“Yeah, he says he’s never had a girlfriend.”

“And look, didn’t I say you were gonna rock his world. Once everyone finds out that it took one day with you in the sack, guys are gonna come out of the woodwork trying to get you to leave him.”

“Whatever,” I say, waving her off. “It wasn’t even the sex that got him. It was me, he said. He just likes me.”

“Aw, that’s so sugar sweet. Jeez, I have a toothache, get out of here with that mess. Jude does not say things like that!”

“He does to me!”

“Whatever, I feel like I’m in The Twilight Zone. There are men made for just sex and some who are meant for relationships, and Jude was thrown in the other category a long time ago. I don’t know how to adjust my categories in my head now. When I see him, I always see manwhore, not a one-woman, Claire-loving dude.”

“We’re not in love,” I stress. “We’re dating.”

“Weird,” she says with a shake of her head, and I laugh as we head toward the rink. Once inside, a group of girls from the day before is standing around a bulletin board, and slowly each one peels away, either happy or disappointed or crying.

“Ack, more Nos than Yesses, it seems,” Skylar says as we make our way to the list.

I see my name at the top, and while excitement envelops me, I quickly search the list for Skylar’s, and I let out a breath when I find it at the bottom. “Oh, thank God,” I say and she laughs.

“Preston is gonna be at the bottom! We all can’t be As!”

I smile and we embrace. I didn’t think I wanted this as much as I do. I’m so happy, especially to be doing it with my best friend. Pulling away, I say, “I’m proud of you.”

“Well, I’m proud of you. Now come on, let’s go rock this first practice.”

I agree and then turn, running smack-dab into Jude. “Oh hey!” I say with a grin, giving him a quick kiss.

He grins down at me and then pulls a rose out from behind his back. “Congratulations.”

“Oh, come on! You don’t give girls flowers!” Skylar whines, and I giggle as I take the rose, smelling its sweet scent.

“Sure I do, for the right ones,” he says before winking at me.

I’m turning into a giggler because that’s exactly what I do before saying, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Wanna meet up tonight? Or do you need to study?”

“Study, sorry, rain check? Lunch tomorrow?”

“Of course, text me when you’re done with practice to let me know how it goes. Good luck and congrats again,” he says and then kisses me so deeply that I’m a tad bit shy when he pulls away, kissing my nose. “See ya, gorgeous.”

“I made the team too, Jude. Do I get a hug, kiss, or anything? Shit!” Skylar jokes, and I laugh as he kisses my nose again.

Holding up his hand, Skylar high-fives him as he says, “Congrats, Skylar, I knew you would make it.”

“A high five? Before you’d at least smack my ass!”

He laughs and I do too. I know she’s playing around. Skylar loves me too much; she wouldn’t hurt me.

“Yeah, that was before I started dating Claire.”

He sends me one last grin before walking away as both of us watch.

Beside me, Skylar says, “I have no clue who that is.”

“That’s my man, Jude Sinclair,” I say with a little wiggle.

When I glance over at her, she isn’t laughing or smiling; her face is contorted in a perplexed matter. “Why did you lie to him? Maybe you’ll study between sets, but still, you will be at work.”

My face burns with color and so does my throat as I avoid eye contact. “I don’t want to tell him about that. It isn’t who I am; it’s a quick dollar so that I can have a steady life when I graduate.”

“I get that, but you probably need to tell him.”

“I will, come on. Let’s go to practice before we’re late.”

Thankfully she agrees with not another word on the subject. While I know I need to tell him, I also think that maybe it doesn’t matter. I work midnight to three in the morning, and I wear a disguise.

No one knows it’s me. Hell, it’s not really me, so why does it matter?

As much as I want to think it doesn’t matter, I know it might matter to Jude, and that makes me more nervous than falling for him. I can’t quit; I need that money to make sure I never have to depend on anyone for the rest of my life. It’s gonna help me get my business. It’s gonna be the start to my new life, but I have a feeling that Jude won’t see it that way.

Falling into my bed, a smile is on my lips as I dig my phone out of my pocket. It has been signaling a text for the last thirty minutes, but I really don’t care. My thoughts are solely on a certain fiery redhead who I can’t seem to get enough of. Glancing at the display, I see that I have twelve texts. Groaning, I scan through them all, seeing they all have the same thing in common.

Mandy: Jude, are you dating Claire Anderson? I thought you don’t date!

I didn’t really like you.

Julie: what the hell Jude, you told me you don’t date but everyone is talking about how you’re with that redhead!

Yeah, I said that so you’d suck me off.

Marianne: Why is that redhead good enough and I’m not. Answer me that Jude!

Have you been around Claire? Touched her? No? Yeah, you wouldn’t understand.

Stacey: Jude, you are a dick and a half. How dare you date someone when you said you’d date me when you decided to start dating?

Yeah, I lied.

Jamie: I hate you Jude. You’re a liar. That redhead isn’t even pretty.

Bullshit, she’s gorgeous.

And it goes and goes and goes. Everyone that I’ve ever fucked saying the same damn thing.

“Fuck, what is wrong with girls these days?”

Jayden looks up from his bed. “Huh?”

“Everyone is freaking out ’cause I’m dating Claire.”

He scoffs. “Well, when you leave a girl’s bed with the promise, ‘When I’m ready to settle down, baby, you’ll be the first one I call,’ that tends to happen.”

I glare. “Shut the fuck up. While I can see your point, I don’t want to hear it. I want these girls to leave me the hell alone.”