“You are welcome.”
We walked side by side through the parking lot, and we were just about to round the corner of the building and make our way to the front doors when Colton stopped.
“What is it?Did you want to go over the plan one more time?”I questioned.“Or is it the wording of your speech?If it’s that, just give me, I don’t know twenty minutes, and I’ll fix it.”
For the first time since I’d arrived, he actually smiled at me as he shook his head.
“Then what is it?”
“I was just thinking, if we are going to convince people of this lunacy, then we should stop acting as if we are two people who pretend to hate one another and actually start making it appear as if we are dating.”
“What do you mean?”I questioned.
“Well, right now, we seem like we are awkward as hell being near one another.We just walked across this parking lot, and if there were anyone out there taking pictures of us, it looks like we just spent the last forty-minute drive arguing.”
I thought about what he was saying for a moment and realized he was probably right.It had been so long since Mark and I had shown any type of PDA, I’d thought nothing of it, but Colton was right.Two people who were in love held hands, walked close to one another, and looked happy together.
When I looked at him, I smiled softly.“Oh, I guess you are right.”
“I know I am.”
He lifted his elbow and waited while I slipped my arm through his, and together we made our way to the front door where he opened it and placed his hand on my lower back while I walked through the doors first.We were greeted and immediately directed to the conference room where the event was being held.
Flashes started going off the moment we entered the room.Colton wrapped his arm around me, pulling me against him, and nudged me.
“Smile for the camera, sweetie,” he whispered to me.
As the cameras started flashing, I couldn’t help but notice how overwhelming this was.I wrapped my arm around his back as he pulled me close, and we continued smiling for the pictures.I’d occasionally look up at him only to have him smile at me.
Colton thanked the photographers and stepped away the moment other players arrived, taking their spot for photos.
“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that.It’s overwhelming.”
“At first, but you get used to it.”
We were one of the first couples to enter the room, aside from Larson, Thompkins, and most of the PR team from the Dominators.We walked over and quietly greeted them, and that was when we heard voices.Stepping away from them, I slid my arm through Colton’s.
“Ready for all the introductions?”Colton quietly asked.
“I think so,” I whispered, swallowing hard.
Colton kept his arm around me, pulling me against him.“That is Dylan and Aurora.Dylan is our team captain, in case you didn’t know, and Aurora is one of our therapists.Right behind them are Knox Evans and his girlfriend Lorelai, another one of our therapists,” he whispered in my ear as he lifted his arm, waving at the two couples.
Immediately, I recognized Lorelai from the photographs I’d seen from that night.She looked a little on edge, so I smiled as they made their way over to us, which didn’t surprise me, given the circumstances.
“Good to see you, big guy,” Dylan said, holding out his hand, which Colton shook.
“You too.Aurora, good to see you, sweetie,” Colton said, leaning in and placing a kiss on her cheek.“How’s Jackson?”
“He’s good.He’s with my mom,” she said.
“He’ll be fine,” Dylan said, pressing a kiss to her temple.“She’s a little nervous because my dad is also supposed to stop by to see Jackson.”
“Mr.Hayes, could we get your picture?”a photographer asked.
Dylan nodded, then took Aurora by the hand, and they went over to where we’d been a few moments ago and had their pictures done.
Colton shook Knox’s hand and leaned in and placed a kiss on Lorelai’s cheek as well, before greeting Levi, Clay, and Lucas, and then he turned to me just as Aurora and Dylan returned.
