Page 21 of The Game

I fly off to the kitchen and dump most of the cookies into a plastic takeout container. “Here. Take these back to the house. Share them with your friends.”

He takes them from me, moving a little stiffly and taking care to avoid touching my hands. “I don’t know. Should I be sharing my girlfriend’s cookies with other guys?” His eyebrow stretches toward his hairline.

This time he’s got me laughing instead of groaning, even though that one was just as bad as the other. “Yes. Please share my cookies. But if anyone says anything bad about them, you’ll be forced to defend my honor. Pistols at twenty paces. Or maybe you’re better with a sword.”

There’s another tiny smirk tugging up the corners of his lips.

“I didn’t mean…” What is wrong with me?

“I know what you meant.” His smirk deepens. “But to be honest, no one could ever say anything bad about these. They’re fucking amazing. See you tonight?”

“See you.”

My mind is whirling as the door clicks shut behind him. What did I just agree to? I spin back to the kitchen to grab a cookie to nibble on. The spicy cinnamon explodes on my tongue, reminding me of the scent clinging to him. Warm, delicious, and comforting, just like these cookies. A new friend, and a way to keep Darryl at least a few feet away. My lonely year is looking up.

Chapter 10

Easy Access

Cole

I’m out of thecar and crunching up the walkway over the blanket of fall leaves when Jazz walks out the glass front doors of her apartment building.

“Hey, girlfriend.”

She smiles. “Hey, boyfriend. You could have stayed in the car. No need for the chivalry.”

The passenger door groans in protest as I force it open for her, waving my hand with a flourish. “Now that wouldn’t be very boyfriendy of me and I can’t have your neighbors getting suspicious. Not to mention the door is a little stiff.” I run a hand through my hair, wincing as I look at the rusty heap of junk.

“Since I don’t actually know a single one of them, that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Well then. I’ll just wait out here and honk impatiently next time I pick you up for a fake date. Better?”

“For sure. Sounds good. I’ll wear my grungiest old sweats. The ones with the hole in the crotch.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Easy access?”

She smacks my arm with a giggle. “Who’s getting the easy access? There’s zero access for fake boyfriends.”

“Oh. Shit. Clearly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Fake relationship off.”

Her laugh dies down, and her hair swooshes over her shoulder as she whips around to look at me. The dim light of the streetlamp casts a soft glow over her. “What?”

My lips are twitching as I try to keep the laugh inside.

“Oh. You think you’re funny, do you?”

“I do actually.”

The engine sputters to life, and I fall silent, patting the dashboard as I steer Mabel onto the street. It’s fantastic to have the freedom of my own ride this year, but the old car is not always the most reliable vehicle. I’m glad she’s feeling agreeable tonight.

As we’re getting closer to our destination, she breaks the silence in a deliberate way, as if she’s been gathering her thoughts on our drive.

“Guess we really haven’t gone over the ground rules. I think we’re supposed to make some sort of list of rules or something.”

“Rules? Lists?”

“That’s what they do in all the books.”

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