23 - Joanna

23

Joanna

The DJ announced that they were going to play the wedding dance game . This involved every couple going up onto the dance floor and beginning a slow dance. Landon put his hand on my lower back respectfully, and held my other hand out to the side.

"Come on, don't be shy!" Danicka said. She gave me a healthy shove until I was pressed against Landon's body. "That's more like it!"

"Sorry about her," he whispered.

"Not a big deal," I replied. Landon actually felt really nice. After a few seconds, I had to remind myself that we were only pretending to be in a relationship.

That doesn't mean I can't enjoy how he feels , I told myself.

Once everyone was dancing, the DJ came on the mic again: "Okay, everyone who is not married , please leave the dance floor."

"That was fast," Landon said with a chuckle.

"Hope it was good for you," I crooned at him.

A rare grin split his face as we walked back to the table.

"Excluding the bride and groom, everyone who has been married under a year, please leave the dance floor," the DJ announced. He continued listing off years, five, ten, fifteen, twenty, and the dance floor became progressively emptier. Eventually there was only one other couple dancing besides Bradyn and Marisa: the bride's grandparents, who had been married forty-seven years.

"How about a round of applause for the winners! May the bride and groom see forty-seven happy years, too." The DJ switched to a faster party song. "Okay, let's kick this night off right. All you party animals, get back out here and show us how it's done!"

Only a few people got up to join the bride and groom. Bradyn was waving his hand, urging some of us to join them, so Landon grabbed my hand. "Those of us in the wedding party had better set an example," he said.

I wasn't a great dancer, but I could hold my own. Our example led other guests to follow, and soon the dance floor was crowded with people.

For the next few songs, I forgot all about my agreement with Landon. I was buzzed, I had endorphins flowing from the sex with Theo, and we were surrounded by people celebrating life. Landon and I grinned at each other while we danced, no longer adversaries who were faking it for our own selfish desires.

When the next slow song began, I started to walk away to get another drink. "Oh no you don't," Landon said, pulling me toward him. "One more slow song to really sell the whole thing."

"I can do that." This time, we didn't need Danicka's urging. Our bodies came together naturally, Landon folding his arms around me and holding me close.

"I owe you an apology," he said after a few beats.

"For what?"

He gave me a look. "You know. The whole blackmail thing."

"Oh, right. That."

"I was an asshole," he admitted. "There's been so much pressure because of this wedding, and then my girlfriend and I broke up, and I knew that the wedding and honeymoon trip were going to be nightmares for me. My parents have been insufferable since Bradyn got engaged, constantly prodding about when I was going to settle down, and why I haven't found the right person yet. I took it out on you, even though you've been nothing short of amazing throughout all of this."

"You weren't horrible," I started to say.

Landon emphatically shook his head. "You've seen the worst version of me this past week. Now that the wedding is here, I've realized that. I just wanted to admit that I was being a shitty person, and that you didn't deserve it."

"That's… really big of you." I wasn't sure what else to say.

"I'm going to make sure you get that job," Landon said. "And I'm going to talk to Phil and make sure they don't low-ball you on the offer. We'll get you a salary on the higher end of the range."

"I really appreciate that."

Landon shrugged. "You deserve it. You have everyone here fooled. You've even fooled me a few times."

I thought about how I was pressed against his hard body, with my breasts against his chest and his bulge brushing against my thigh. When I stopped thinking about it, I could almost fool myself that we were together.

"When all of this is over," I said, "what are you going to tell your parents?"

"That you cheated on me."

I gave a start. "Hey!"

"Just kidding." He stared past me, lost in thought. "I haven't really considered the off-ramp. I'll probably wait a few weeks and then say that we have irreconcilable differences of opinion."

"You can tell them I'm a witch who worships a demonic tree goddess," I suggested.

"And that's better than cheating on me?"

"Obviously!"

Landon gave a genuine smile again. "Honestly, I'll probably just say that we disagree about kids."

