Page 44 of The Quarterback Sneak

“No, it’s not. You shouldn’t feel bad if it’s something you want.”

I throw my hands over my face, letting out an awkward grunt. “Can we please stop talking about mine and Jamie’s sex life?”

“Wouldn’t call it much of a sex life since you weren’t getting anything out of it.” With my hands still covering my face, I cringe, worried he heard me spouting about faking it with Jamie. “First rule of having a girlfriend, make her orgasm at least twice before you get your rocks off.” Zach’s voice is lighthearted, and I think he’s trying to make me feel a little better about the whole thing, but I’m too embarrassed to laugh.

I drop my hands and am met with a rogue smile and waggling eyebrows. “Such bravado, Evans.” I push him away with a laugh because I hope this will be the last time we ever discuss my sex life again.

He ignores my push and wraps his arm around my shoulder, leading me back into the hallway. Just as we come into view of the students, Zach leans down, and I feel his breath against my ear. “Just let me know if you want to update our little contract.”

I roll my eyes, shoving him to the side, and continue walking down the hall without him. “Don’t need it,” I yell over my shoulder and flick my hair. When he catches up, he places his arm back over me.

“Just promise me one thing.” I loll my head in his direction. “Promise me you won’t get indecent thoughts while I’m eating a burrito.” He winks, and I huff out a breath, knowing if I say anything else, it’ll make my pink cheeks worse.

It’s a little late to stop those indecent thoughts.

“You’re safe there, Evans.” I deflect, taking his hand and dragging him to the lunch hall. Yeah, things are getting weird and slightly awkward between us, but the way he stood up for me in front of Jamie makes me feel like I at least have him on my side at school, and that’s all I can ask for at this point.

Chapter Fifteen

Honey

“What are you up to this weekend, Chica?” Zach’s arm is slung around my shoulder as we walk down the hall, and yet no one is looking at us. We’ve been doing this whole fake dating thing for a couple of weeks now, and we’ve become so believable that no one questions it anymore.

I bite my tongue. I don’t know if I want to tell him it’s my birthday this weekend. He’s already mentioned he wants to keep up this charade while we’re at school, and I don’t want him to feel pressured into having to hang out with me.

“This weekend?” I quip. “No plans.”

I feel like such a fraud when the words fall out of my mouth. I can’t tell him my parents will make me sit through another insufferable business dinner as my eighteenth birthday present. Zach smiles at me the way he did yesterday when we had lunch and he was eating a burrito. I swear he purposely licked the salsa off his lips provocatively to prove I want to jump his bones.

Wait a minute… Do I want to jump his bones, or am I just incredibly lonely?

“Nothing at all?” he singsongs, seemingly in a better mood than I’ve seen him in since we started this whole thing.

I raise a brow, holding the hand draped over my shoulder. “Nope. Why do you ask?”

He kisses my forehead in a light and affectionate way. We’refakedating. It doesn’t matter that he stands up for me in front of my ex or makes me laugh without trying. He’s not interested inme. He’s only interested in making money and ticking off a few rich pricks that need to be put in their places.

He doesn’t want me. Never has.

My heart sinks. I don’t want to feel anything for Zach, but every time he looks at me with his charming face and dimpled chin, I get a burning sensation in my belly, and it’s embarrassing.

Yet again, I’m stuck on a guy who sees me as nothing more than a pile of bills.

“I don’t know. It just doesn’t sound like you. You’ve always got something going on, even if it’s just riding your horses.” I gnaw at my bottom lip, stopping myself from saying anything about the dinner or getting excited over the fact that Zach remembered I ride. “You must be up to something?”

Why is he so intent on pushing this?

“Gotta finish a couple of assignments, but that’s about it. What about you? What are you up to?”

He offers me a small smile, studying me silently before answering. “Nothing too crazy. Just going to some party.”

“Party? You’ve never struck me as the party type.”

“What you mean to say is that you’ve never seen me at a South Point party, and there’s a very good reason for that. I’m never invited.” I frown, feeling a little crappy that I brought it up, but Zach brushes his thumb across my hand. “Relax, Lollipop. I don’t care. They aren’t the type of parties I’d want to go to anyway. You probably have to wear suits with matching ties or some shit like that.” I giggle, and he grins back. “I’m going to a family party this weekend.”

“Oh, yeah?” I force out a fake smile, unsure how much I should ask. He’s already mentioned that he wants to keep his family life private, but he brought it up, not me.

I slap his back lightly. “Well, uh, have a good time.” I cringe because it sounds uninspired and baseless.

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