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#idk if the LaDue brothers have first names in the cartoon i just made one up LOL i was too lazy to check
bobmckenzie · 4 months
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Fake Dating -> JanAUary
word count: 1294
blurb: Caitie helps Bob out when he almost gets caught in a lie.
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Apparently a hockey game wasn’t many people’s ideal Valentine’s Day date—last minute tickets had been cheap enough that the singles trio of Bob, Doug, and Caitie were able to score three decent seats to the Maple Leafs game. 
Doug had convinced them that snacks wouldn’t be so cheap though, and that they could smuggle in some small bags rather than pay for food inside the stadium. So they took a trip to the grocery store the day before, perusing the aisles for bags of treats small enough to sneak in.
Doug went off to the chip aisle while Caitie followed Bob to the candy, but she left a minute or two ago to check out the trail mix, leaving him alone to look over the little bags of sweets. He was so distracted he didn’t notice the sound of footsteps approaching him in the empty aisle.
“McKenzie.” The voice of the greeting made Bob’s back go rigid, had him turning around with a startled glare. 
It was Sean LaDue, a general bully growing up who had turned into the strongest player on the rivaling town's hockey team, followed by his younger brother. Sean had slammed Bob against the glass more times than he could count, but even that was less annoying than the general condescension he always used.
Sean nodded to the gummy bears in Bob’s hand. “You eat that crap between games, it’s no wonder you play so badly.”
“Oh yeah?” Bob put on his best tough guy voice as he looked up at Sean. “So like, why are you in the candy aisle then, eh?” 
Sean held up a pink bag of mixed chocolates with a smug look. “Tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day, these are for my girlfriend.” He let out a snort of laughter. “I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess you don’t have any plans for tomorrow.” 
“Well, like, you’re wrong, eh. Goin’ to the Leafs game.”
“Plans with that idiot brother of yours don’t count.”
“Doug isn’t no idiot, and it isn’t just us two, eh. ‘Cause like, my girlfriend’s comin’ along too.” It was a stupid thing to say, but the lie he wished was truth slipped out before he could stop it.
“Oh yeah?” Sean’s eyes narrowed. “What’s your girlfriend’s name?”
He knew he shouldn’t say it, knew he should back out of the lie, tell Sean she wasn’t technically his girlfriend… “Caitie.”
“Uh huh. I’ll bet she even came with an air pump to blow her up for you and everything.”
“Take off.” Bob sneered. He saw Sean’s gaze shift behind him and turned to see Caitie coming back down the aisle, stopping right next to Bob, oblivious to the whole situation.
“Would you eat honey roasted peanuts?” she asked him, showing him the box of little packets she brought with her. ”They don’t sell them individually, so I won’t get ‘em if you guys don’t want any.”
“Um,” His gaze flicked to Sean, who was watching them doubtfully. “I… yeah. I like those. Let’s go, huh?”
She laughed. “I didn’t get to look at the candy. Besides, I told Doug to meet us in this aisle.”
Sean stepped a little closer. “What, McKenzie, you’re not gonna introduce me?”
Caitie’s eyes widened a little, looking between the two men, clearly realizing she’d missed something.
His stomach dropped; the jig was no doubt up. “Yeah, um,” Bob gestured to Sean, “Caitie, this is Sean LaDue. We went to school together and stuff.” He was sure she’d remember the name from the few stories he’d told her about him—she was good with things like that. Sure enough, he saw the surprise in her eyes turn into a poorly-hidden scowl. “Sean, this is Caitie—”
“The girlfriend.” Sean nodded. “Bob was just telling me about you.”
Caitie looked at Bob, seemingly waiting for him to step in, to correct the title. But all he did was look up at her with pleading eyes, trying to silently apologize and ask her not to humiliate him all at once.
Still, it was a lot to ask. He was pretty sure she wouldn’t want to go along with it, wouldn’t want to risk word getting around that they were dating—
“Oh, he was?” The words were simple, but the way she sidled closer to Bob, slinking an arm around his waist, said more than he could’ve asked for. His face warmed as she gently tugged him closer, urging him to relax against her side. His face was so warm, he was sure it was going red.
The smug look of Sean’s finally fell. “Yeah. Didn’t know he had a girlfriend.” He cleared his throat, straightening a little as Bob wrapped his arm around Caitie. “Some romantic valentine’s date he’s taking you on. A hockey game with his brother?”
Caitie laughed. “Oh, well… not that I’d mind, but that’s not our date. We’re going to dinner in the city in the evening.” She looked down at Bob with a soft smile. “He even bought me a dress and everything.” She raised a shoulder, turning back to Sean. “I told him not to, but he’s always spoiling me.”
If Bob wasn’t already in love with her, he would’ve fallen right then and there in the candy aisle. Not only was she going along with his lie, but she was making him look like the best boyfriend around. 
He smiled, trying not to gloat. “Well hey, only the best for my girl, eh.” 
The look she gave him told him she was having fun with all of this, that she knew exactly how good it felt for him to rub their perfect relationship in Sean’s face, whether it was real or not. “You’re always using that excuse,” she said, leaning down and pressing a short, warm kiss against his cheek. His heart skipped in his chest, breath catching. He swore he could feel her lips there even after they were gone.
“Well… Nice meeting you. See you at the next game, McKenzie.” Sean nodded a goodbye, sending one last skeptical look at Caitie before turning around and leaving the aisle.
For once in his life, Bob felt like he'd had a conversation with a LaDue without coming out on the losing end. His cheek still tingling, he let his arm fall from around her, though he wanted to pull her into a hug. “Thanks, eh. You like, didn’t have to do that—it was real nice of you.”
She laughed softly, reaching out to brush her thumb against his cheek—her lipstick must’ve left a stain behind, he realized. Part of him wanted to tell her just to leave it. “You don’t think the kiss was overkill?”
He shook his head. If anything, he wished she’d just gone ahead and kissed him on the lips. “Sorry I told him we was datin’. I wasn’t thinkin’—he was just bein’ such a hose.”
Caitie shrugged, smiling as she finished cleaning his face. “I don’t mind. Though, I think you’re a little out of my league.”
He thought she was being sarcastic until he noticed the soft look in her eyes. Before he could say anything, her gaze shifted, eyes widening, urging him to turn and see what had her so stunned. 
It was Doug, of course, walking into the aisle with arms filled with bags of chips that were far too big for sneaking anywhere, and a pint of ice cream to top it all off. As Caitie burst into laughter and headed over to help him, asking how exactly he was planning to hide a family sized bag of Funyuns in his flannel, Bob stayed back for a moment, promising that someday he’d get the nerve to ask if that meant she’d give him a chance as a real boyfriend.
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