"That's an easy out," I agreed. "I don't think I want kids."

"Are you serious, or are you acting right now?"

"I'm serious. The idea of motherhood terrifies me," I said.

Landon blinked in surprise. "How about that. That's basically my opinion. Everyone says I'll eventually get the desire…"

"…but it never comes!" I finished for him. "Same. I know my biological clock is ticking, but I just don't want to make that commitment. Not unless I want it with all of my heart."

"Funny that this is what we agree on, and now we have to pretend to disagree."

"I'll take the hit. Tell your family I want exactly six kids."

"A whole hockey team's worth," Landon said.

I gave a start. "Exactly. Five skaters and a goaltender. When I was younger, back when I thought I wanted a big family, I fantasized about having enough kids to field a hockey team. My future husband and I would referee."

"Who would your hockey super-family play?" Landon asked.

"The other hockey obsessed families in the neighborhood. Duh."

"How many Chicagoland families have six kids that all play hockey?"

"It's possible that my fantasy involved moving to Canada," I admitted. "I wonder how the Blackhawks are doing right now." My phone was on the table.

"They're up one-nothing in the first period," Landon said without hesitation. He held up his phone to show me the score, then shoved it back in his pocket. "Bedard scored on a power play."

" Finally ," I muttered. "First time they've scored on a power play all postseason. Theo must be happy about Bedard."

Landon tilted his head at me. "What do you mean?"

Shit. I let my guard down for a minute and was almost fucking it all up. "Um, I overheard Theo telling someone last night that he bet a hundred bucks that Bedard would score."

"Easy money," Landon said. "I didn't realize you were such a big hockey fan."

"Really? I bragged about liking hockey and football at the family dinner last week."

"I thought you were just making stuff up to get them to like you."

I shook my head. "I bleed red, white, and black. I even own a game-worn Bedard jersey with his blood all over it."

"How'd you snag that piece of merchandise?" Landon asked.

I winced internally. There I went again, getting sloppy. "Long story. Suffice to say I'm a huge fan." Then, to change the subject, I said, "I'm looking forward to starting at DefTec. I'm sick of my current job, you have no idea."

"It's a great company."

"Will we work together at all?" I asked.

"Probably not. We'll be on different teams in different buildings. Maybe we'll run into each other during the yearly office party. But otherwise, no, you never have to see me again."

He meant it as a reward for doing a good job here, but the comment made me strangely sad. I was finally getting to know the softer side of Landon, the side that wasn't blackmailing me. And after tomorrow morning, I would never see him again.

The song ended and a faster-paced one began to play. "We'd better have lots of fun tonight, then!" I said.

"That's the right answer!" Carol said, appearing with a handful of shots. "I owe you a huge thank-you for rescuing me during my speech!"

We took shots of whiskey, then resumed our dancing. I took off my heels and threw them across the room, which led to Marisa and the other bridesmaids all doing the same. Then Theo was passing out shots for the entire wedding party to take. The second shot went down a lot smoother than the first.

"Bradyn Cozart!" Theo roared over the music. He extended a hand to point at the groom from across the dance floor. "Do you remember the bet we made during the fall semester our freshman year?"

"Um, no?"

"You bet me fifty bucks I couldn't do The Worm," Theo announced. Everyone was watching, now. "And at the time, you won, and I paid up. But you didn't put a time limit on the bet. I'm here to collect my money."

The dance floor parted like the Red Sea as Theo started doing The Running Man in time with the thumping bass. Then he practically threw himself at the floor, arching his back in just the right way to roll like a rocking horse. He continued seamlessly, doing The Worm all the way across the dance floor.

When he popped up at the other end, the rest of us went nuts .

"More shots!" Theo declared. "And then you're going to pay up!"

It was freeing, letting loose a little bit. I didn't have to pretend to be someone I wasn't; all I had to do was dance. All the pressure was gone. It felt like a victory lap at the end of this ridiculous charade of a fake relationship.

And then I blacked out.