Drowning in Love - Kelsie Rae Page 0,2

to sit on the sidelines as she makes me the luckiest man in the world. Isn’t that right, Pretty Girl?”

I scowl up at him, though I know he can see my curiosity and barely-restrained amusement no matter how hard I try to bury it.

The combination only encourages him to proceed.

There’s no way he’d actually fake propose to me in front of all these people.

As if he can read my mind, he slowly lowers down to one knee before sliding my left hand into his.

“Will you, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, the woman who captured my heart the moment we met…”––I snort before realizing the giant screen on the scoreboard is flashing with a live feed of his little speech––“will you marry me?”

The entire stadium is silent, holding its collective breath the same way I’m holding mine. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me. Hell, I can see it from the damn jumbotron.

“Come on, Pretty Girl,” he murmurs in a low voice that’s only meant for me. “Say, yes. If you do, each and every fan in this place will have a good story to tell their friends when they get home instead of a sob story about how you broke my heart.”

Sneaky bastard. He’s right. This would make a pretty epic story, which is the only reason why I nod my head up and down. The crowd goes wild. Whistling. Hooting. Screaming at the top of their lungs. The combination only seems to incite my fiancé further, encouraging him to stand up and tug me into his arms. Then he’s kissing me.

I’m in shock for a solid two Mississippis before my body takes over. Fingers weaving into his soft, brown hair and my heart racing a million beats a minute, I open my mouth and give a tiny piece of myself to an absolute stranger while knowing that I’ll never be able to steal it back. When the taste of wheat explodes across my tongue, I grin against him.

“What’s so funny?” he murmurs, keeping his arms around my waist.

“Just thinking about how I was one-hundred-percent right in my initial assumption.”

“And what’s that?”

“You’re charming when you’re drunk.”

“You should see me when I’m sober,” he teases before dropping another quick kiss to my mouth. “Can I have your number?”

“You mean so we can finalize our wedding arrangements?”

He laughs. “Something like that.” His grip disappears as he searches his pockets. With pinched brows, he mutters, “Shit.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I left my phone in my car. I’ll be back in a few.”

I watch his sexy butt as he jogs up the concrete stairs before he disappears through the tunnel only to be replaced by a fuming Owen.

Cringing, I curl into my seat, then wait for him and Grady to reach me.

“What the hell was that?” Owen demands, hooking his thumb over his shoulder.

My face reddens. “Nothing.”

“You sure? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure I just witnessed you getting proposed to on the screen.”

“Yeah, what’s up with that, Mama Two?” Grady probes with his gangly little arms crossed over his chest, mirroring his father’s posture. I shake my head and pull him into the seat beside me to prevent Owen from interrogating me any further. “It was nothing. Let’s just finish the game.”

I glance back at the tunnel, hoping to see my fake fiancé striding back to me with his confident swagger. But he never does. In fact, the only thing I’m gifted with is glares from his friends before they also disappear from the stadium a few minutes later.

What the hell was that?

2

Nora

“Hey!” Gem greets me through my cell.

“Hey! I’m picking up everyone’s coffee for the meeting, but Bertie won’t answer my text. What does she want?”

“I dunno. Just grab her one of the seasonal drinks. We all know they’re the best.”

Chuckling, I pin my cell between my shoulder and my ear while digging in my purse for my wallet. “That’s because the seasonal drinks are your favorite, but that doesn’t mean they’re everyone’s favorite.”

“Fiiine. I’ll go ask,” Gem whines before her voice is muffled for a minute. I glance up at the menu before moving up in the coffee line as the next customer is served. “She said she wants a black coffee today.”

“Just like his soul!” Bertie shouts, her voice echoing through the speaker.

I laugh. “His soul?”

“Yeah. Apparently, Bertie had a bad night with what’s his name. Good thing we’re hosting a single’s cruise, eh? Besides, I already told you never to date a Leo. They’re bad news, Bertie. Come on.”

Evidently, she’s