Page 92 of Second Down Fake

"I thought so too, but apparently James ended the contract in November. That way, she'd sort of slip away during the holidays and then we'd be in the divisional and no one would notice."

"And she's definitely leaving?"

I shrugged. "She's not sure she's staying."

"But you've told her you want her to stay?"

"I told her I wanted to date her."

"That's not asking her to stay," Rob chimed in unhelpfully.

"What was her reaction?" Noa asked.

"Not great," I admitted with a wince. "She had a bunch of reasons it wouldn't work. A bunch of excuses, anyway."

"Sounds like she doesn't want to date you," Rob reiterated.

"The sex is amazing, we get along great?—"

"Wait, back up. You're sleeping with her?" Noa shot a glance at Rob.

"Intermittently. Although, since we got back from Mississippi, more often."

The late nights playing video games had morphed into sleepovers, and neither of us seemed capable of being in bed and not falling into each other's arms. But each morning, she woke up with a shy, apologetic smile before slipping out of bed with a chaste kiss on the cheek. Our friendship would resume, with slightly less flirtation until we repeated the cycle again.

Rob guffawed. "She's using you for sex! That's unreal."

"She's not using him for sex," Noa said gently, his bear-like hand gripping my forearm in case I made a lunge at Rob. And I was tempted. "You've been upfront with her, which is great. Now just prove that you want her to stay."

"Prove it?"

Noa nodded. "Rob has a point. You've fallen for the last four season’s girlfriends. How does Cassie know that she's just not number five? Prove it."

Rob's smug smile had me about to deck him. I redirected my attention to Noa. "How?"

“She’s worried the contract is clouding your feelings, so wait until it’s over.”

“So, do what I’m currently doing?”

Noa sighed. “No, because I know you, and you’re probably pestering the shit out of her about dating and a relationship, and hell, if you haven’t offered to let her move in with you yet, I’ll be shocked.”

Tempted, but I hadn’t. Yet.

“Just wait. Take a breath and give her some space to think.”

* * *

I parked downtown, walking around drunken pedestrians emptying the bars at last call, and entered the Crown & Copper. A few patrons still peppered the building, a couple made out in a booth in the back, two guys chatted animatedly to each other at the bar, and an exhausted-looking barback slowly wiped glasses and stared into space.

Cassandra stood behind the bar, a smile on her face as the two guys pulled her into their conversation. She leaned over the bar, the top two buttons on her white shirt popped and her hair pulled back with a sparkly headband. She wrinkled her nose, laughing before glancing beyond the two guys at the bar to me.

My heart jumped into my throat as she beamed in my direction, face lighting up and eyes glittering, mesmerizing me with her smile.

"Hey, stranger," she said, scooting to the opposite side of the bar and setting a menu down on the bar.

I slid into the seat in front of her. "Are you having a good night?"

"Better, now that you're here," she grinned. "Now, what are you ordering? Nothing off the front of the menu. I'm going to wow you with one of my creations."

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