Page 30 of The Quarterback Sneak

My phone buzzing makes me jump, and Zach pats my blazer pocket. “Was that you?”

I nod, pulling out the phone to check that it’s not my mother calling. A different name flashes on my screen, and when I look up, Jamie’s staring at me from across the restaurant with a cocked brow, waiting for me to respond.

Jamie:You’re letting him order for you now?Hope you’re paying. Doubt SK can afford it.

I wet my lips, unsure of how to respond. Zach puffs out a laugh. “Wow. The guy really can’t leave you alone, can he?” Wilting a little, I hide my phone out of pure embarrassment that he saw the message.

“Hey, Jamie,” Zach calls, lifting his chin. “Stop texting your ex. She’s over your sorry ass.”

“Zach, stop,” I hiss out, slapping him on the chest. The jeers and mumbles from the football team are obvious, and I stare at the peppers printed on the plastic table cover so I don’t have to meet anyone’s gaze.

“Just making sure you can afford to take out a girl like Honey, that’s all,” Jamie replies with similar nonchalance.

The loud, annoyed grumbling of the other patrons is unavoidable now, but neither seem to care. “You should have worried about that when you had her.”

“Zach, stop. Please.” I clutch his hand, urging him to stop embarrassing me. His grin slowly drops when he sees my face, and then he waffles our fingers together.

“I’m sorry, Bambi. I just hate it when he tries to make you the butt of his jokes.”

“Don’t rise to it. That’s what he wants.”

“So, Zach,” Olivia says, drawing our attention away from Jamie. “Are you taking Honey to Eric’s Halloween party on Friday?” I bite my lip, cringing on the inside because I was planning on asking him that later, not in front of everyone. Olivia’s put him on the spot, and as Zach looks at me, I don’t know what to say.

“I don’t go to parties,” he states, shifting his shoulders.

Sam looks between us before addressing Zach. “You sure you want your new girlfriend going to a party without you? A party the whole football team will be attending.” He raises a brow, and it takes me a couple seconds to realize he’s suggesting the players might do something to ruin his chances of winning the bet.

“Is that really what you want to do with your Friday night, Sweet Cheeks? I could take you out somewhere else instead.” There it is. It’s obvious Zach wants out, and I don’t want to goeither, but just as I’m about to say we don’t have to go, my gaze connects with Jamie’s again.

With his chin dipped, he watches me, grinning because he thinks I’m being played the fool. Why did I think fake dating would make me feel better about this situation? If anything, this makes me look worse because Jamie thinks I’m falling for a guy using me for money.

The only way I can salvage my dignity is to make it look like Zach really wants me.

“Umm, I think I’d really like to go to Eric’s party.” It’s a necessity now. If I want people to believe it, we have to show them something.

Sam and Hunter whistle.

“It won’t be so bad.” Mike clasps Zach’s shoulder. “Olivia and I will be there too.”

“Let’s make one thing clear. If I go to this party, I’ll be spending the whole night with my girl. Whether it be in a room full of our asshole friends or hidden away in one of the bedrooms, Honey will be by my side the entire time.” A possessiveness in his voice sends a thrill up my spine. He nuzzles into my neck, his breath tickling my back, relaxing me. “One thing I don’t do, though, is dress up. I don’t care if it’s Halloween. It’s not happening.”

Hunter snorts. “Don’t worry; with your leather jacket and white shirt, you’ll look like a regular James Dean.”

“James Dean’s jacket was red, though.” Olivia points out before looking between us. “What?Rebel Without a Causeis an awesome movie.”

“Danny from Grease, then,” Hunter retorts.

“But Zach’s blond,” Mike says, and it’s funny how annoyed Zach is getting at this innocent conversation. As a sign of solidarity, I rest my hand on his thigh, and he’s quick to place his palm over it.

“Fine, Kenickie, then,” I suggest.

“Oh,” Olivia squeals. “That would be perfect. Honey, you could go as Rizzo and be Zach’s little bad girl.” With a faint, wicked smile, I know she’s taunting me.

“Can’t wait,” I say with a fixed, sarcastic grin.

As the waitress drops the enchilada in front of me, my stomach flips again, but this time in hunger. The melted cheese drips down the side of the tortilla wrap, and my fingers are itching to shove the whole thing in my mouth.

“Go on. You should have it.” Zach’s hand squeezes mine. It’s like he knows the internal battle going through my mind. Too bad he doesn’t know about my mom’s daily weight gain tracking or that I don’t remember the taste of queso. Over the last two weeks, I’ve only been able to shift a couple of pounds which has made no difference in the fit of my skirt, and I’m sure I’ll get put on an even more restrictive diet if I don’t shift the weight soon. “I can tell you want it. There’s the tiniest drop of drool at the corner of your mouth.”

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