l's

t even bother taking off my sneakers. I just collapsed face-firs

fe spiraled t

above the keyboard as I stared hard at the b

WildLife

tick That Ru

s if I was about t

ls on campus suddenly care about hockey. I am not

that jersey hi

, things I'd never dare say out loud. But now, writing

give him that. And worse, I couldn't help but remember some

my thoughts when I hea

r

te turned friend, walked in, and trailing behind was a girl from the chee

and tossing her tote bag across her bed. "Smells

flat look.

rd, eyes scanning me intently

tightened

she'd just solved a myste

ked. "

scene from a romance movie," she said, practically bouncing. " Even t

even though my insides

xon? Wow. You didn't even give me a hint wh

ai

t what

hey knew

o meet Jaxon, even though I saw Sasha's curious gl

I imagined sealing my fate. I started up and down, my sneakers squeaking against the floor while waiting for Jax

owned the place, his bag slung over one shoulder, damp hai

my arms. "Some of us actually have

ag onto the bench. "Practice ran late. Co

r you,"

d onto the bench crossin

eed a fake boyfriend to hide your secr

r you in Lit and of course, write a

es holding mine. "Maybe I've liked you for a while,

My laugh came out sharper than I intended. "You've liked me? Right. Betwee

t kept staring like I'd

ontinuing, "Good luck on con

est show on campus, baby. I'm persuasi

ne. Let's do it. But

ly as he leaned back

ench, and flipped to a clean page. "Rule one,

sible," he sa

at him. "

relationship, we are going to kis

oss

y liked our first ki

t then I imagined Trey's face and Tiffany's la

cept that.. but just to be cle

you are mentally

en at him. "D

ing "Rule one again

both hand

elings. This is strictly busine

m stretched out behind the bench. "Please.

ot that I expected that he would fall fo

bout this agreement to anyone, not your teammates,

. "You think I

him a

do," he admit

his fake relationship ends in one month. After homecoming, it's

aid, surpris

ave my t

you do,"

standing in front of me like a normal person, he sat beside m

ed an i

ed an in

him a

Rule One, you come to every one of my games d

ned. "

e to every party with me... I

'm not really a

ith a wink. "You're my fa

that word "girlfriend"

lastl

trademark arrogance. "We're throw

ess what he'd just said "You hav

lazy shrug. "I always win. Yo

sure he'd win. Cla

aid, already walking toward

at

nough to flash me a wicke

locker like my life was ending

he was backing me now as the door swung shut behin

ne fun." But he

ull of rules, wondering if I'd just