Page 31 of The Quarterback Sneak

His fingers brush the edge of my lips, wiping away the nonexistent drool. “I’m okay, thanks. You have it. You’ve got football practice tonight anyway.” I push the plate away, feeling sadness as the spicy rice moves farther away.

Everyone else has dropped into their own conversations, leaving Zach watching my every move. “You know, if you’re worried about the salt retention, I can get you a glass of water with lemon, and you can walk back to school with me. It’ll be like you never had it.”

When I pull my gaze up, he’s offering me a warm, encouraging smile. I still don’t think I’m going to eat anything because I know the repercussions, but it’s sweet of him to try and make me feel better about it. “Come on,” he says, elbowing my side. “You have one life. At least have a bite of the enchilada. Let your stomach be happy for all of two seconds. It probably forgot the taste of real food years ago.”

He pushes the plate back in front of me, and I bite my lip, smelling the tempting spice. Flitting my gaze between the food and Zach, I can’t help but want to see him smile again. “I guess one bite wouldn’t hurt.” After grabbing the fork, I take the smallest of bites possible before I can regret it. “That’s my girl.” Zach drapes his arm over my shoulder, kissing me on the cheek as I chew the enchilada.

An explosion of spice fills my mouth, and I want more. So I take it.

Bite after bite, I’m halfway through the enchilada before I’ve seen sense and stop myself. When I open my eyes, the whole table stares at me, wide-eyed and confused.

“What?” I ask, looking around.

Olivia shakes her head. “Nothing. Just never seen you eat like that before.”

“That’s an understatement,” Mike mutters.

“Did I do something wrong?” Looking between them, I drop my fork. I don’t feel all that hungry anymore.

“You’re good, Lambchop. Keep eating.” Zach’s encouragement doesn’t change my mind. I’ve lost my appetite, so I push my plate in his direction, knowing he’ll eat the rest.

Scrunching Zach’s shirt in my hand, I get his attention before he walks into school. “Hey, look, I’m sorry about everything that happened back there,” I say with unease because I don’t know how Zach will react.

“For what?” He tilts his head, and his lips curve into a mischievous grin. “The orgasmic noises that you make when you eat something with flavor?”

“Excuse me?”

He knocks me with his elbow. “Why do you think everyone was watching you after you ate?”

Realization hits me like a cement block, and embarrassment flows through my veins. I don’t know what to say.

“Don’t worry, Snuckems. I liked it.” He winks as though that’s going to make me feel better about the whole thing. Thank goodness no one was filming; otherwise, I’m sure that would have been another viral video for me to be taunted by. “Your sex noises don’t bother me. But they do raise some serious questions over Jamie’s bedroom skills. The guy was doing something wrong if a piece of cooked meat can get your rocks off that easily.” Zach speaks with authority, and my body pulses as I take in what he said.

Shaking my head, I push aside those thoughts and focus on what’s important. “No, it’s not that. I’m sorry that Olivia and the guys forced you into taking me to Eric’s party. That wasn’t exactly how I wanted to ask you.”

He raises a brow, studying my face. “But you were planning on asking me?”

Pushing my lips, I take my time to respond. There’s so much I don’t know about Zach, and I don’t want to offend him. “Yeah, I guess I was. I knew I had to go and didn’t want to go alone. I thought we might be more believable if you were there.” Selfishly, I also didn’t want to see Jamie cozying up to McKenna while I stand in the corner watching like that creepy girl inThe Roommate.

Zach takes my hand in his, bending so he can look me in the eyes. If anyone’s watching—and I’m certaineveryone’swatching—they’d think it was a romantic gesture. He’s better at remembering to keep up the façade than me. “You’re right. If we want to keep those guys out of your way, we need more proof that we’re real.” One by one, he kisses my knuckles, watching my reaction with a small grin on his face. “Act natural, Butterscotch.People are watching,” he says between kisses, and I laugh. “There you go. That looks better. Now, what time do you need me at the party?”

“Are you sure you want to go?”

“I’m about twenty-five thousand dollars sure that I want them to think we’re serious. Let’s do this.”

“Okay, then, I’ll pick you up at nine.”

A frown mars his face for the tiniest of seconds before a fake smile takes over. “How about you pick me up at the bus stop by the school at nine thirty?”

That’s weird, but I don’t question it, as he does live across town, and maybe he wants to save me the journey. “Sure. Sounds great.”

Chapter Eleven

Honey

“We’re here.” Zach’s elbow rests against the window, and his hand plays with the tips of his brazen blond hair. I don’t know how he styled it in a 1950s coif, but it suits him. He hasn’t said a word since I picked him up from the bus stop, and I’m starting to feel guilty. “We don’t have to stay too long. Just long enough so that people see us together.”

“How many rooms does a place like this have?” Zach asks while staring at Eric’s home. He drops his gaze down to his leather jacket and adjusts it so the white of his shirt peaks through.

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