Page 143 of Faking the Goal

It's part of the plan.

If he's here, I want him watching.

I want him to see my arm around her. I want him to see how close she is to me and understand exactly what we're trying to make everyone else believe tonight.

Taylor has a boyfriend now, and if he's here, I want there to be absolutely no fucking question about it.

The second my arm settles around Taylor's waist, the reaction around us is immediate. A few conversations stall just enough for people to glance over. One girl does a double take. Two guys near the kitchen look straight at my hand on Taylor's waist, then at me, then back at her like they're trying to solve a problem nobody warned them would be on the test. And the guys who were practically lighting up when she walked in suddenly look a lot less enthusiastic.

"What are you doing?" she asks between gritted teeth, her smile never slipping for the benefit of everyone watching.

I lean closer until my mouth is beside her ear. Her hair brushes my cheek, carrying that faint citrus scent I've started associating with her, and for some reason a smile pulls at my mouth without any effort at all. At the same time, my eyes catch another guy still staring at Taylor from across the room. I hold his gaze until he finally looks away.

"I'm your boyfriend," I murmur. "Remember?"

She blinks once, then again.

"Oh..." Realization slowly settles over her face. "Right."

"And I'd rather eliminate as many potential candidates as possible."

One corner of her mouth twitches. "Potential candidates?"

"If one of them is your stalker, this is the perfect opportunity to make sure everyone in here knows you have a boyfriend."

She studies me for a second before shaking her head. "Aren't you laying it on a little thick?"

I give her waist a small squeeze before letting go and draping my arm over her shoulders instead, pulling her comfortably against my side. She stumbles a little before settling against me, and the ease of it catches me off guard.

"Didn't you say we have to act disgustingly head over heels for each other?" I whisper, my lips close to her ear.

Her breath catches softly. "I did say that."

"And aren't boyfriends supposed to be like this?"

She looks up at me for a moment before a reluctant smile pulls at her mouth. "I honestly thought I'd have to teach you how to fake having a girlfriend."

"So did I."

"And yet..." She gestures vaguely between us. "You're surprisingly good at this."

Before I can answer, one of the guys who called her name earlier wanders over with a beer in hand. His gaze flicks from Taylor to my arm around her.

"T, what the hell?" He takes a sip. "Since when are you hanging out with the hockey goalie?"

Another guy steps in beside him, looking even more confused. "Wait, hold up. Is something going on with you two?"

A third joins them with a sly grin. "No fucking way. Taylor Lewis and Azuma?"

I've had enough.

"I'm her boyfriend."

All three stare at me.

"Boyfriend?" they say almost at the same time.

The disbelief in their faces irritates me more than it probably should, and my arm tightens around Taylor automatically.