H's

llway to the constant stares and whispers as I walked by. None of it had stopp

n with?" "How does it feel dating a player?" "She must be so stupid if she

ker and squeeze

d the air with fingers pointing in my direction. I'd somehow managed to catch the attention of some hockey players too as they weaved

early tripping over someone's foot. My guess was it was probably one of

nted to d

ing was happening so fast, it felt like my world was swept from under my feet. Whe

ast person I wanted t

in W

in his hockey jacket, one hand tucked into

back, brushing past his shoulders but he

stop walking but I pulle

y." I replied. I hated how I underestimated just how popular Hardin West was. If

ly said something that made me stop in my tracks. I r

ilding was much quieter, secluded to just the two of us in that moment. But

ly a hacker..." I sai

am and my coach who is convinced you're the reason I can't get my head in the game but I have reporters

reputation and all the girls I've slept with..." "Well, they'll be right." I interrupte

if we give them exactly what they wa

asked. "We date." He re

?" I blink

rdin was dead serious. A laugh escaped my lips, not bec

our plan?"

eryone already thinks we're dating, so why don't we play into it?" I couldn't

ate universe was I

're talking about." He said. "They're obsessed because they don't know what's going on and the rumors keep getting

asked rel

y mind but I couldn't help but wonder what was in it for him. Everyone including me knew Hardin as this self-centered,

don't tell me it's because you want the rumor to di

me and you know it's scout season," I remembered Ethan mentioning hockey scouts. "They're coming next month

e

and you're right, I don't have the best reputation to begin with so this could change

tation?" I quizzed and he rolled his eyes. Deep in them, I could tell H

ut of this?" I bit t

gh my head. After my last conversation with Ethan, he made it clear he never loved me and we were over.

elieve for a second I was

ough space between us that I could've walked away. "I

ed for the briefest second, one that held th

ly..." His ey

here'd be rules." My tone was non-negotiable,

I said and Hardin smiled, his jaw flexing almost imperceptibly. "Unless we absolu

as low and unconvincing

d. "We'll have to fake a few. At least to make it

iculous but every alternative seemed worse. "You realize we don't have to make a complete rules li

uttered and I ech

t asked if he'd done this before but I didn't. I didn't need to know. "Even if something happen

range warmth shot up my arm. His fingers tightened sl

s signature smirk crawl

treet or the man inside watching us through tinted windows. Look

He murmured into his phon