Page 59 of Out of Bounds

"We’re tied for ninth place, still on the docket," Kassie explained, her voice low. One of the guys tried to walk outside but Kassie shooed him away. He looked with surprise at me, but I motioned for him to get going too. The moment he stepped away, Kassie continued. "We didn’t lose."

"That’s pretty close to losing," I replied.

"We’re still in the running," Kassie insisted. "Ninth-and-a-half place."

I took a long look at her. What was up with the sudden interest inHeadbanded?Did Kassie find out why June and King played it? Shit. What did Kassie know?

Secrets only stay secrets for so long.

Did June drop something about their fake relationship?

I had to protect King. None of the other teammates knew that he and June weren’t actually together, and without knowing what Kassie did, or didn’t, know. I had to tread carefully.

I rubbed my jaw. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"What happened with June?"

My question hit a sour note. A blush touched Kassie’s cheeks, a pretty one, but it didn’t give me a clue what happened.

"The game doesn’t mean anything," I informed her.

"Last time, you asked the questions and that’s where we fucked up. I’m asking the questions this time." She held up her hand, talking more to herself than me. "You have this real straightforward way of thinking and you memorize shit at the drop of a hat. Better believe I’m using that."

Uh-huh. Sure.

"We’re going to lose."

"Want a bet?"

Behind me, something happened in the game on the screen and the living room erupted into shouts. Something about the play being dirty. I should’ve taken the time to check it out but I placed my hand on the door, taking a look at my girlfriend.

A bet?

Kassie batted her eyelashes. It would’ve irritated me if it wasn’t so nice to look at.

"You’re competitive," I said. "I didn’t know that."

"And you’re telling me you’re going to take this lying down?" Kassie tilted her head back. "Team captain?"

A grin lifted on my lips. "Don’t do that."

"Don’t do what?"

"Don’t do that bullshit I know you’re doing." I wasn’t born yesterday. I knew how much trouble I could find myself in with a beautiful woman, cocking her head to the side. Flutteringthose eyelashes. "Playing a game means you’re playing to win. Otherwise, it’s wasted time. It’s that simple."

"We’re doing it." Kassie tried to walk past me, but I snagged her arm and brought her back to the door.

"I’m not doing this for free, art girl. A bet has something you betwith. What do you have to give me?"

Kassie’s eyes flickered down to my hand. She was warm beneath me. Soft. I released her just as quickly and she took a deep breath.

"What do you want?"

That was a damn good question. What did I want?

"If I’m right, and we lose…" I mulled over the possibilities, gazing down at those pretty pink lips of hers. There was one thing that’d been constantly on my mind. "Kassie, you’re wearing my jersey to every practice. Every game. Even the away games you can’t fly out to." I grinned. "Andevery Friday. Why not add that in?"

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