Faking Forever With My Hockey Roommate

Chapter 10

Niko's POV

Well,damn.

She was actually making this easy. I held her face for a second longer than necessary, letting the cameras outside get their shot, before dropping my hand back to the table.

Okay, okay I admit, she looked good. f**k me, she looked really good.

The dress fit her like it was made for her, which is funny because it's like some plain thing, but whatever I wasn't about to sit here and stare at her like some starstruck i***t.

But then I looked at her again, she picked up the menu immediately, holding it high enough to hide her face. I could see her eyes darting frantically across the page, her fingers gripping the cardstock like a lifeline.

"Calm down," I said, leaning in slightly across the white tablecloth. "I know this is confusing, but I’m the one who stands to lose millions if you mess this up. Don't you want your money?"

She lowered the menu just enough to glare at me over the top of it. A tight, terrifyingly fake smile stretched across her lips.

"Oh my goodness, You are such an asshole," she hissed through her teeth, her smile never wavering for a single second.

Geez.

"What are you doing to your face?"

"I'm trying to look like a happy, devoted girlfriend even though I think you're a massive jerk," she muttered, twitching her cheeks into an even wider, more aggressive grin.

I choked back a laugh, shaking my head. "That just looks like you're having a stroke, Reeds. Just laugh normally."

“He. He. He.”

I chokes back on laughter again, before clearing my throat. “Weirdo.” I said at her.

The waiter stepped up to the table right on cue, pen poised above his notepad. "Good afternoon. Are we ready to order, or do we need a few more minutes?"

Zaria’s eyes slid down to the prices on the right side of the menu, and I literally watched her soul leave her body. Her eyes widened into huge, panicked circles.

“Jesus f*****g Christ, it's so expensive.” her eyes told me.

I could practically hear her brain screaming it from across the table. She didn't look up at me, clearly too terrified to even breathe near a forty-dollar appetizer.

"We're ready," I said smoothly, cutting in before she could faint. I ordered the pan-seared steak and a sparkling water, keeping it quick.

The waiter turned to her with a polite nod. "And for the lady?"

Zaria swallowed hard, pointing a trembling finger at the first thing that didn't require a loan. "I'll have the short ribs, please."

"An excellent choice," the waiter said. "Though our chef's special today is the grilled seafood platter with lobster and jumbo shrimp—"

"No," she interrupted instantly, waving her hand. "No, just give me anything with meat. I'm allergic to shellfish."

Of course she was. Shellfish. Because of course she had a random, deadly allergy to expensive sea creatures. She was weird like that. I tossed the observation into the back of my mind without thinking, trying to convince myself she was just another annoying roommate I had to tolerate for thirty days.

My phone buzzed against my thigh inside my suit jacket. I pulled it out under the edge of the table.

Dmitri: The photo is already spreading. Two local blogs just picked up grainy shots through the window. Investors are asking who the girl is.

Niko: Tell them to hold off. Don't confirm anything official yet. Let them speculation-tweet for a few hours. I'm still on the date.

Dmitri: Okay, good luck.

I put the phone away, looking back across the table. Zaria was still staring at her water glass like it might bite her. Out in front of the restaurant, the crowd on the sidewalk had doubled.

Then I saw her.

Walking straight through the front doors of the bistro was Chloe Vance. Nepo baby, fashion influencer with three million followers, and the biggest loudmouth in the city. She was wearing head-to-toe neon green and carrying a dog that looked like a damp cotton ball.

"heads up," I murmured, leaning toward Zaria. "It’s Chloe Vance and she’s going to come over here. Act sweet, but keep it brief. Tell her it’s a private lunch."

Before Zaria could even respond, Chloe gasped loudly enough to echo off the high ceilings.

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh, Niko?!" Chloe squeaked, practically floating over to our table in high heels. "I literally cannot believe it's you! I watched all your home games last season! I'm, like, your biggest fan! Hiii!"

Zaria blinked, looking like she wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole. "Hi–."

Chloe immediately zeroed in on me, completely ignoring Zaria as she leaned over the back of my chair, smelling aggressively like expensive vanilla.

“I literally cannot believe I'd see you here! Hi! I'm Chloe by the way, @chloeknowsthiscity on all my socials.”

Ugh.

And the fact that she was ignoring Zaria. I glanced over at Zaria to see her literally sizing Chloe up.

Zaria didn't pause. She reached across the table, grabbed my hand, and firmly laced her fingers through mine, resting our joined hands right in the middle of the white cloth for Chloe to see. Well, damn okay.

"I'm so sorry," Zaria said, her voice dropping into a soft, polite, but unmistakably possessive tone. "We're actually in the middle of a private lunch."

Chloe's eyes darted down to our hands, then up to Zaria's face, then back to mine. Her jaw did a tiny, dramatic drop.

“Oh, um…hi?” Chloe gave a wide fake smile and then glanced at me.

"Oh," I said, putting on a small, tight smile and squeezing Zaria's fingers. "Yeah. Chloe is it? Yeah this is Zaria."

I didn't say the word 'girlfriend.' I didn't have to. Chloe’s eyes lit up with the ferocious, hungry spark of a girl who had just stumbled onto a viral breaking-news story.

"Oh my GOD," Chloe gasped, pressing her hands to her chest. "Okay, wow. I am so sorry to interrupt! But can I please, please get a quick selfie with you two before I go? Just for my story?"

Zaria didn't fight it. She leaned in close to my shoulder, put on a picture-perfect, gorgeous smile, and let Chloe flash a quick photo on her phone.

The second Chloe turned on her heel and practically sprinted toward her own table to start typing, Zaria dropped her head into her hands.

"I can't be in this restaurant anymore," she whispered loudly, her voice trembling with theatrical drama. "People are literally staring at my forehead."

Then she flapped her long lashes at me. “Babe, can we go?”

Okay,, she was actually good at this.

"Alright," I said, throwing a hundred-dollar bill onto the table before our food even had a chance to arrive. "Let me get you out of here."

I stood up, took her hand, and guided her toward the front exit. The second we pushed through the double doors, the sidewalk exploded.

Flashbulbs popped in a blinding rhythm. Three guys with giant camera lenses shoved forward, shouting my name.

"Niko! Is she the new girlfriend?!"

"Can we get an autograph, man?!"

"Who is she, Niko?!"

“Niko, we love you!”

Zaria buried her face straight into the side of my suit jacket, wrapping one arm around my waist like she couldn't handle the crushing weight of public attention. I put my arm around her shoulders, shielding her head with my body as I shoved through the crowd, guiding her straight to the passenger side of the car. I popped the door open, shoved her inside, slammed it shut, and sprinted around to the driver's side.

I pulled out into traffic, hitting the gas as the photographers snapped final shots of my taillights.

I took a breath, glancing over at her. She was sitting slumped in the leather seat, staring out the window, looking thoroughly exhausted.

"Wow," I said, letting out a low laugh. "You actually did a really good job back there."

Zaria slowly turned her head to look at me. “Thanks but I didn't know you knew Chloe.”

I scoffed, “I don't but you know how these influencers are.”

She took a deep breath, “Damn, I wish I got to eat though. It's not everyday I get a chance to eat steak of up to five hundred dollars.”