Page 51 of The Quarterback Sneak

Here I am acting like I’ve got heart-eyes over Honey while Tiff is at home with Ella. I’m a dick and should only be focusing on helping them, yet my actual dick seems to have other plans.

“Sorry,” I grumble, not taking my eyes off Honey. She peers over my shoulder, and a sly smile grows on her face when she sees Jamie walking by. Annoyed slurs from him echo down the hall, so at least we accomplished our mission.

“Are you ready to go to class?” I ask, and she nods. Then, waffling her hand in mine, I lead her to our history class.

Something in my stomach turns when Honey’s thumb grazes over my palm, but I ignore it, choosing to focus on the façade that we’re creating for everyone else. I ignore the nagging feeling in my body telling me that this feels right and good because it’s all fake, anyway, and that’s just how Honey wants it.

“Can I take you home tonight?” she asks, and it makes all thoughts of her stop.

“You can drop me off at the bus stop,” I counter, still not ready for her to see more of my life than she has to. Especially now that my thoughts about her are intensifying. The more time I spend with her, the more time Iwantto spend with her, and that’s not good for anyone.

She draws her lips into her mouth with a smile, holding back from arguing with me. I can read her body like a book, and this morning she’s been looking at me as though my shit smells like roses, which is slightly disconcerting. She’s only smiling like that to tick Jamie off. It has nothing to do with the fireworks that ignite in my chest when we kiss or the electricity firing between us. All she cares about is revenge, and that’s what I’ve got tocare about too. And the money, of course. That’s the reason we started the whole thing in the first place.

“Twenty-three. Twenty-four. Twenty-five. That’s it. You’re done, Z.” Mike pats me on the shoulder, indicating that I can drop the barbell into his awaiting hands. As he lifts the weight away from my body, I sit up and grab a drink before wiping my face with a towel.

I wouldn’t normally come to the gym after a burrito lunch, but I needed some space from everything. Honey, if we’re being specific. She’s got my head spinning, from how she laughs to how she chews her damn salad, and lifting weights seems to be the only way to let some steam off.

“I’ll spot you next,” I offer, standing and loading Mike’s weights onto the barbell. I’m surprised he hasn’t asked me why I so willingly joined his weight session, considering it’s full of teammates I hate, but he’s letting it slide for now.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise when the voices of our teammates echo in the gym. I give none of them a second glance, but Jamie brushes his shoulder against mine.

I can feel the simmer of anger radiating off him as our eyes meet. For someone who apparently doesn’t care about Honey, he seems exceptionally bitter that I’ve somehow captivated her attention for longer than he ever could. They may have been together for years, but that relationship was faker than anything Honey and I are doing, and he knows he’s slowly losing his grip on her.

“Hey, Jamie,” Brett calls from the other side of the room, clearly in a jovial mood. “Help us settle something. Who’s better?” He tips his chin up. “Honey Sanderson or McKenna Bryan?” The players around him jeer and elbow Brett, who stickshis tongue out with a teasing smile. My jaw holds tight, and something in my pinkie twitches, but I try to ignore it and focus on my breathing.

I can’t help it. I look over to see Jamie’s reaction. He stiffens but ignores Brett, waving his hand in the air, and walks farther into the room. I’ve never had much respect for Jamie, but at least he’s not kissing and telling today for a change. Granted, from what I understand, he has little totellabout Honey. Sounds like he was all about himself, which isn’t surprising. “Come on, man,” Brett calls, not letting this go. “It’s just between you and the team. We won’t tell anyone.”

Jamie throws a towel at his friend and strides past him without a second glance. “If you really want to know, Brett, maybe you should find out for yourself.”

Brett throws his head back on a snort. “Fat chance of that happening. You’re all over McKenna at parties, and the bet’s pretty much done now that Honey’s shacked up with the school charity case.” Brett points his thumb in my direction but doesn’t give me a second thought.Ass.“I blew ten grand for nothing,” he says bitterly.

Twisting the towel in my hand, I inadvertently make eye contact with Jamie, and something wicked gleams behind his eyes. After today, he wants to tick me off.

“Yeah, about that.” Jamie starts, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’ve been thinking about it too.” I smile because I bet he has. I bet he can’t stop thinking about what Honey and I are doing behind closed doors. “The bet as it stands is too easy.” He looks around the locker room, getting the attention of the other guys in on it. “Honey’s only hanging out with dollar dick over here because she’s rebounding hard and thinks it’s annoying me.”

Mike leans in beside me. “Chill, Z. They are just being assholes.”

“I am chill.”

Mike gives me a once over, looking at me with wide eyes. “Say that to your face, bro. And could you be holding that towel any tighter?”

I loosen my fingers and unset my tight jaw, cricking my neck for good measure. My body is tense because I lifted a heavier weight than usual today. My muscles always spasm a little after a hard day of training. That’s the only reason I’m tense. It has nothing to do with Honey.

The guys jeer around the locker room, turning to me and expecting a reaction, but I don’t give it to them.

“Are you sure you aren’t missing Honey?” Brett blinks rapidly, mocking Jamie, who pushes him with a smile.

“Nah. I’m glad she’s off my case for now. She’ll be back soon enough, so I’m just enjoying getting guilt-free blow jobs without her whining about wanting my dick.”

“Guilt free?” Brett questions. “When did you ever feel guilty about getting blow jobs from other girls?”

Jamie shucks his chin, nodding. “You’re right. Maybe the guilt was more because my dick couldn’t be in more than one place at a time.”

Jamie watches as I swallow, and I know he’s goading me, but the way he struts around the room like he’s a king presiding over his servants ticks me off. Did he forget he’s one of the worst quarterbacks we have, and the only reason he’s on this team is that our stadium bares his last name? Asshole.

“Honey wasn’t into you.” It’s a simple statement, but I don’t need to say anything else. He knows I overheard that conversation about his fat fingers and uncoordinated hands.

“That’s not what her texts say. Tell me, Zach. Have you ever received a text from Honey begging you to make her come?”

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