell he’s talking about. “Come again?”
“My mom has always loved old Hollywood. She’s a total classic movie buff.”
“I hope this is going somewhere.”
“Patience, grasshopper. Anyway, in the olden days, the gay dudes would pretend to be straight by dating a straight woman. And vice versa.”
I scratch my head. “You want me to pretend I’m gay?”
I’m not even bi-curious, so that would be a stretch.
“No, dumbass. You tell Janelle you’re dating Sienna. Use her as your beard.”
Sweet, beautiful Sienna. Who’s sporting stitches and two black eyes and just had her heart pummeled.
I shake my head. “She’s already been through so much. I don’t want to involve her in my drama.”
His eyebrows lift. “Don’t wanna stir up shit with Winston, huh?”
I rake my fingers through my hair. “Winston and I already have bad blood between us. You know that.” Coach Sully was the only reason he and I haven’t already come to blows, and from what I’ve heard, Krugman isn’t known for coddling shitheads no matter what kind of yardage they boast. “But no. That’s not my main reason for being reluctant.”
No, it’s her devastating smile and disarming laugh.
I don’t say that, though.
Olly’s eyes narrow and then he nods. “Mmm. I see. It’s like that.” I give him a look and he smirks. “You like her.” He sings the words like we’re in grade school.
“I like her so much I was gonna fuck Janelle last night.” The words make me cringe. I could kick my own ass for being dumb enough to contemplate hooking up with my ex. But I don’t want Olly thinking there’s something between me and Sienna, or he’ll be like a dog with a bone, and I don’t have the bandwidth to think of Sienna as anything more than a friend right now.
He shrugs. “Then what’s the big deal? Sienna’s cool. She’ll play the part until you get the clinger outta your life, or at least until you set up some good boundaries. And Sienna told you she wouldn’t mind helping with Lily.”
When he says it like that, the idea has merit. What’s the worst thing that can happen? Maybe it’ll rile up Janelle and get her out of my hair. And Jesus and all the damn saints know I could use help with my kid.
Maybe pretending to date Sienna isn’t a bad idea after all.
