Page 57 of The Game

“Silent auction. So you need donations? We can do some signed jerseys for sure.”

I toy with the hem of the shirt he lent me, and his tongue darts out to lick his lips. “That would be great, but also Amira suggested we add in a different kind of auction for another stream of revenue. A bachelor auction. I know maybe it sounds a little wild. But she knows I have a connection with the hockeyteam, so she begged me to ask if any of you guys would be willing to participate. She came up with it on the fly, so it’s totally short notice. If you guys can’t do it, I’ll understand.”

I’m so fixated on Cole that it’s easy to see the subtle tightening of his shoulders at the request.

“I know it’s a lot to ask, so zero pressure, but I promised her I would. Rob said he could probably get a few of the football players on board anyway, so I’m sure we’ll have enough bachelors.” I’m squirming in my seat, staring into my coffee.

The hand on my thigh tightens. “I’ll do it,” Cole says.

“Really? I’d understand if you don’t want to. No hard feelings.” I don’t want them to do anything that might be uncomfortable.

“Of course I will. That’s what boyfriends do.” He puts a little extra emphasis on the word, and it sends a tingle skating across my skin.

“Getting auctioned off to a hot chick? Yes, please. I am in.” JJ pushes out of his chair to do a little dance, punching the air. It makes me laugh and eases the tension.

“I’m sure we can get a bunch of the guys on board,” Beau says, crossing his arms over his chest and scanning the room. “We can do better than the football team, right?”

“Woot!” Grant calls out. “But if my girlfriend doesn’t win me, she’s going to serve me my balls for dinner. Don’t make me eat my own balls.”

“What do we have to do with the winner?” Dev asks.

“Give her the use of our sticks all night long, hopefully.” JJ says, bobbing an eyebrow.

Jazz throws her hands up in the air. “No, no, no. I’m not running an escort service.” I can feel heat rising to my cheeks, and I duck my head. “Just an innocent date.”

“We’ll be there.” Cole says, rubbing small circles on my back that are making me want to drag him back upstairs. It’s not even actually Halloween yet. Couldn’t we enjoy each other a few more times without messing up this thing we’ve got going on? “I’m there for you.”

I blow on my coffee to cool it down and take another small sip, avoiding that look on his face. That look that says he means every word he says. And when he says things like that, it makes me want it. Someone in my life to look after me, the way I look after others. Someone to look at me like I’m precious to them. But that can all change far too quickly to something darker, more possessive. I can’t afford to let someone become my entire world. I’ve got my own dreams and goals, and I can’t let myself get lost in someone else. Not like I did before.

Chapter 20

Mixed Signals

Jazz

It’s been three dayssince the party. Three days since Cole and I finally gave in to the need that’s been pulsing between us since we started hanging out. Now here we are strolling around campus on actual Halloween.

A lot of the students did their partying on the weekend, but this is a college campus parties happen every day of the week, especially on Halloween.

There are quite a few fairies dancing across the lawn under the eerie shadows of bare branches. The last of the leaves are fluttering to the surrounding ground. Witches, devils, and angels run around in groups giggling in costumes that barely cover their assets.

Since I was on duty tonight, I couldn’t go all out in my full costume, but I threw on some leopard ears and a tail to keep up with the spirit of things. Cole has on a set of sequined devilhorns and a forked tail. I can’t help but laugh every time I look at him.

Things between us are fine. Not as weird as I thought they’d be after our naked shenanigans. It’s almost like it never happened, except I can still feel him between my thighs. He really meant it when he said he’d make sure I could feel him for the next week. All it does is make me want a repeat, though.

“So, Sarah. Are you doing anything for Halloween?” I ask the blonde girl we picked up at the library. We’re walking her back to Eastdell, the apartment style residences on the other side of campus.

She adjusts her glasses, fidgeting with the straps of her backpack. “No. I’m not really into dressing up. My parents wouldn’t approve.”

“You could still go down to the UC to hang out and do some of the activities they’ve got going on there.” If I hadn’t volunteered to work the shift tonight, I’d probably be there. In fact, Cole and I might still be able to make the midnight showing of Friday the 13th once our shift is over.

“I don’t know. I don’t really know anyone who’s going to be there.”

I remember being a nervous first year like her. Not knowing anyone on campus and feeling weird about going places by myself. I made my little group of friends pretty quickly though, and things got fun. It must be hard feeling alone a couple months into the year.

“Maybe you can convince one of your roommates to go with you.” The Eastdell units have four or six bedrooms thatare joined by a common space with a kitchen. I lived there in first year too. That’s where I met Amira. We were the only freshman in our unit, so we stuck clung to each other like we were attached with Velcro for the first few weeks.

“They’re probably going to be drinking and partying.”

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