Page 141 of Well Played

“Your hands are fine, so monkeys would be a waste. Plus, they throw their poop around.”

“Eww.”

“So monkeys in a zoo aren’t an option. Me, on the other hand, I don’t throw poop around, and I can turn knobs since that seems to be your main criteria, which honestly, I don’t understand since your eye is the problem. Will I do? Or is my standing with you lower than a monkey’s?”

Summer’s eyes drop, as well as her shoulders. “You’ve already done so much, and I don’t want to cause any problems for you.”

“Too late.” I snap, more pissed at her than ever because she can’t just say yes and make it easy. “You’ve been a giant pain in the ass since the day I met you.”

“Then why are you here? Why are you offering?”

“Do you think before you speak?”

She shrugs. “Not really. Takes too much time.”

“Yeah, it shows.” I wait for her to say something, but I’m met with silence. “You know what? I’m leaving.”

“Wait!” She lunges forward and grabs my arm. “Stay. Please.”

16

Summer

“I don’t wantto cause problems for you and Kaitlyn.”

There, I said it. I laid my cards on the table. I like Kaitlyn. The problem is I like Nico more.

“Kaitlyn?” He looks at me like I grew octopus arms out of my nose. “What doesshehave to do with anything?”

“You were with her last night.”

“So?”

“Aren’t youtogether?”

He sighs, looking resigned, then sits and leans his elbows on his knees. “What gave you that idea?”

“At the bar, the way you were with Tim, reminding him in a very obvious way that there’s no intermingling between people in the league. And then you left here late last night and went out with her. That’s what you said.” I remind him in case he forgets and tries to deny it.

“Obvious, huh? Was it obvious that it was you I didn’t want Timmy hitting on?”Me?“And last night, I needed help getting things foryou.”

“Things?” I’m confused.

“Toiletries and undergarments. I didn’t know what brands or sizes to get. There’s a generic pack of panties and a couple of sports bras in there.”

“Oh.” My cheeks get so hot I’m worried I’ll set off the smoke alarm. I pick up the bag and sort through it. I look at him, confused. Bikini underwear. A two-pack of sports bras.

The shirts and shorts aren’t new. And they aren’t women’s. In fact, I remember seeing this sky-blue shirt on Nico. It looked good with his dark eyes and hair, and his bronze skin. I’m tempted to smell it to see if it smells like him.

“I bought the other things in a twenty-four-hour pharmacy, so I threw in a few of my things. You can give them back when you’re done with them.”

“Oh.” I don’t want to dress in men’s clothes, but the idea of wearing Nico’s clothes and breathing in his fresh, clean scent makes my belly flutter. But remembering that this truce, and whatever is building between us, comes to an end tomorrow makes me sad.

“Even that’s not good enough?” He snaps, frustrated. “Is there anything I do that you approve of?”

I open my mouth to answer, but it takes me a minute to get my thoughts together.

“You piss me off so much,” he rants, getting to his feet. “I’m tempted to rescind my invitation.”

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