Deke (Fake Boyfriend 3)

I run a hand down his arm. “I thought of going to the game tomorrow anyway and writing about the first NHL game with an openly gay player on the ice and then trying to shop it around. But there’ll be a million other articles published on the exact same thing, so I asked Soren if I could interview him instead.”

“Soren …” Ollie says. “Is there a reason you asked him and not me?”

I hesitate. “Honestly? It didn’t cross my mind.”

Ollie tenses under my hands.

“But not because I don’t want to,” I rush on. “Hell no. It’s more an ethical problem. We’re sleeping together. The article would be biased.”

“You’ve already proved you can be brutal if you need to be. I must be a sloppy kisser for you to have written those articles about me back then.”

A small laugh escapes. “You’re a really sloppy kisser. Like, I think you might need to practice.” I bring my finger up to tap my lips.

“Just for that, I think I’m gonna hold out.”

I lean in, bringing my mouth so close to his. “Let’s see how long that lasts.”

Ollie groans and whispers, “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Okay, no, I don’t. But everyone else will when they find out you’re the thing coming between me and Soren. The media is totally pushing for Sorenberg.”

“Sorenberg? That’s terrible.”

Ollie laughs. “That doesn’t make you mad? Me being ’shipped with Soren?”

“About a stupid celebrity couple name? No. If anything, I’m glad Kevin didn’t figure us out and thrust me into the spotlight.”

He pulls back. “You don’t want people to know we’re … uh, together or whatever? Even if you’re not going to write the article about me?”

“I don’t want other publications to see tabloid opportunities if I’m with an athlete.”

“Makes sense.”

But fuck, I hate the hurt in his eyes. “Is … is that okay?”

Ollie nods. “Just major role reversal here. We were worried about my career and my secret, and now you’re in the exact same position, and I’m the one thinking it sucks.”

“If it comes out, it comes out. It’s not like I want to hide it, but if Soren’s providing a good distraction, I’m okay with that.”

“So, what now?” Ollie asks and moves in closer.

“I have the best idea.” I roll Ollie onto his back and climb on top of him.

He tries to kiss me, but I pull away and reach for my laptop.

“I look for a job.”

Ollie slumps back on the pillows. “I hate you again, Blue.”

As soon as Soren and I get approval to do the article, I follow him around like a puppy for the rest of the playoffs and query publications that’ll most likely pick the story.

Offers pour in, but there’s only one I’m interested in. That’s how I’ve ended up here, sitting at Sports Illustrated headquarters in New York. I’m so nervous I’m fairly certain I’d have pit stains in my shirt, so I make a mental note not to take off my jacket, even if it’s ninety degrees in here. Every time I shift in my seat, the leather beneath my ass squeaks, so I try to sit as still as possible as Greg Follett makes my lifelong dream come true.

He leans back in his seat. “We’ve been wanting to do a spotlight on gay athletes in sports, and that article you wrote for us last year about Damon King was a great start. The fact you already have Soren on board has us all excited.”

“I’ve also spoken to Matt Jackson about a possible article on him too.” Sure, it was a passing comment, but he did offer.

Greg’s face lights up. “This could work. We could maybe feature one athlete per month over a few months. Matt Jackson and Ollie Strömberg are clients of King, right? Maybe we could use that connection to get Strömberg too.”

The tips of my ears burn. “Umm, well, I’m sure I could get Ollie too. Uh … as long as you’d be okay with there being a conflict of interest when it comes to me.”

He cocks his head.

“He’s, uh, he’s my boyfriend.”

Greg’s lips quirk. “Impressive.”

I frown. “What is?” Is this guy seriously judging me right now on my ability to get hot guys? I mean, I can totally see his point, but—

“I wouldn’t have guessed that from any of your recent articles about his team. In fact, you were pretty harsh on him in your earlier articles.”

I roll my eyes. “Like I don’t hear that from him enough.”

Greg laughs. “You were harsh but fair. You were right about him getting out from under Boston’s hold.”

“Thank you! That’s what I said.”

He purses his lips. “Can I ask why you haven’t offered up his article?”

“I didn’t want to use our relationship to get ahead.”

“I admire that, but we could really use him. The more gay men in sports are normalized, the more accepting the industry will become.”