Page 27 of Out of Bounds

I stared at her for one long moment. "You’re right."

"I know I’m right."

"You’reright."

"Yeah." She shrugged. "I know."

"You’re right!" I reached for the black card and twirled it between my fingers. A grin tugged up on my lips. "So…what’s the plan with this baby?"

"What’re you wearing to the frat party?"

"The frat party?" I scrunched up my face. "Didn’t think about it. I don’t know…maybe a…a red crop top?"

"What’re you going for? Sexy Winnie the Pooh?"

I snickered and gave the black card another look. What was I wearing to a frat party? I had no clue. The last frat party Zariah and I went to was freshman year to steal some toilet paper. I was out of my element. Scanning over the merchandise, I drifted over to the football jerseys again.

"Zariah?"

"Huh?"

"They want photos taken, they want front page stuff. Is that going to happen with some perfect Party City nun costume?"

"I’m going to say…no?"

"Good." My arms were completely full, but I still managed to hoist up my phone to give it a second look. Ryan hadn’t sent anything else, but I was sure he’d have something to say once he saw my outfit. "If they want front page, they’re getting it."

"Don't forget about your notice."

My impending confrontation with my boss completely slipped my mind. I leaned forward a little to get a direct view of the cash wrap. Mr. White snarled at one of the trainees. A taleas old as time in the bookstore. I could still remember when I’d asked him why the new hires got paid more than I did. And he said we’d discuss it next quarter.

"You’re absolutely right." I smirked.

11

Ryan

It’s Called You’re Late

Adam banged his fist against my car door like he personally paid my insurance and hollered out the window, "Ryan’s first frat party of the year! FIRST FRAT PARTY OF JUNIOR YEAR!FIRST FRAT PARTY OF THE—" He jerked back the moment the window started rolling up. "What the hell, man? I need this pretty boy face to stay intact!"

"You can make a scene when I’m not here."

"It’smyfrat. I mean, it's not—coach would kill me. But they're great guys and—"

"I just need you to keep it cool for tonight, man."

"Cool. Ice cool. Super cool. No problem. I got you, man." He paused. "Wait, why?"

With a right turn down a suburban street, I cleared my throat. "We need to understand what we’re representing, the Romans. Marrs University. It should be ingrained in—"

"Is this about the girl?"

I shifted in my seat, trying not to let the obvious answer show. But Adam would figure it out. It wasn’t like he was the only curious one, but he was the one who blurted shit without thinking about it.

King stared into the rearview mirror, the question in his eyes too.

"Is that it?" Adam demanded. "Pussywhipped Ryan?"

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