Page 37 of Play the Game

He is so bossy.

“Did you just roll your eyes?”

I cross my arms and do it again, emphasizing that he isn’t the only one who can be insolent.

I’ll admit, Emory makes me a little nervous. He can be intimidating, and arrogance practically bleeds from his pores. But in the same breath, he intrigues me, and there’s a wild part of me that wants to push his buttons like he does mine.

His deep chuckle makes my lips twitch, and I hope he doesn’t notice. He shakes his sandy hair before climbing into his car and revving it loudly before I even make it to mine.

I turn my car on and rev it too. Embarrassing as it is, my car makes a loud popping noise each time I turn it on, and gray smoke puffs from the exhaust. I peek in my rearview, and Emory is slack-jawed. He shakes his head a second later and pulls away.

I want to be defiant and refuse to follow him.

But I have to.

Because I’ve signed the contract, and as of this evening, we will officially be married in the state of Illinois.

“Well,that does it, you two lovebirds. You gonna kiss your bride?”

Rhodes snorts, and his daughter claps from on top of his shoulders. My face burns, and I'm sweating. This is not how I imagined my wedding would go, but it seems fitting because my life is such a fucking joke.

“Shut up,” Emory barks, snatching the phone from the wooden podium.

Apparently, his friend, Ford, is an officiant, and it’s surprisingly legal to have someone “marry” you through a video chat. I didn’t protest because the less people present, the better.

Rhodes, who is aware of our contract, and Chastity, who graciously agreed to be here at the very last second—and was forced to sign an NDA by Emory—are our witnesses. As of right now… I guess I am considered a married woman.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Chastity whispers after pulling me out of the video frame as Emory begs his sister to helpsellour marriage to his parents.

I’m certain Taytum thinks poorly of me.

I just married her brother for money. For all she knows, I’m just another gold-digging woman.

In an attempt to practice my lies, I nod. “Yes. Of course this is what I want. Plus, it’s a little too late to change my mind.”

Chastity arches an eyebrow. She’s dressed down today, and you would never know that she’s one of the top strippers at the Cat House. “Out of all the girls at work, you are the very last one I’d ever assume would be in this position.”

I grab her warm hands and give them a squeeze. “And out of all the girls, I knew you’d be the only one to understand.”

“I mean, if I had some hunky pro hockey player ask me to get married out of convenience, I’d jump right on his dick.”

I snort and try to hide my laugh.

Rhodes curses under his breath and walks away with his five-year-old daughter.

“But you? Miss Independent? I’m just…surprised.”

My voice drops. “I need the money.”

“That badly?”

The last voicemail I got from William echoes throughout my head, and I nod. “He’s willing to pay me monthly, and I’ll get a hefty amount after our contract is up.” It’ll be more than enough to reopen William’s case. “Plus, I hated those men looking at me.”

Chastity smiles deviously. “And I love it.”

I laugh, and it catches Emory’s attention. Our gazes snag, and my stomach fills with unease.Did I seriously just marry him?

I shake off the worries.

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