Page 27 of Not By the Playbook

“No.” I’m freaking out. My relationship with Logan is now four days past its sell-by date.

When I didn’t find out about the job on Monday, I was sure that was it, that Logan would cut me loose. Instead, he gave me a key and herded me back to his apartment, and there I’ve stayed since. We didn’t discuss the job or our situation, and I was happy to continue living in denial. Eventually we would hear, but until then, we would continue our charade like hamsters on a wheel. Hot, horny hamsters who hump.

Until yesterday, that is.

Well, hurry up and complete your considering already. Stop dragging your feet. It’s not fair to Rebecca.

Those words keep recycling in my brain, and not in a good way. It’s more like it isn’t fair to Logan.

Somehow, I managed to keep a smile on my face and get through dinner last night. As far as I could tell, the famed seafood at Le Bernardin was the equivalent of a jellyfish stinging my insides. Logan was off too because he didn’t press. Most of our meal was spent in silence.

That didn’t stop us from fucking well into the night the moment we got home. Three times. All our sexual encounters have been sprinkled with laughter, but last night was different. Intense. Desperate, almost.

So much for pride. I’m no better than one of his jersey chasers. Addicted to him and the orgasm stick attached to his body.

Why didn’t he just say something?I’d have moved out already. I don’t need to be anyone’s pity fuck.

“So what’s happening with you and Logan then?” Carrie asks. The woman has a CCTV into my brain.

“Nothing.”

“Translate. What doesnothingmean?”

“It means that he hasn’t said anything.”Not to me, anyway.

There’s one last person in front of us. Hurry, hurry, hurry. Please let this interrogation be over and done with.

“You’re still staying at his place?” she asks.

“Mm-hmm.” I fiddle with our tickets. I shouldn’t have asked for an extra one for her. Then this conversation would be happening over the phone, and I could hang up on her, pretend I lost cell signal. What can I say? We all know I’m the queen of crappy choices.

Our turn comes. Carrie points at a red foam finger and pays for it, then we start making our way to the stands.

“So you’re sharing a room and nothing’s happened?” Carrie is disbelieving.

“Ummm…”

She halts, and a woman almost slams into her. Carrie ignores her nasty look. “Oh my God! It happened again, didn’t it? You and Logan Barnes! I knew the first time wasn’t an accident!” She does a little victory dance, pumping her new toy in the air.

“Shh!” My eyes dart around at the crowd. The last thing I need is for anyone to overhear I’m sleeping with their favorite football star.

Carrie drops her voice a smidge, “So what now? You going to keep seeing him?”

“Unlikely.”

She studies me, and a small grin breaks on her face. “Holy shit. You like him. Like, youreally, reallylike him!”

“I don’t.” I make a show of looking at the screens above us listing the players’ stats and figures. A clip of Logan comes on as if I’ve conjured him, all lean and sculpted muscle, chiseled features, and brilliant blue eyes. Drool might be forming inside my mouth. His number is everywhere—hats, shirts, butts. Meanwhile, I’m still on Jenna-watch and wearing a silk blouse and slacks.

“Bullshit.” An oversized digit pokes me in the chest. I wish I had one with the middle finger raised. Hell, I’d take a ball gag, to use either on myself or on her.

“Stop it.” I settle for elbowing her in the ribs. “It doesn’t matter if I like Logan or not. It’s only going to last a couple more days.”

“And in the meantime, we’re all playing happy families,” Carrie snarks.

“I just need one last chance to make a good impression on his sister. It’s the Hail Mary play,” I say in exasperation.

Carrie smirks at the new addition to my vocabulary. “Don’t forget his mother and father. Seems like you’re auditioning for more than just employee-of-the-month.”

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