Page 96 of Out of Bounds

"We’re going to belate,Zariah."

"She’s getting a makeover. This month’s new roommate is a professional. Be patient."

"Kassie doesn’tneeda makeover," I muttered, irritable. "She just needs a dress."

"You’re such a dude." She took a seat next to me and, reluctantly, I sat next to her. I didn’t realize she was staring at me until I glanced over. She didn’t look away. Instead, Zariah cocked her head to the side, studying me.

"How are the RA interviews going?" I finally asked.

"Long and boring. I have a situation I want to talk to you about."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I’m a barista at this fancy hotel. Marrs works with it." She pulled out a slice of pizza and took a big bite. "My thirty-eight-year-old manager is—uh—really…hot. But like, mymanager. And I keep thinking—wow—what if I just gave into the animal impulses and fucked his brains out?"

"Uh…okay."

"Should Igiveinto those animal impulses?" she pressed. "Even if it’s workplace inappropriate? Complete HR violation? And he’s not bald and divorced, by the way. He’s hot."

"You’re twenty years old," I told her, my voice flat. "That’s my answer."

"Dammit," she muttered under her breath. "I knew I should’ve changed the age."

"What?"

"I mean—uh—are you sure?"

"Zariah, if anyone’s harassing you, tell me." I shifted back, irritated that she felt the need to dance around the subject. She was Kassie’s best friend. Important to Kassie meant important to me and I’d snarled at a few football players who decided to talk about Zariah’s figure when she’d visited our practices.

She mumbled under her breath and straightened up, freshly determined. "Let’s say he’s twenty-one years old and a hot football player who buys food for my roommates and drives us home safely after we’ve been drinking a lot, and he fixed up our dorm,andhe’s my boss at the hotel. Can I fuck him?"

"Why would a football player be working at a hotel?"

"Ryan, answer the question."

My answer was swift. "No."

"No?" Zariah’s face fell and she glanced at the elevator. "Oh."

"No." I shook my head. "This is your job, Zariah. As long as you’re bound to the rules and responsibilities that come with it, nothing should jeopardize that. If you could get in trouble at work, it’s not worth sleeping with someone."

She sank further into the chair until her shoulders touched where the cushion met the back of the chair, a sullen look on her face. "Got it."

Whatever situation Kassie’s roommate had found herself in, I had no doubt she’d spring herself out of it. Throwing away opportunities like that wasn’t just stupid - it didn’t make sense. Nothing could make me rearrange my priorities like that.

Except Kassie.

The contract had ironclad rules. No sleeping with each other. But for the first time in my life, I wondered exactly how I could navigate around a clause and rip it down the line.

Kassie, lying on my bed,. My hand tightened around the bouquet. After practice, I could haul her into the shower with me. Press her body against the cool tile. Just thinking about the water dripping down her breasts, outlining her curves…

What if the second after I signed on for the draft, I found my way to her bed? Bypassed the asshole receptionist and pushed her against the elevator, hiking her leg—

The elevator dinged and I jerked up.

"Ryan, I know you said you’re on a tight schedule." Zariah followed after me as I walked to the elevator. "Could I get liketwominutes alone with Kassie? It’s important."

With a low creak, the elevator doors opened, and out buzzed Kassie’s roommates, the half-roommates who only stayed everyother weekend, and whoever had decided to spend the night in their crowded apartment.

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