After breaking up with her boyfriend, Ollie found herself at a bar where she impulsively kissed a stranger to make her ex believe she had moved on. This stranger turned out to be Silas, a famous professional hockey player who had also been hurt by love. As fate would have it, Ollie was exactly what Silas needed – someone to pose as his girlfriend and make his ex jealous.
Although Ollie was only 21 and Silas was a decade older, their age difference added to the excitement of the story as their pretend relationship began to evolve into something genuine.
TWO YEARS AGO . . . SILAS “I don’t know, dude. Maybe I should have gone with the princess cut,” I say into the phone as I head up the elevator to my penthouse apartment that offers expansive views of the Burrard Inlet. When Sarah and I found this place, she told me we had…
OLLIE “To the worst internship of our lives,” Ross says, holding up a shot glass. I hold mine up as well. “And may Alan Roberts’s teeth fall out for creating the toxic workspace we’ve suffered through all summer.” “Cheers to that.” Ross clinks his glass against mine, and together, we take down a tequila shot,…
SILAS Silas: Did you see the press announcement from the Agitators? I pick up my glass of Scotch as I stare down at my text thread with my boys, willing them to respond. I’m all sorts of fucked up. The moment I saw the press announcement come in, I dropped everything I was doing, slipped…
OLLIE “Alexa, play today’s hits,” I say as I throw my hair into a messy bun. It’s Sunday, which means it’s reset day. I woke up this morning, fresh as a daisy, so I went on a run followed up by a simple ab workout, then walked to the dining hall and picked up a…
SILAS She lives in a dorm? A fucking dorm? Jesus Christ, what the hell am I doing? I rub my hand over my forehead, absolutely humiliated as I sit in my Tesla. Staring at the dorm entrance, I wonder if I’ll be able to muster enough courage to walk up to those doors and go…
OLLIE From my purse, I pull out the picture frame I bought last night and filled with a picture of Silas. It was a random thought after he left, and I couldn’t think of anything more perfect for Candace to see while she walked by my cubicle this sunny Monday morning. Sure, we have a…
SILAS Should I light a candle? That seems like I’m trying too hard. But what if it smells weird in here? I don’t want her first impression of my place to be associated with an odd smell. I stare at the beeswax mahogany teakwood candle on my living room coffee table. It smells really good.…
OLLIE To: Ollie Owens From: Alan Roberts Subject: Internship Miss Owens, I’m writing to advise that I’ve chosen to extend your internship through the end of the college year. I assume you’ll be able to handle the workload. I’ve already been in touch with your adviser. I suggest you accept. Roberts I stare blankly at…
SILAS “Are you bringing Ollie to the family skate welcome party?” Posey asks as he sits next to me on the bench, water bottle in hand. “We’re in the middle of drills, and that’s what you’re asking me?” I pick up a water bottle and squirt some water in my mouth. “What am I going…
“Don’t worry, I won’t be grumpy when we get there.” “Ah, so the grumpiness is just for me to experience.” “Yeah,” I say. “Not like I need to impress you or anything. I already have a signed napkin stating you’re mine.” “Something you should be grateful for.” “Trust me, in that sweater, I’m very fucking…