Chapter Fifteen: Plausible Deniability

Anna's POV

I watch as Marcus's mouth goes slack and his eyes widen in shock. Peter, who was standing beside Courtney, rushed over to grab hold of his brother as if holding him up from potentially falling over. My gaze slid past them just as Damian's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits, his hand dug deep into his jacket pockets with his stiff posture.

"How crap, is this happening? Did Anna just ask you out, bro?" Peter was now giddy beside Marcus, who was still shocked speechless.

I felt a hand squeeze my arm and Courtney materialized beside me, her head bobbing from Marcus to me. She leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Umm, Anna dear, you said you wanted to thank him for helping you in the gym. Not propose a relationship."

"Fake relationship," I heard my voice state, but my brain wasn't processing along the same wavelength.

How the hell did it reach to this? One minute I was walking confidently out of the gymnasium building, ready to move on from all the drama that was related to Carter and Jessica. Then, the next minute, I'm asking Marcus McKay to be my fake boyfriend. Who does that? Why did I just do that?

"Anna," the sound of my name carrying over to me gave me instant goosebumps, and before I could reach my hand up to rub my forearm, Marcus was moving away from Peter's hold and walking towards me.

"Just tell him you misspoke. It'll be fine," Courtney patted me gently on the back and then took a few steps away from me.

A lump settled into the base of my throat as Marcus stopped a mere foot in front of me. His eyes locked onto mine as though he was trying to figure out what was going on in my head. To be honest, I wanted to know that as well.

"Could you clarify what you just suggested please, Anna," Marcus's voice was steady but held a hint of uncertainty. "Don't get me wrong. You're a great person and I like spending time with you, but I'm confused."

"So am I," I responded as my vision became slightly spotted. I shook my head and took a few deep breaths. "I-I'm sorry, Marcus. I have no idea why I said what I said. I wanted to thank you for --"

"The kiss?" Peter shouted from his spot next to Damian and was rewarded with a resounding smack behind his head. "Ow! What was that for?!"

Marcus's mouth twitched a bit, but his eyes kept that considering look as he regarded me. "You wanted to thank me."

"Yes," I breathed out, still fighting a sudden wave of uneasiness. "Carter was being Carter and you got him to shut up. Although your method was a bit---"

"Breathtaking!" Courtney offered from her spot as Peter hooted in unison.

Clearing my throat and regaining my bearings, I let out a soft chuckle as I offered a hand to Marcus. "Thank you, for everything you did in there. Carter won't be a problem in the future."

Taking my offered hand, Marcus held on a few seconds longer than needed as his eyes continued to bore into me. "So the relationship offer is off the table?"

"Ooooo somebody's interested!" Courtney whisper-screamed as Peter left his spot to rush to her side once more, offering up a high-five as they both grinned in our direction.

"That....that was a product of my brain and my mouth not being in sync. I have no idea why I asked that. It's insane. Why would you date me?" I let out a strained laugh as I attempted to regain my offered hand, but he held on.

"Why wouldn't I date you? You're smart. You're beautiful. You love hockey, and you go for what makes you happy." Marcus's thumb brushed the top of my hand and my heart lurched a bit.

My pulse began to drum rapidly, and I tugged my hand a bit harder so that Marcus couldn't feel it on my wrist. I rubbed my palm against the leg of my jeans as I watched Marcus's eyes become bright with mischief. The hues of blue became more prominent as the corner of his mouth ticked up even higher.

"I...you...we can't date," I managed to say as Peter and Courtney shuffled themselves closer, their eyes wide with interest.

"Why would you say that? You suggested it," Marcus intoned as his smirk began taking the shape of a full-on grin.

"I told you...my brain and my mouth..." my tongue suddenly darted out to touch my lower lip as my damn brain registered just how good that brief, yet perfect kiss felt.

"Ah, now you're just being mean," Marcus took a step closer as his eyes trailed downward just as my tongue retreated back into my mouth.

"Hey! I'm not being anything. I just...this is insane!" I threw my hands in the air just as a group of students walked out from around the gymnasium building and out to the carpark. Their heads turned in our direction for a few seconds as I shifted my body in the opposite direction.

"Anna," Marcus said my name again, but this time, it sounded more intimate. This time, a pool of heat settled in the pit of my stomach as I turned my face back to him and found myself a mere breath away from those tempting lips once more.

My eyes took their time moving from those lips before baby blues stared back at me. "I....."

Marcus smiled down at me as I felt a finger brush away a stray lock of hair that was tickling my cheek. "Your phone."

"Huh?"

"Give me your phone."

"Why?"

"What is this? 20 questions? Give him your phone, Anna!" Courtney grunted as she physically dug her hand into my back jeans pocket and retrieved my phone. Handing it over to Marcus, she smiled. "Your welcome."

What happened next, happened so fast. Marcus scanned my phone screen and then typed in something before placing my phone into my hand. He then winked at me before telling his brothers that it was time to head to practice. Peter rushed over to playfully punch Marcus in the shoulder while Damian looked about ready to punch him.

Courtney squealed into my ear as she jumped up and down on the spot beside me. "Oh my God, Anna! Does this mean you and Marcus McKay are dating? Is it real dating or fake dating? Whatever, dating is dating! And you're doing it with a McKay!"

My brain shut down once more as I watched the X-trail peel out of the car park and then disappear onto the main road towards Lakeview Park.

"Anna? Are you hearing me?" Courtney asked as she shook my shoulder a bit.

"What did I just do?" my words came out in a whisper as my pounding heart dulled out the sound of Courtney's voice beside me.

What did I just do?!