Fake Skating

Dani discovers that Alec has planted a bag of gummy bears inside her locker, along with a note saying that he remembered she once loved them and that he can’t stop thinking about her perfume. Dani’s first thought is, “This is so thoughtful. This is an act” (180). Dani explains to Cassie that she and Alec are just friends who are getting to know one another again. At the end of the day, Alec meets Dani at her locker and flirts ostentatiously by calling her “Danigirl,” helping her with her scarf, and making serious eye contact that makes Dani feel giddy. She wishes him luck at his game and asks him to call her later.

Alec thinks about Dani all the way to the game, but once he is on the ice, he is only focused on the moment. Despite his chronic shoulder pain, Alec is focused on one goal: being a successful hockey player so that he can help his team to win a championship and support his family. They win the game, and afterward, Alec confirms with the coach that Dani can join as the manager. Alec FaceTimes Dani and is once again struck by her beauty. Alec’s dad arrives home and joins the call. Dani says all the right things, charming John and complimenting Alec for helping her. She confirms that Alec is driving her to school again, and John invites her over to learn more about hockey. After ending the call, John tells Alec that it’s good he’s helping Dani because she dealt with some “mean girls” at her other school and is still scarred from the experience. Alec watches his father limp from the room and is reminded of how he almost lost his father in the accident, but he also bitterly recalls that Dani wasn’t there for him when he needed her.

Dani thinks, “Fake dating Alec became the easiest thing in the world” (194), and she begins looking forward to their daily lunch dates in the library. Today, she brings him a sandwich for his lunch, and they hold hands. As Dani films hockey practice, she becomes mesmerized by Alec’s athletic ability. After practice comes a “mandatory” team dinner at Vinny’s house. Dani is hesitant to go because she dislikes social events, and she is nervous about maintaining the illusion that she and Alec are a couple.

Dani’s mom is happy to see her making friends and attending social events. Middle school was tough for Dani, who had to deal with a lot of “mean girl” incidents. Every time Dani made friends at a new school, they forgot her after she moved. The worst experience was in ninth grade, when Dani’s first boyfriend, Jackson Ford, ghosted her after she moved and started dating someone else without even bothering to break up with her. She found out about his new romance on social media. Since then, Dani has been reticent to form any close relationships, fearing that abandonment is inevitable.

Alec holds Dani’s hand when they arrive at Vinny’s house. Dani is pleasantly surprised at the warm, inviting atmosphere. The coaches and parents are there too, and Dani is jealous of their shared history. Big John is there, too. At one point, he nearly falls as his knee locks up, something that he says happens regularly. He laughs it off, but Dani notices that Alec isn’t laughing.

The incident with John’s knee upsets Alec, and he is quiet on the drive home. Alec doesn’t want to talk about the wreck because it reminds him of how Dani abandoned him when he needed her the most. When they arrive at Dani’s house, Benji is outside, and Alec says that Benji is his “enemy.” (Benji plays hockey for St. John’s Academy, which beat Southview in the state championship game the previous year.) Alec tells Dani that they should kiss so that Benji will circulate the rumor. Dani says yes, and Alec happily kisses her, enjoying every moment.

Mick interrupts, tells Dani to go to her room, and talks with Alec. Dani protests, but Mick takes charge and demands an explanation. Alec admits that he likes Dani but that he also wanted to make Benji jealous. Mick shares his dislike of Benji and explains that he is protecting Dani and her mom. He gives Alec permission to spend time with Dani but warns him to keep their interactions appropriate. Noticing Alec’s shoulder injury, Mick advises the teen to address it. Later, Dani apologizes to Alec via text for her grandfather. Alec thinks that Mick is trying to fix their relationship in his own way. Dani then tells Alec to ice his shoulder, and he does.

