Page 57 of Second Down Fake

“I’ll cover it. It’ll be fun.”

Even without a yes, I had already planned out a trip to Las Vegas with Cassandra: gambling, good food, seeing the sights.

“Or I could house-sit for you while you’re gone.”

I grinned with a shake of my head. “No way. You’d just hang around all day playing video games. Besides, you’ll be lonely without me.”

“I would?” Her smile wavered. “I would.”

“Say the word, and I’ll ask Coach Simmons to let you come.”

She laughed. “You need to ask your coach?”

“If I want to buy you a ticket, yeah.”

“They really have you under the microscope, don’t they?”

“I’m worth a lot of money to the Breakers and my sponsors.” I snaked a hand around her waist, pulling her closer. “But you’ll have to behave. No wearing Trent’s jerseys, or Frankie’s.”

“How about Noa?”

I laughed. “Slightly better, but, no.”

“I doubt Lena would appreciate that, anyway.” She sighed, pressing her forehead to my chest as she rocked. “Okay.”

“Okay? I’m offering you a free trip to Las Vegas with the NFL’s most bangable player according to some gossip site.”

She threw her head back with a laugh that made my chest tight. “Most bangable player? Well, how can I turn that down?”

“It’d be really hard.”

“One condition.” She stilled in my arms. “You let me take you out somewhere.”

“That’s ridiculou?—”

“No, I get to plan one thing for us. It’s the least I can do.”

I ducked my head lower, inhaling clover and orange. “Is it disc golf? Rematch?”

She rolled her eyes. “You really want me to beat you in another state? You won’t even have home course advantage.”

“Whatever you want to do, I’m in.”

She swayed, tipping her head up with a grin. “I’m going to make you regret that.”

* * *

“You look nervous.” Noa stopped mid-aisle on his way to the front of the plane, cocking his head with a frown.

“I’m not nervous,” I grumbled, eyes flitting to the bank of clouds outside the window. “Why would you think I’m nervous?”

He shrugged, sliding into the empty seat beside me. “All the interest in Cassandra, maybe? Sending her off to the game on her own? I don’t know. Maybe you’re just scared we’re about to lose our game.”

I huffed. “Not a snowball’s chance in hell.”

“They’ll be fine, Lena and Cassandra.”

“No offense to your fiancée, Noa, but I’m not sure she’s capable of keeping Cassandra out of trouble.”

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