Page 60 of Out of Bounds

The fluttering eyelashes routine stopped. "What?"

"That’s it. That’s what I want."

For a brief moment, we could hear June reiterating the rules outside. Seconds counted down. We only had a small window to play. It was like Kassie and I were on a field, and I had all my players lined up on the twenty-yard line, waiting for my call.

She jutted her chin. "That’s not fair."

"I don’t give a damn."

"Three Fridays," she tried to amend, like this was something I would’ve compromised for.

"All the Fridays," I pushed.

"How do I know you won’t throw the game? You could do that on purpose."

We shared one long glance between us. I dipped down close. "Do you really think I’d do that, art girl?"

A cheerleader eased in the screen door. "We’re startingHeadbanded!"

"Do you?" I repeated.

Kassie let out a slow breath. "No. I don’t."

My grin wasn’t a grin anymore. I smirked. "That’s right."

"But when we win, you have to do something for me," Kassie whispered, a new edge to her voice. "You have to take a little trip to the art building."

"I already modeled."

"No…I need your car."

"Why the hell do you need my car?" I frowned. "For what? Contraband?"

Where Kassie had been so ready to meet me head-on, she ducked her head, and I knew the answer the moment she did. Of all the girls to get into a fake dating contract with, I couldn’t believe I’d managed to get the one who loved breaking and entering.

Kassie held up a hand. "Look—"

"You've got to be fucking with me.No."

"Do you want me to wear the jersey?" she challenged.

I was about to say that I could’ve put something together in a new contract that demanded her to wear it every goddamn day if I wanted her to. But the truth was, I didn’t want that. I didn’t want Kassie to wear it out of obligation to the job. I wanted her to wear it forme.

It had nothing to do with the cameras. It had nothing to do with the contracts. Kassie, with my last name and jersey number, was better than seeing her in those short shorts at the frat party. It was fucking hot.

Slowly, I nodded. "It’s a bet."

"It’s a bet," she confirmed.

24

Ryan

Headbanded (Ryan’s Version)

Only a few of the couples remained for the playoffs and I didn’t blame them. Nobody wanted to face June and King. Except for my art girl, beaming as she took one of the only seats left. The second I sat next to her, she leaned over. "Ready for this?"

"Ready to lose?" I snorted. "It’s a new sensation."

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