The Backup by Kata Čuić

What’s a girl to do when she finds out she’s played an unintentional mistress to a professional football player?

Hitch the fate of my reputation to one of his teammates, of course.
The jilted wife wants revenge, and I don’t blame her. Unfortunately, my family counts on me to be a steady source of income. As devastated as I am about being an accidental homewrecker, I’m not the only one with something to lose if she sinks her claws into me and ruins my pet grooming business as payback.
Enter Kyle Jessop—backup quarterback and heroic knight in rusty armor.
His proposed plan is simple. I scratch his back, and he scratches mine. If he keeps his teammate out of hot water with the wife, then my business stays afloat. All we have to do is pretend that my stint as an adulteress was a cover to keep our fledgling relationship out of the press while Kyle takes over as QB1 for his team.
Listen, I know it sounds like making a bad situation worse. Honestly, my life can’t get much worse, so this hare-brained scheme is par for the course.
Yes, I know more about golf analogies than I do about actual football.
Yes, I’m well aware that I’m out of my league.
Yes, I have to figure out how to fake it ‘til I make it for the rest of the season.
The only rule I really need to know? Do not trust any more men. Especially not of the football-playing variety.
Not even grumpy ones who show their inner gooey center from time to time.
Not even committed ones who give more than they take.
Not even exceptionally talented ones who… never mind. That’s not part of the plan.
Kyle Jessop can’t be my Prince Charming. I’ve learned my lesson. Happily-ever-afters don’t exist.
Right?