The Puck Decoy (Fairfield U, #2)

by G.N. Wright

Then he reaches out and takes my left hand, slowly pushing the ring into place for where it will remain for who knows how long. It’s as if that thought resonates with both of us, because as soon as it’s on my finger we both just pause and stare at it for a few seconds, and then when our gazes collide it’s like something shifts between us. Like this ring, and this lie, will change everything.

“You’re a pain in my ass, you know that right?”

“And yet you want to marry me, so it sounds like you’re the problem to me,” I fire back, and he laughs, shaking his head, sitting on the bed and gesturing for me to take a seat on the chair by his desk.

We bumped into Landon on our way out, who seemed to be confused as to why I wasn’t staying over given the bomb we dropped on him earlier in the night, and I quickly lied about an early workout class. Something which Josh almost cackled at, given I haven't worked out a day in my life aside from the hockey games I have played with him.

“I’m sorry, okay? I’m not used to having to lean on someone else and it’s going to take some getting used to.”

“Josh, we’ve been friends for over a decade, that excuse isn’t going to fly with me, not as your best friend, and certainly not as your fiancée,” I tell him, putting my hands on my hips and standing my ground, because this isn’t how our marriage is going to be, fake or not.

“Come on, Tink, we both know you can’t stay mad at me, you’re not capable.” He’s right, because of course he is, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it, which is why I smile right back at him as sweetly as I can manage as an idea comes to mind.

“You’re right, Joshua, I really can’t,” I purr, reaching up so I can bring my mouth closer to his ear. “I like to get my aggression out and then move forward,” I whisper, before bringing down my fist and slamming it into his groin, relishing in the deep groan he lets out as it’s his knees that buckle.

“I warned you I’d hit you in the dick, so you only have yourself to blame. Now remember that I’m doing you this huge favor and that you need to start being nice to me, okay?”

“I forgot how fucking crazy you are,” he gasps through his teeth at me, bringing his eyes back to mine. “Fucking hell, Tink, I’ll make sure you’re the happiest wife in the history of the world to make sure you don’t do that to me again.”

Her question throws me, not because she is asking it, but because of how she is asking it, like she knows the answer, the real answer. The one where I am secretly in love with her brother and would do anything for him including becoming his fake wife.

“You’re my best friend, Madeline, you have been by my side since I was nine years old, but there is no you without him. He’s my best friend too.”

Our marriage might be fake, but our friendship isn’t, and that’s what I’m putting my trust in. That, and him.”

Oh and my dick is fine by the way His message is innocent, too innocent for the thoughts it immediately provokes in my mind that I have to block out instantly. Hallie : I also forget what an asshole you are, hence why I’m marrying you Hallie : And I have no concern for you or your dick

That’s the first time a girl has ever told me that Hallie : What a shame that girl just so happens to be your future wife Peter Pan : A good wife would kiss it better

STOP 🫣

And a bad wife would punch it again Hallie : Now stop flirting with me I’m busy Peter Pan : Watching Criminal Minds while cuddling Percy is not classed as an actual activity, you know that right?

Hallie : Neither is punching you in the dick, yet I enjoyed it just as much Peter Pan : You better stay away from my dick in future Hallie : But I thought a good wife would kiss it better? Peter Pan : You’re a bad wife Hallie : And yet you’re stuck with me. This is going to be fun Hallie : Sweet dreams Joshua Peter Pan : See you Saturday Hallie Bear

I tell him, pointing to the man I know to be Asher Donovan.

I got confused for a sec there 😭 I was like “wait, isn’t Asher his teammate tho ??” I was getting it mixed up with another hockey romance book 😭

One of the rumors of this town is that Asher killed his father and brother so he could take over the family business, and when his cold, soulless eyes collide with mine, I just might believe it.

Yup, ok. Definitely a different Asher

“The world revolves around money, you can get people to do anything for the right price.”

Sorry Joshy, gotta disagree with you there

I skim over the messages with a smile and then flick through all the pictures. She looks gorgeous in every dress like she does in everything else, but none of them are really her.

Josh : Isn’t it bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress? Tink : It’s like you think I won’t smother you with the fabric of one of these dresses

You look beautiful in everything you wear Josh : Just pick the one you will be most comfortable in Even as I type the words and send them I know they’re pointless. None of those dresses are really her and despite this whole thing being fake, her feeling comfortable on our wedding day is important to me.

Hallie might be my best friend, or at least she was once, but becoming my wife will be a whole different game, and despite me thinking she is the best player for the job, it’s still going to be one hell of a match. Oh well, for better or for worse I guess.

I still can’t quite believe that I am getting married, and not just getting married, but to him in particular. Him, Josh, my best friend and the boy I have tried not to be in love with since I was nine, who will now become my husband by the end of the day.

Clearly he thinks this is a major emergency, yet I can’t help but smile as he bows while he serves us, before taking a seat beside my mother and focusing entirely on me. “Did you kill someone?” he asks without pause, totally serious, and I stare at him wordlessly, praying that he’s joking, as my mom laughs. “What? You know if she killed someone, I would totally go to jail for her, but I just need to get some things in order first.”

“We know you guys have history, and Josh ensured us that he wouldn’t let anything or anyone hurt you, and we trust him,” my mom finally says, smiling at just the mention of him. She always did have a soft spot for him. Like mother, like daughter, I guess.

Josh not only came here and spoke to them, but he told them the truth, and asked for permission to marry me. Even more unbelievable is that they said yes.

