Chapter 005

•CONNOR•

━━━╾🏒╼━━━

She got out of the truck without looking back.

I watched her walk across the parking lot, her hood pulled over her head and the folded paper still in her hand.

She didn't even turn around.

I leaned back in my seat and watched until she disappeared behind the building.

Her condition about not touching her without permission was something I hadn't expected. Most girls would have been too busy trying to get my attention to make demands.

But Alexis Lewis wasn't most girls.

She had made it clear that she wasn't interested in me. She wanted the money, and I wanted a girlfriend who could help me keep certain people off my back.

I picked up my phone and called Christian Green.

He answered on the second ring.

"Young."

"I need you to prepare some paperwork."

"What kind?"

"Fake relationship. Stipend agreement. First payment upfront after she signs."

There was a brief silence.

"Who are we talking about?"

"Alexis Lewis."

I heard him typing.

"Dylan's ex?"

"Do you know another Alexis Lewis?,” I asked.

"Just checking. This could get complicated."

"It won't."

"That's what you said the last time you needed me to fix something."

I ignored him.

"Can you have everything ready by tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow afternoon?"

"Two o'clock."

"Fine. I'll prepare the agreement. She'll need to come in and review everything before signing."

"Good."

"And Connor?"

"What?"

"Keep this arrangement separate from what happened last season. I don't want those two things mixed up."

My grip tightened around the phone. "They're not connected. Just prepare the paperwork, Christian."

I ended the call.

For a moment, I sat quietly in the truck.

Last season.

I hated hearing those words.

It had started with one bad game and a hit that should never have happened. Zachary Jackson's knee had been badly injured after I brought him down during a match.

The footage was ugly.

There was no way to explain it away.

But the right people had stepped in before the situation got worse. Money changed hands, statements were adjusted, and the whole thing was quietly pushed aside.

Zachary lost his chance at the season he'd worked years for and I won't be stupid enough to believe he had forgotten.

He had been showing up around campus, asking questions and taking pictures whenever he thought nobody was watching.

I needed him to stop digging and I needed the boosters to stop asking questions about my personal life.

A public relationship could help with both.

Alexis was already connected to Dylan. Everyone knew what had happened between them. Seeing her with me would give people something else to talk about.

More importantly, it would make my brother lose his mind.

That part was just a bonus.

I started the truck and drove back to the hockey house.

It took about six minutes to get there.

The house was already noisy when I arrived. Music played upstairs, and someone was laughing loudly in the living room.

I walked inside and found Tyler sitting on the couch with his hockey stick across his lap.

He was busy wrapping the handle with fresh tape. His black eye was almost gone, but the yellow mark around it was still visible.

He looked up when I entered.

"You're back."

I walked toward the kitchen.

"Obviously."

He watched me for a moment before speaking again.

"So?"

I opened the fridge.

"So what?"

"Don't play dumb. Did she agree?"

I grabbed a bottle of water.

"She said yes."

Tyler stopped wrapping his stick. "Wait. Seriously?"

I took a drink.

"Did I stutter?"

He let out a low whistle. "You're actually going through with this?"

"That's usually what happens after making a deal."

He shook his head. "Dylan is going to lose his mind."

"That's the idea."

Tyler laughed and returned to his stick. "Man, I almost feel sorry for him."

"Don't."

I leaned against the kitchen counter. "Christian is preparing the agreement. She'll sign tomorrow, and the first payment goes through after that."

Tyler looked up again. "How much are you paying her?"

"Enough and It's not your business."

He raised both hands. "Relax. I'm just curious."

I ignored him and reached for another bottle of water.

Tyler put his stick down. "There's something else you should know."

I glanced at him.

"What?"

"Reid has been running his mouth again."

"About what?"

"Alexis. Apparently, he thinks she's single and looking for attention."

My jaw tightened. "That sounds like Reid."

"He's already told a few freshmen that she's free game."

I let out a short laugh. "He's an idiot. An idiot who doesn't know when to shut up. He needs someone to teach him where to place his balls."

Tyler shot me a shocking look. "Don't start a fight over a girl you haven't even started dating."

I stared at him. "It's fake, remember?"

"Right. My bad."

He picked up his stick again, but his expression became more serious. "There's something else. Zachary has been around campus."

I stopped drinking.

"Where?,” I asked, face tight.

"That bar near the main road. Two nights this week,” Tyler spoke slowly.

"What was he doing there?”

"Asking questions. Taking pictures. Mostly hanging around the parking lot."

I placed the bottle on the counter.

"Of what?"

"Your truck, apparently."

My eyes narrowed. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I was going to, but you've been busy playing boyfriend."

I shot him a fierceful look. "This isn't funny, Tyler."

"I know."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Listen, Connor. I'm serious. Zachary hasn't forgotten what happened last season. If he finds out about this arrangement and decides to use Alexis to get to you, things could get messy."

"She won't say anything."

"You don't know that."

"I know enough,” I snapped.

Tyler shook his head. "You barely know this girl."

"I know she's smart enough to understand why I'm paying her."

"That's not what I mean."

I closed the fridge harder than necessary. "Then what do you mean?"

Tyler studied me. "You're bringing someone into a mess she knows nothing about. You better make sure she doesn't get caught in the middle."

For a moment, I said nothing.

“I don't need a lecture Tyler. I already know the risks. Just worry about practice," I said.

Tyler sighed. "You're going to mess this up."

"Probably."

"And when you do, don't come crying to me."

"Wouldn't dream of it,” I said. A weird smile escaping my lips.

I left him in the kitchen and headed upstairs. My room was at the end of the hallway. I walked in, dropped my phone on the bed, and pulled off my hoodie.

A notification appeared on the screen.

The team group chat.

I opened it.

Someone had posted a picture of Alexis crossing the quad that morning. Her hood was pulled over her head, and she was looking down at the ground.

The caption read:

{ Dylan's leftover is still haunting campus !! }

A few people had already reacted with laughing emojis.

I stared at the picture. Then I locked my phone.

I wasn't doing this because I cared about Alexis. I barely knew her.

But if she was going to be my girlfriend, nobody on that team was going to treat her like a joke.

Especially not Reid.

I picked up my phone again and sent Christian another message.

{ Connor: Confirm tomorrow at 2 p.m. Also, make sure the agreement doesn't give the program control over her personal schedule. Her appearances will be agreed on beforehand }

His reply came a few minutes later.

{ Christian: Understood. Just make sure you know what you're getting into }

I tossed the phone onto the bed before a sudden vibration decided not to let go.

A message from Tyler.

{ Tyler: Are you coming downstairs or planning to spend the entire day staring at your phone? }

I shook my head and typed a reply.

{ Connor: Be down in five }

I grabbed a clean hoodie and checked my reflection in the mirror.

Same face. Same scar. Same expression that usually kept people from asking too many questions.

Nothing had changed. Except now, I had a fake girlfriend. And my brother was going to hate every second of it.

I headed downstairs. Tyler was waiting near the front door with his hockey stick.

He looked at me, then grinned. "So, when do we get to meet your new girlfriend?"

I stopped beside him. "She's not your girlfriend."

He let out a slow funny laugh. "Right. Yours."

"Stop giggling like a damn chipmunk,” I snapped.

His grin only got wider. I pushed past him and headed for the door.

"Come on. We have practice.”