Chapter 90

I introduced Aimee and Nicole the next morning at my favorite café. At first, they just looked at each other, but then one of them started to smile, and the other did too. Before I knew it, all three of us were laughing like we were old friends and not a recently accrued bunch.

We talked about many different things, but Aimee and Nicole’s favorite topic of discussion, by far, was Asher and me.

“You should have seen them at the club,” Nicole said. “They danced together like they were attached at the hips. I was not surprised to find out that they were dating.”

“The first time I saw them together, Asher had his arm around Cynthia’s shoulders,” Aimee said. “I wasn’t surprised either.”

“I’m sitting right here,” I reminded them.

They both shot me fake glares – their smiles gave them away.

“You could have told me you were together, Cynthia,” Nicole said. “I had to find out from Elena!”

“I heard through rumors, too,” Aimee said. “Why keep it a secret? It’s so obvious you two are into each other.”

Nicole turned to Aimee again. “She tried to tell me that her feelings were one-sided.”

Aimee rolled her eyes. “Like someone would accept a challenge for someone they don’t deeply care about.”

“Now, hold on…” I started weakly, in my defense.

Both pairs of eyes focused on me again.

I swallowed, unsure what to say now. I hadn’t told them right away about Asher and me agreeing to fake date, because I would have had to lie. Even now, I wanted to tell them that the whole thing was pretend.

But I couldn’t. It was secret from everyone.

And honestly… I kind of liked the misunderstanding.

The way they talked about Asher actually liking me back was a nice fantasy.

“You can make it up to us,” Nicole said, “by telling us everything.”

“Yes!” Aimee quickly agreed. To have them both on the same wavelength so quickly was uncanny. They were a force to be reckoned with.

Maybe I could tell them more without ruining the secret. After all, my feelings were genuine, even if Asher’s were faked.

“We went on a date,” I said. “He held the chair for me when I sat down.”

“A gentleman!” Nicole said.

“I didn’t like the onions on my salad so he ate them, and gave me his cherry tomatoes instead.”

“A provider,” Aimee said, nodding.

“He always walks me home,” I said, blush forming.

“And a protector,” Nicole said, winking at Aimee. “Though we already knew that.”

“Were you at the challenge?” Aimee asked Nicole. “Did you see the way Asher seemed to come back to life only after Cynthia cheered for him?”

Just like that, I was forgotten again. I didn’t mind so much this time. This was much less embarrassing than having to describe Asher and my interactions myself.

Eventually, though, the conversation waned, and Nicole switched subjects.

“I heard the higher ups at the Academy are interviewing new coaches for the cheerleading team.” She frowned. “I don’t think Coach even cleaned out his office yet.”

So, Coach had been fired after all. My chest tightened unpleasantly.

“What kind of person do you think they’ll pick for our next coach?” I asked. If Nicole had heard that interviews were happening, maybe she had heard something about the candidates.

“No clue.” Nicole’s shoulders slumped. “No doubt they won’t be as good as the coach we had.”

“They couldn’t be,” I agreed.

“Maybe it won’t be so bad,” Aimee said. “You never know! They have high standards here. Likely it will be someone who really knows their stuff!”

“That’s true,” Nicole said, thoughtful.

But Aimee’s words of support only set me more on edge. Someone capable would immediately recognize my shortcomings, and I couldn’t depend on them being as understanding as Coach.

Nicole couldn’t understand my sudden gloom, but Aimee could.

She nudged her shoulder into mine. “It’s going to be okay,” she said to reassure me.

I gave her a small smile in thanks, but I didn’t believe it.

Later that night, I joined Asher for a post-game hockey party. He met me at the front door of his dorm to greet me hello. Not only did he hug me, but he also placed a soft kiss to the top of my head.

I very nearly swooned in his arms.

“You did great in the game,” I told him. My voice was still hoarse from all the loud cheering I’d done.

The cheerleading squad was in shambles and therefore skipped the game. But I still went. I’d never miss the chance to see Asher in his element.

“I know,” he said, a mischievous sparkle in his eye. He knew how his overconfident remarks drove me up the wall.

I crossed my arms to show my false annoyance, while I was secretly proud inside. He saw straight through my façade though, and smirked at me.

We stayed like that a moment, looking at each other. Somewhere, distantly, music played, and I remembered where we were supposed to be.

“Shouldn’t we head inside? You are missing your own celebration party.”

“Parties are fine,” he said. “But maybe I prefer it out here, spending a quiet minute with you.”

My heart burst into butterflies taking flight. He was teasing me, he had to be. Though his smirk had softened.

“Asher…” I didn’t know what to say. He was making me feel special again.

How I wished he was my boyfriend for real.

Another minute, and his smirk returned. “Plus they hired a live band for tonight and they are terrible.”

He had been teasing me!

“Asher!” I playfully swatted at his chest.

He caught his hand in mine and started leading me inside. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The band wasn’t quite as bad as Asher said, though they played a lot of music that the crowd didn’t seem to vibe with. Instead of dancing, most people were talking, which was fine. Just unusual.

After getting me a cup of water, Asher stepped away, pulled aside by some of his team. In his stead, the goalie stood at my side. He was a bit wilder than the others. Untamed hair, mismatched clothing. But he was good company.

Not as good as Asher, though…

My gaze sought out Asher. Nodding at his teammates, he glanced over to me. Across the room, our eyes locked. He held me prisoner as he talked to his teammates.

The goalie laughed at me, good-naturedly. “I don’t think you’ve heard a word I’ve said this whole time.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, returning my attention to him.

“Nah.” He waved off my apology. “It’s good to see our Captain date someone who clicks with him so well. He’s a bit of a workhorse. Capable, sure, but I didn’t think he knew how to relax. We used to worry about him all the time.”

“Used to?”

“Yeah. He’s been different since he’s met you.”

I wanted to ask, different how? But the goalie looked toward where I knew Asher to be.

“Uh, oh. Better go get your man.”

I followed his gaze to where Asher had begun his trek back to us, waylaid by a few girls. A thick lash of possessive envy curled around my heart. My mark was still on Asher’s neck. Did they not notice?

I started toward them, ready to rescue Asher. But then I forced myself to stop. We were dating for appearances sake only. If he wanted to talk to other girls, or date them, was it really any of my business? What right did I have to interrupt?

“Ah, Cynthia, there you are.” Asher, having spotted me, pushed through the line of girls to come to my side. Wrapping his arm around my shoulders, he addressed them, “Have you all met my girlfriend?”

Their faces turned at once, losing hope. Asher was rejecting them in the softest possible way, by letting them know he had a girlfriend.

But he didn’t have one. Not really.

And he never would so long as I tied myself to him like this, so selfishly.

He squeezed my shoulder as the girls walked away. He seemed content with our status quo.

But I couldn’t help but worry.

If he was rejecting girls to maintain our false relationship, then maybe, for his sake, I needed to call this off.

Asher deserved to find someone he loved. Not just someone who loved him.