“Oh, let her go, Jer, you know she needs to go make herself look good, she’s always had a crush on the Peters boy and now is her chance,” my mom cuts in with a laugh, as she follows me to the door. “His name is Josh,” I scoff, as if they didn’t live next to him for almost a decade and treat him like their own son. “And I do not have a crush on him.” I don’t add on the fact that ‘crush’ is now a tame word in comparison to what I feel for him, but hey, everyone lies to their parents right?

“Yeah alright,” my dad roars with laughter. “You just loved freezing your ass off and letting him beat you at hockey because he’s your friend.” He says the word friend with an exaggerated tone as he rolls his eyes at me. “A friend you’ve now agreed to marry,” he adds with another laugh.

“I hate you both,” I grumble, throwing open the door and accepting another hug from my mom. “And I never let him beat me at hockey.” “It’s okay, Sweetie, we hate you too, now hurry up and go, so me and your dad can do hot yoga together,” she replies with a playful wink, and I groan. “Gross, now I really do hate you,”

“Give Josh our love,” my dad calls out after me with a gleeful tone. “That is if you're not too busy giving him all your love,” my mom adds, with a giggle that turns into a squeal as my dad pulls her against him. I give them both the middle finger like the mature adult child of theirs I am, and then dive into my car before I am forced to assault my ears with the sounds of their moans. I already have enough childhood trauma of that, I certainly don’t need anymore. Yet still I can’t help but smile as I leave their driveway and start on the road back to Fairfield.

What must it be like to be married to the love of your life? I guess today I will find out, even if he doesn’t love me back.

When I look in the mirror I expect to feel something. That thing that people talk about when they see themselves ready to get married for the first time, but I don’t feel anything. All I see is a girl in a pretty dress, wondering if she is about to make the biggest mistake of her life.

“Do you think it’s okay?” I ask, knowing it doesn’t really matter because one day I will have the perfect dress that does give me the perfect feeling, it just won’t be with the perfect guy.

When I look inside I gasp at the sparkly green tulle that greets me and before I can even take it all in, Daemon steps a little closer and says, “He wanted today to be perfect for you, and he said that meant having the perfect dress.” At his words I look at him, and I know the moment he sees the unshed tears in my eyes because his own take on a whole new look. Like he’s assessing some new information he just discovered, and I can’t even find the strength in me to hide it. I let him see it, I let him see the real love I have for his friend. Not the fake kind, or the showy kind, and all I can do is pray that he won’t tell him.

Josh really did think of everything, and as my fingers clutch around the bag in my hand that houses what I know will be the most perfect dress, I can’t help but feel bittersweet.

I might be marrying someone who doesn’t love me back, but I’m also marrying my best friend. A best friend who asks permission for your hand in marriage, and hunts down a dress he thinks will be the one, just to make me feel comfortable, and that’s worth more than any other kind of love.

So all that’s left to do now is wait for her to show up. I sent Daemon with a car to pick her up a while ago with the instruction to get her here for six, just in time for the sun to set, which should be any minute now.

“They asked me what I was all dressed up for and then got sad because they wanted to come. What was I supposed to do, tell them no?” he asks, as he comes to a stop beside me.

Ok ok. I did love him in the first book, he was a cool guy and I loved the was his and Maddie’s relationship progressed. HOWEVER. Bro did not just invite himself and his friends to someone else’s wedding. Yes, whatever he’s the grooms sisters bf. Whatever, it’s a small wedding and that’s not cool of him to do. I don’t like it.

“Come on, Peters, we can be witnesses for your little shotgun wedding,” Reign drawls, exuding the kind of energy only someone with his nepo net worth could. “So how far along is your wife to be anyway?”

Stay calm stay calm. I wanna slap this guy across the face so hard right now

Alexander wrinkles his nose in disgust. “If you didn’t knock her up, what the fuck are you marrying her for?” he asks, completely perplexed.

Bro, get out

“Yeah, dude, do you have any idea how much pussy you are going to miss out on now?” Archer chimes in.

Ok now I wanna punch this idiot in the throat

“You look absolutely stunning as always, Princess,” he drawls, stealing her response with a kiss that has me rolling my eyes as I turn away from them.

Don’t make me smile, I don’t like you right now stupid head

The tension in the air is thick, but any other words that are spoken are completely lost on me, because once my eyes collide with Hallie’s, everyone else just falls away, and the only thing I can focus on is her. She looks perfect, even better than I could have ever imagined, and despite the nerves I can see in her eyes, she still offers me that sunshine smile of hers.

greeting. “You don’t look completely horrible today,” she muses, her eyes dropping down the full length of my body as she slowly takes in my tux-clad form. She has seen me dressed like this at least a hundred times, but from the look in her eyes it’s as if it’s the first time.

As I return the favor I find myself a little speechless. The dress I picked is perfect, just like I knew it would be, but I guess I never truly imagined what she would look like in it. A traditional white wedding dress wasn’t made for the likes of her, no, she deserves something better, something more fitting of her, and when I take her in, I know I made the right choice.

Stop 🤭

I make a mental note to ask her later how she roped him into walking her down the aisle, but as she looks up at me, every thought in my mind evaporates. “You look perfect, Tink,” I blurt without thinking, and then curse myself as her eyes widen and a blush stains her cheeks.

“Now now, save the sweet talking for our wedding night,” she jokes in response, and I hear the guys cracking up beside me, but right now, in this moment I wish she wasn’t joking. Wait what? What the fuck is wrong me with? She’s my best friend. She’s doing me a favor.

I can’t look at her like that, no matter how perfect she looks right now, and thankfully the minister clears his throat to get started, and I push away the inappropriate thoughts about...