Page 54 of The Quarterback Sneak

Zach says nothing when we pass the 7-Eleven. He knows I’ve missed the bus stop but doesn’t bother to mention it, seemingly knowing I was never going to drop him off there. I can feel his eyes on me. “What the hell would make him think I would ever go back to him?” I huff out. Jamie’s an arrogant tool, but that thinking is a special kind of stupid.

I gasp because that’s when it comes to me. “The debutante ball.”

“Jeez, Honey. Don’t gasp like that while you’re driving. You nearly gave me a heart attack.” Zach clutches at the seatbelt and breathes heavily.

“Sorry, but I know why Jamie thinks I’ll be back with him by prom. My mother is making me take part in this stupid debutante ball, and it’s two weeks before prom. Our moms already agreed he would be my escort without my say.”

“And you’re going along with it?”

“I don’t really have a choice. It’s not like I have a line of men who aren’t involved in a bet waiting to ask me.”

The car falls silent, my bitter tone clear. It’s not that I want Brett, Kyle, or any other guy asking me out, but I would like to feel a little special.

“Why didn’t you ask me?” It comes out quietly, but I hear it.

I shrug, focusing all my attention on the street. “We would have finished the bet, so I didn’t want to bother you with my problems.”

He places his hand on my thigh, a little higher than he would have if this was a few weeks ago. “Honey, you should always bother me with your problems.” Maybe he’s not as much of a lone wolf as I thought. “Let me take you to the ball.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“You aren’t asking. I am. I want to take you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“But you’ll have to wear tails and go to a fancy dinner with my parents.”

“Sounds great. I can borrow a suit from Mike, and your dad loves me after your birthday party.”

“Not so sure he’d be happy with you once he finds out what we were up to in my hallway.” I fight the grimace from showingon my face, because I’ve wanted to mention the kiss for the longest time, but I didn’t know how else to bring it up. He hasn’t mentioned it once, but I need to clear the air for my own sanity.

That kiss was mind-blowing, and all I want to do is repeat it over and over again. The way he’s been touching and kissing me since has felt different too. He’s more possessive and protective, and it almost feels like that’s his way of letting everyone know he’s mine.

“Can I ask you something?” This is it. He’s going to ask me how I felt about that kiss, and maybe we can finally figure out this underlying tension simmering between us.

“Sure can.” My voice is way too high-pitched and chipper for it to be considered normal, but he doesn’t question it.

“Did you choose the color of your car?”

The air falls flat. The color of my car? Really? That’s what he wants to ask me about?

I play it off, acting unbothered by the question. “Not a fan of Barbie pink?” I throw a small smirk his way while I focus on driving.

“I feel like, after everything, we can be honest with each other, and Honey, if I’m being honest, your car looks like a vagina.”

I burst out laughing. “Really? I’ve always thought it looked like a dildo.”

His eyes widen, shock registering over his face. “Hunniford Sanderson. I never thought you’d say that word, let alone know what one looks like.”

“Oh, please. You know all about mine and Jamie’s less than stellar sex life. I had to do something.” I swear Zach chokes on his own spit. “The car was white when my mother bought it. I thought it would stay that way, but apparently, she had other plans. Woke up one morning to this Pepto Bismol mess and couldn’t complain because it wasn’t my money that bought it.”

“Thought so. It’s not you.”

“And what do you think is me?” I ask curiously.

He glances over, taking a minute to answer the question. “I think you’d go for something less flashy. You don’t like drawing attention to yourself, even though people can’t help but watch you.”

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