Page 70 of The Quarterback Sneak

I walk past him, heading to the parking lot. “Just leave her alone. She doesn’t deserve this.” His voice is quiet, and I’d think it was remorseful if I didn’t know him any better.

“Says the guy who put the bet on her in the first place. So, sorry, I’m not giving up on this bet. Taking your money will be too much fun.”

“I’ll give you all the cash anyway. Just pull out of the bet.” I laugh at his sudden desperation.

Interesting.

“You really want me to back out, don’t you?” I throw out, watching his reaction with intrigue. His silence says everything. It’s not that hewantsme out of the bet, heneedsme out. “Come on, Jamie. You’ll have to tell me why if you want me to back off.”

His tense jaw and awkwardness are enough to make me turn back and watch in pleasure. “It’s nothing. Just back out now, and I’ll give you double what you would have made winning it.”

I raise my brows. “Are you saying you’d give me one-hundred-and-twenty-thousand dollars?” He nods. “Wow, you must really be desperate. But it’s a strong no.” It’s not just that I don’t believe he’ll pay up since there are no witnesses, but I refuse to leave Honey saddled with the rest of the football team trying to get in her pants for the next month.

She’s mine now.

“You’re not starting to like Honey, are you?” I bite my tongue because I’m not about to let this power dynamic shift. “She’ll get bored once she realizes how badly you fit in with her life.”

“Doesn’t matter. Like I said before, I’m here for the bet.” Turning, I start to walk away.

“I’ll tell her about Tiff.” I stop, and my ears prick. It’s his trump card, but how the hell does he know about her? “That’s her name, right? I’ve heard you talking to her before. I won’t stop at telling Honey either. I’ll tell the whole school, and hasn’t Honey been embarrassed enough?” I clench my fists, ready to punch him but knowing there is too much for me to lose if I knock his lights out.

“Imagine how embarrassing it would be for her. Her first boyfriend fucks a girl in public, then finds out her next boyfriend has been lying to her and has a family back home.”

As much as it’s a story I don’t want getting out, I call his bluff. “Honey knows.” The lie tastes bitter in my mouth, but she’s seen Tiff, so technically, she knows something. With that, I leave Jamie standing there. If he wants me to legitimately walkaway from the bet, he will need to give me an explanation first. Dropping out would make it look like he’s won, and I would never admit defeat against a benchwarmer.

Striding past a row of cars, I see Honey’s dildo dream of a car from a mile away. She’s resting her back on the door, waiting for me to show up like I promised.

My phone buzzes, and I immediately answer when I see the name. “Tiff? Is Ella okay?”

“Yeah, she’s fine. I was just wondering if you could get some baby wipes on the way home.”

“Sure, I’ll pick them up on my way back tonight.”

“Tonight? You mean you aren’t coming home now?”

“Nope.”

“I’m sorry to do this… but it’s urgent.”

“How urgent is urgent?”

“I’ve got three wipes left, and I know an avalanche of poop is already waiting for me.”

I sigh, watching Honey adjust her sunglasses and fix her hair in her rearview mirror. All I want to do is spend time with her, but I can’t.

“I’m sorry, I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

“I know that, Tiff. But why couldn’t you have told me yesterday or the day before?” My voice is angrier than I’d like, but I can’t help it. It’s the first time I’ve agreed to hang out with Honey outside of school, and I wanted to do it. I didn’t want to be threatened by Jamie or thwarted by Tiff beforehand.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize until the last blowout. I would go myself, but Ella’s reflux is acting up, and I’ve only just got her down after she cried for the whole day.”

“It’s fine. I’ll be home in an hour.” I hang up, immediately regretting how I ended that call. It’s not Tiff’s fault we’re in this situation, and it’s selfish of me to think about myself when she’shome. But I wanted one night with Honey where I didn’t have to think about my responsibilities.

Watching Honey from afar, I see her smile at Olivia, playfully slapping her on the arm. I grin because I like how happy she looks.

I get this urge to be near her and watch her, annoyed that it’s not me making her smile like that.

As I get closer, I look around, and I’m happy there are enough people still here that I have a good excuse to kiss her. We’re past the point of having to ask permission, but it feels more legitimate this way.

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