Dani is ignoring her father’s frequent texts, which demand that she give him an answer to his request that she come live with him. Alec arrives to pick up Dani for the game, and Dani notices how handsome he looks. Dani’s mom, Hannah, is also attending the game. Dani jokes with Alec about Hannah becoming a “hockey parent,” but Alec explains that the entire community shows up for the games, calling it “a Southview thing.” The game goes well, and Dani is even more mesmerized by how Alec performs during a game. Alec’s grandparents attend the game, and his grandmother wonders if Dani is Alec’s “lucky charm.” When Dani sees all the family members waiting to congratulate their players, she begins to reconsider every preconceived notion she has had about athletics, realizing that hockey brings the community together.

Alec invites Dani to Ritchie’s house, but because Dani is still uncomfortable with social situations, she declines. Instead, she, her mom, Mick, and some of the other hockey parents go to a dive bar that was once the Polish Lodge. The coach’s wife and Big John ask Dani about dating Alec, her old friend, and she panics, not wanting to give the wrong answer. Alec, Cassie, Ritchie, and the other arrive. When she relays the adults’ question to Alec, he playfully kisses the top of her head and declares it a “secret.” Dani loves how naturally it comes to him to pretend to be her boyfriend. The friends play darts, and the boys make wild bets with each other. However, when Dani receives a text from Benji, who invites her to a party, Alec and his friends act like she has betrayed them. Dani explains that she is not friends with Benji, and she lets Cassie respond to the text for her, declining Benji’s invite. Dani is surprised at how much she is enjoying being social.

Alec loses a game, and Richie dares him to kiss Dani for 30 seconds in front of her grandfather. Alec refuses, but Richie reminds him that he hasn’t turned down a dare since the team’s winning streak; reneging now would be bad luck. Alec tells Dani that she doesn’t have to, but she agrees.

Alec pulls Dani to a more secluded part of the bar. He asks her once more if she is comfortable with the plan, then kisses her. Just like before, Alec becomes lost in the moment, thoroughly enjoying the kiss. Suddenly, Mick pulls Alec away and almost tosses him aside. Alec takes Dani’s hand and leads her outside for fresh air. He senses that she is unfazed, but he is shaking. He worries that the kiss doesn’t mean as much to her as it does to him. They walk back inside, and he remembers that Benji texted Dani.

Dani can’t sleep because she is thinking about how much she enjoyed kissing Alec twice. Mick hears her pacing and knocks on her door. Dani asks to play “20 questions” to learn more about her grandfather. She asks him to tell her what he misses most about her grandmother. She also asks why he doesn’t like her father. Mick explains that Hannah quit college and gave up a prestigious fellowship when she got pregnant with Dani. Dani’s heart sinks at the thought of her mother giving up so much for her. Mick says that it was her father who insisted that Hannah quit school and move in with him. Even after Mick showed up at their doorstep and tried to take Hannah home, she wouldn’t leave him. Dani knew that her mom got pregnant in college, but she didn’t know about the fellowship.

Alec and Danny meet for a public date, snap a photo, and post it on social media to sell their fake-dating lie. Over dinner, Alec wants to catch up on all that he has missed in Dani’s life. She says she moved to Texas and struggled socially, but she doesn’t elaborate. Dani asks if he wants to talk about his father’s accident. Alec considers telling her how much it hurt him that she wasn’t there for him, but instead he says that he doesn’t want to talk about it. They walk to the bookstore, and Alec flirtatiously tells Dani that she has “nice legs” and “an amazing ass.” Dani smiles, and Alec thinks that even though they’re “pretending,” it’s still the “best” date he’s ever had.

In the bookstore, Dani and Alec make flirtatious jokes and try out pet names for each other. When Dani trips, Alec reaches to catch her and instantly winces in pain. He explains about his nagging shoulder injury but dismisses it as not serious. They go to Walgreens and purchase pain relief cream and patches. In the family restroom, Dani has to help Alec remove his shirt because he can’t lift his arm. Once Alec is shirtless, Dani can’t stop herself from looking at his body. She applies the patch and massages the cream into his skin. Alec touches her face, a gesture that feels more intense than the kiss they shared. Alec moves to kiss her, but someone knocks on the door, needing to use the restroom.