4.Making It Believable

By Thursday morning, the whole thing had started to feel real.

Not the relationship itself. That was still fake. At least, that's what I kept reminding myself every time Liam reached for my hand while we crossed campus, or smiled at me when someone was watching, or casually introduced me as his girlfriend. But the attention was real. People knew about us now, and judging by the looks we were getting, they were already convinced.

Liam seemed to have no problem with it. He walked beside me like he'd been doing it forever, his fingers intertwined with mine as we made our way toward the student center. Every few steps, someone from the hockey team would call his name, and he'd nod or smile without letting go of my hand. I wasn't sure if he was naturally good at pretending or if he'd simply gotten too comfortable with the role.

"You're quiet," he said.

"I'm thinking."

"About?"

"How strange this is."

He glanced down at our hands. "You mean this?"

"Yes."

"You'll get used to it."

"That sounds dangerous."

He laughed. "It's just holding hands, Blair."

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has half the campus staring at you."

"They're staring at me too."

"Exactly. And you're used to it."

He smiled. "You'll survive."

I wanted to argue, but before I could, a familiar voice came from behind us.

"Look at the happy couple."

I didn't even have to turn around. Jace.

He caught up with us, his hockey bag hanging from one shoulder. He looked like he'd just come from morning practice, his dark hair slightly messy and his expression annoyingly amused.

"Good morning, Parker."

"Good morning, Bennett."

His eyes dropped to our joined hands. "So this is still happening."

I raised an eyebrow. "Did you expect it to end overnight?"

"I wasn't sure."

Liam glanced at him. "Why wouldn't it?"

Jace shrugged. "Just curious."

There was something different about his expression. He was smiling, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. I couldn't figure out why.

Jace looked at Liam. "Coach wants everyone at the rink in ten."

"I know."

"Then stop standing around."

Liam rolled his eyes. "Go."

Jace started walking backward, still facing us. "See you later, Parker."

"Hopefully not."

He laughed before turning around. I watched him disappear into the crowd.

"Don't mind him," Liam said.

"I don't."

"Good."

We continued walking. But for some reason, I couldn't stop wondering why Jace had looked at us like that.

---

By lunch, Chloe had already heard everything.

She dropped into the chair across from me in the café and placed her phone on the table. "So."

I looked up from my food. "So?"

"You and Liam."

I sighed. "What about us?"

"You're everywhere."

I laughed. "Apparently."

She leaned closer. "People are saying you've been together for a while."

I nearly choked. "What?"

"That's what happens when you go public with the captain of the hockey team."

"We didn't exactly go public."

"You're holding hands across campus."

"That's part of the deal."

Chloe gave me a suspicious look. "You're sure this is just a deal?"

"Yes."

"Completely?"

"Completely."

She studied me for a moment before smiling. "Okay."

I narrowed my eyes. "Why do I feel like you don't believe me?"

"Because I know you."

Before I could answer, someone dropped into the empty chair beside me.

Jace. Again.

Chloe looked at him, then at me.

Jace smiled. "Am I interrupting?"

"Yes," I said.

"No," Chloe said at the same time.

I glared at her. She simply smiled.

Jace leaned back in his chair. "How's my favorite fake couple?"

"Don't call us that."

"Why? It's accurate."

"Not if people are listening." He looked around dramatically. "I don't see anyone."

I lowered my voice. "You're impossible."

"And yet you keep talking to me."

Chloe looked between us. "You two know each other well."

"Unfortunately," I said.

"Very well," Jace added.

I kicked him lightly under the table. He laughed. Chloe's eyes widened slightly, but she said nothing.

Jace checked his phone and stood. "I've got practice."

"You're always at practice."

"That's what happens when you're on a hockey team." He glanced at me. "Liam's got a meeting afterward."

"I know."

"So you're free."

I frowned. "What does that have to do with you?"

"Nothing." He smiled. "See you later."

Then he left.

Chloe waited until he was out of earshot. "Okay."

"What?"

"That boy likes annoying you."

"He likes annoying everyone."

"No." She shook her head. "Not like that."

I ignored her. There was no reason to think about Jace. Liam was my best friend. Liam was my fake boyfriend. Jace was simply his teammate. That was all.

---

That evening, Liam had another team commitment, which meant our dinner plans were canceled. He apologized twice through text.

Liam: I'm sorry. Coach added another meeting

Me: It's okay

Liam: I'll make it up to you

I smiled at my phone.

Me: You better

I slipped the phone into my pocket and headed toward the library. I had barely made it halfway across the quad when I heard someone call my name.

"Blair."

I turned. Jace was walking toward me.

"Let me guess," I said. "You're supposed to be somewhere else."

He smiled. "Practice ended."

"And now?"

"Now I'm free."

"Congratulations."

He laughed. "Where are you going?"

"Library."

"I'm coming."

I stopped walking. "Why?"

"Because I'm bored."

"That sounds like a problem."

"It is."

He continued walking beside me anyway. I sighed and followed.

For a while, neither of us spoke. It was strangely comfortable. Jace wasn't teasing me, and I wasn't trying to get rid of him. We simply walked through campus together while the evening lights came on around us.

"You really like it here?" he asked.

"At Dalton?"

"Yeah."

I looked around. "I do. It's different from home, but in a good way."

"You miss home?"

"Sometimes."

He nodded. "Same."

I looked at him, surprised. "You?"

He shrugged. "Even bad boys miss home."

I laughed. "You just called yourself a bad boy."

"Everyone else does."

"Maybe they're right."

He looked at me with a grin. "Careful, Parker."

"What?"

"You're starting to figure me out."

I smiled. "Don't flatter yourself."

He laughed quietly.

When we reached the library, he opened the door for me. "After you."

I walked inside. "Thanks."

He followed me to a table and dropped his backpack onto the chair.

"You're studying?"

"Yes."

"Fun."

"Not everyone can spend their evenings skating around on ice."

"You could."

"I'd fall."

"I'd catch you."

I looked at him. For a second, neither of us said anything. Then he smiled. "See? I'm helpful."

I rolled my eyes and opened my textbook. "Be quiet."

"Yes, ma'am."

I tried to concentrate, but a smile tugged at my lips. Maybe Jace Bennett wasn't as unbearable as I thought.

Maybe.

---

Later that night, Liam called me.

"I'm sorry about dinner."

"It's okay."

"You're not mad?"

"No."

"You sure?"

"Liam, you're my best friend. I know hockey is important to you."

There was a quiet pause. "Thanks."

I smiled. "Besides, I found something else to do."

"With who?"

"Jace."

Another pause. This one was longer.

"You were with Jace?"

"Yes. We studied at the library."

"Right."

Something about his voice made me frown. "Is that a problem?"

"No."

"Liam."

"It's not a problem, Blair."

He sounded fine, but I could hear the tension underneath his words.

"You're still coming to the game tomorrow, right?"

"Of course."

"Good." He exhaled. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Blair."

The call ended.

I stared at my phone for a moment. Then I looked down at the fake dating agreement sitting on my desk.

Five rules. Simple rules.

No jealousy. No real feelings. No complications.

It should have been easy.

But something told me things were already becoming more complicated than we'd planned.