Blindsided (Fake Boyfriend 4)

“Really, bailiff? I get an actual beer?”

“Have at it.” I worked out today that I’m going about his training all wrong, so I’m going to try a new tactic. Positive reinforcement.

The tough act would’ve worked with old Miller, but his injury has shifted something in his head. He needs to get excited and retrain his brain to give him the right mentality toward his reconditioning.

We learn about sports psychology through team trainers and our coaches, and while I think some of it is hokey, like visualizing a win, I totally see the correlation between being in the right mindset and succeeding. I need to get him back on track.

Seeing as I know Jackson and Noah and know of Damon King from articles and his baseball days, when they enter, I can only figure the shorter blond guy is Maddox.

He’s good-looking, so that counts for something.

Guess I’m noticing the attractiveness of other guys now. Interesting ...

Maddox makes his way over to me, and I see it in his eyes immediately—it’s the look. I’ve been getting it since my college days.

“Football fan?” I ask.

He doesn’t reply.

Miller nudges him. “Hey, you didn’t get all gushy when you met me.”

“You’re not Marcus Talon.”

“Ouch,” Miller says. “You’re no longer my favorite friend of Jackson’s.”

Maddox continues to stare at me, but he still hasn’t said hi.

Damon’s arm goes around his boyfriend’s shoulders. “Ignore this one. He’s a weirdo.”

Maddox snaps out of whatever fanboy trance he was in and turns to him. “A weirdo you’re in love with, so what does that say about you?”

“That I’m not only crazy about you—I’m just plain crazy.”

Maddox leans into Damon. “Marcus Talon needs a wingman tonight, so I’m gonna go flirt with some girls.”

“Uh, I need what now?” I ask. I have to force myself not to turn my head toward Miller.

They ignore me.

Damon kisses Maddox’s cheek. “Flirt with girls all you want, babe. You know they can’t give you what I can.”

“It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for Marcus Talon.”

“Uh, can you stop saying my full name like that?” I ask. “It’s weird. Call me Talon.”

Maddox lets out a little “Squee,” but I think it’s by accident. He whispers something to Damon, and Damon nods.

“Go. Have fun.”

Maddox puts his hand on my shoulder and pushes me through the crowd.

“Uh, I wasn’t really looking for a hookup,” I say.

“Single guys are always looking for a hookup.”

Before we disappear, I turn back and give Miller eye contact. He has a reserved smile, and as if we’re already having those voodoo-reading-each-other’s-mind thing couples have, I know he’s telling me it’s okay to humor Maddox. Or at least I hope he’s saying that.

After the PT conversation Miller and I had, it feels wrong flirting with someone else, because we’ve set our hard limits. I’ve never had that before—where I don’t see a point in flirting. Maybe it’s because in the past I’ve always kept my options open. Since Miller’s come back into my life, my options are definitely closed to everyone but him.

“Damon doesn’t care if you flirt with women?” I ask Maddox.

“Why would he? He knows I’m only ever coming home to him.”

Huh. I guess that’s what complete trust looks like. “How long you been together?”

“Twelve months? I think. Around there. I dunno, we’re not keeping track.”

Is that how long I can expect to get to that place with Miller? Then again, I have no clue where we’ll be in a year. If we were to get to that point, we wouldn’t be able to live together without people getting suspicious. What kind of millionaires have roommates?

“Want to play a game of pool instead?” I point to the pool tables at the back.

Maddox turns and cocks his head. “Sure.”

He continues to eye me as we head over and interrupt a game with two other guys. One thing I love about my celebrity status is getting my way when I want it.

It only costs me a selfie to get their table.

Again, I glance back at Miller, and I wonder if he has the telepathic thing too when I send him a “Look, I’m being a good boy” vibe.

When he smiles at me from across the room, I turn away again, only to be met with Maddox’s inquisitive stare.

Maddox pulls out a stick from the holder while I rack up the balls. “So, you and Miller are good friends?”

“The best. We went to college together.” It’s not until the words are out of my mouth that I begin to wonder if I’ve screwed up somehow, because Maddox’s eyes widen before he schools his reaction.

Then he throws me some forced nonchalance while nodding once and saying “Cool.”

I can’t explain my unease as we play.

Maddox scrutinizes me and not in the “I can’t believe I’m here with Marcus Talon” way like he did as soon as he saw me. Then there’s the way he looks at me. Like I can hear his thoughts: I know your secret.