Page 40 of Off the Mark
“She’s always been just a friend,” I said with a casual shrug. “When I was in Syracuse, I would go to this bar called Jolene’s with a bunch of the other players. Charlie’s from the area and bartended there as a side gig to earn extra cash in between racing season.”
Tabitha pulled a face. “Did you ask Charlie out when you first met only to have her turn you down in a big way?”
“’Course not.”
“Did you though?”
I scoffed, feeling the back of my neck go hot. “Okay, sure. I did ask her out and she did turn me down. But I wouldn’t saybig way. More like…so small it was barely noticeable. Though that’s not really the point or worth bringing up or discussing. Ever again.”
“Rowan,” Dean interrupted, “are you and Charlie a thing now? Because if you are, I’ve got a shitload of questions.”
“We’re dating.”
Both of their jaws dropped open.
“But it’s fake,” I added. “I’m pretending to date her to help improve her reputation.”
The silence from Dean and Tabitha stretched on for a few seconds, long enough for me to understand just how fucking bonkers the situation was when I said it out loud.
“Can you, uh…explain more?” Dean finally asked. He looked like I’d just told him I was quitting my job tomorrow to become an astronaut.
I cleared my throat and relaxed into a smile. “Charlie’s here because the motocross championships are being held at the tracks outside the city. It’s a huge-ass convention, a ton of fans and press. She’s one of the favorites to win, especially since the X Games, but she’s in hot water with her sponsor. She’s got a bit of a reputation problem. Has been blowing off some of her events and has lost a lot of races recently.”
He arched a brow. “That’s enough for most of these sponsors to cut you loose. It’s all profit and loss to them.”
When Dean had chosen to leave a successful boxing career because of a head injury, everyone from the fans to the announcers ridiculed him. Five years later, and hestillgot shit from drunk assholes at bars who thought they could take Dean the Machine in a street fight.
And I’d been playing baseball in some form from the age of ten and knew exactly what it was like to lose the career that meant everything to you.
We understood how it felt to be reduced to nothing but a body. I was a shoulder that made millions for team owners. A throwing arm that sold out seats. A fastball that won championships. And when I got hurt, I was easily discarded.
“Charlie’sthis closeto getting cut,” I said grimly. “And the timing sucks because she’s trying to get a bunch of money together to help her dad who’s being threatened with eviction. Weird as it sounds, Charlie thinks showing up to these championship events with a new, adoring boyfriend on her arm will help avoid the worst from happening.”
There was another awkwardly long pause. Then Tabitha said, “So you are…?”
“Charlie Maddox’s fake boyfriend for the next three weeks.”
“Oh…my…god.” She clapped her hands. “This is, like, thewildestthing I’ve ever heard, and I’m already here for it.”
Tabitha looked delighted, but Dean wasn’t ready to let me off the hook. “I get why Charlie asked you but what are you getting from this?”
I cracked a grin. “Besides helping out a friend in need?”
He didn’t budge. “Uh-huh.”
I managed a shrug. “With all the transition goin’ on here, the center couldalsouse some extra cash. There’s going to be a lot of rich people at some of these events, so I told her yes on the condition that she introduces me. But listen”—I extended a hand towards them—“one of the conditions was that I got to tell you two what was really going on. That’s…well, that’s the whole scoop.”
It wasn’t, of course. Thewholescoop was that I was supposed to be gearing up to fire the guy in front of me by the end of the month.
Dean’s brow stayed furrowed, but he didn’t say anything.
“Are you telling Alice about all of this?” Tabitha asked.
“Not a word. Though I’m giving it seventy-two hours before her friend who works the deli counter at the Acme finds out and tells her while she’s buying cheese. And…” I hesitated, still thinking about our family dinner. How tired and sad she’d looked, sitting in her chair. “I don’t know. It’s August and she’s been pretty down. More than usual this time of year. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but a few weeks of her believing I’ve got a girlfriend might cheer her up. As long as she doesn’t get too attached to the idea.”
Tabitha’s eyes softened. “Well, count me in as a reliable alibi. And I get why you want to help, Rowan. You’ve had plenty of experience with all the complicated aspects of being an athlete. Charlie must trust you.”
Those words had a sweet affection spreading through my chest. The kind that could complicate this fake situation in a very real way.
