Page 39 of Out of Bounds

I rolled my eyes. "Got it, captain. I’ll bring my knee pads."

"And don’t forget about the memory packet."

"Uh-huh. I'll get right on that."

It wasn't like I'd purposely ignored it. Each line of the memory packet had to be memorized for publicists, reporters, and the annoying teenagers that I'd been assured would jump us and demand Ryan's autograph. Apparently, fake relationships weren’t spicy make-out sessions in the locker rooms—they were corporate paperwork.

There were so many papers and other actual school-related things to study for, I’d only just started skimming it.

"Do you have the packet memorized?" he asked.

"Sure. If you want to believe that, I won't stop you." I cocked my head to the side. "What about you? Do you haveyoursmemorized?" A horrible feeling sank into the pit of my stomach. "Don’t tell me you’ve already got it down."

"Memorize yours by Sunday."

"I don’t believe it."

He smirked.

"No. I don't believe it. There's no way. What…what breakfast—"

"French toast."

I stared at him. "There’s no way."

"Want to try another one?"

"There’s no—you had that one ready."

"I had that oneready?It’s on page five."

My car door swung open, and every bit of drunkenness I’d been lounging in seemed to vanish into thin air. It was too easy to find my footing, too easy to swing back over to see him, that gorgeous, annoying man grinning up at me with bruised and bloody knuckles.

"This is why you don’t sleep," I snapped. "Too busy reading up onmypersonal life."

"Which is something that’s required of me." He mock-saluted me. "Thank you though."

"Ryan—" I stopped myself and rested my arms on the top of the car. Cool air washed over me and the whole night seemed to sweep up in one moment. I squeezed my eyes shut. "Shit."

My first day with the graphic design team was coming up and plenty of people had already seen us together. There was no turning back now. We weren’t redoing the introduction.

And Ryan Cross beat the shit out of that frat boy. Because of me.

The words untangled themselves. "I… I never thanked you for goingRamboback there."

Silence filled in the conversation. I had to lean down enough to make sure Ryan hadn't slumped over on his steering wheel.

"The guy? It’s not a problem."

"Yeah but…you didn’t have to do it." I hesitated. "Thank you."

I turned to leave and Ryan’s voice was soft.

"You’re welcome."

15

Ryan

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