Page 12 of Caught Stealing

“What if I proved to you I’m not after sex with him? If I truly date him, court him, whatever they called it in the 1950s. Would you approve, then?”

“You mean date him without getting in his pants?” When I nod, he lets out a low scoff and shakes his head. “There’s as much likelihood of that happening as turtles sprouting wings and learning to fly.”

“I think the saying involved pigs, actually.”

“Does it really matter?” he grits, fingers running through his hair. “Either way, we both know it’s not gonna happen. You dating my best friendormanaging to stay out of his pants. Not if I have any say in it.”

My own irritation starts flaring as I lean back in my seat, letting out some mixture of a scoff and a laugh. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you’re jealous or something.”

He gives nothing away, his eyes hard and nostrils flared as he stares me down in contempt.

The comment was a one-off, meant as a joke. I mean…it has to be it. It’s the only thing that makes sense for this kind of adverse reaction to my interest in Kason. After all, this is only the second time we’ve ever spoken—and he made his contempt for me evident the very first time we met only a few days ago.

There was no time for him to form any opinion on me, even if my reputation precedes me. And there’s no way it makes that much of an impact without him having some kind of stake in the game.

Jealousy is the only logical option at this point.

“That has to be it,” I say slowly, more to myself than him. “You don’t want me with Kason because you want him for yourself.”

Again, his expression gives nothing away. If anything, there’s a hint of confusion that adds to his response. “What the hell are you talking about?”

For a brief second, I’m wondering if I’m wrong, and maybe he really does just dislike me this strongly on principle alone.

“Look, you’ve got some unresolved feelings for your bestie. But let me give you a little piece of advice.” I lean in and whisper in his ear, “If he thought of you that way, getting with me would hold no interest to him.”

“You’re disgusting.”

He shoves me away and fixes his eyes at the front of the class, a clear sign he’s done with this conversation. Too bad for him, I’m not.

“Thou doth protest too much, Nixy.”

“And childish, apparently,” he mutters under his breath before adding, “I don’t have feelings for Kason. Even if I did, it was years ago, and that ship has long since sailed.”

Or you’ve been harboring the feelings for years without acting on them, only to see your time is running out.

“If you say so.”

“I do.” He chances a quick glance at me before whispering, “Now shut up and pay attention or go find a new fucking seat.”

And just because I know it’ll piss him off more, I mime zipping my lips and settle in beside him for the next ninety minutes, scrolling mindlessly through social media the entire time.

Four

Phoenix

I’m still reeling with irritation and anger the same afternoon when I get back to the apartment, deciding to skip our optional lifting session because I need to catch Kason before he heads off to practice.

It’s a good thing I do too, because he’s in his room grabbing a change of clothes when I stop in his doorway.

“What’s really going on with you and Holden Sykes?”

He glances up from his duffle, brows crashing together at the center. “Apart from the major cock-blocking you did at the Kappa Sig party?”

I shake my head, tongue pressed into my cheek.

“Cock-blocking. Funny. The guy must be rubbing off on you,” I reply with a little more snark than necessary. It only takes a second to realize my unintentional innuendo, and from the grin curling his lips, Kason catches it too. But I’m not in the mood for jokes. “Don’t you fucking dare touch that.”

He raises his hands in surrender. “Wouldn’t touch it with a dream or a ten-foot pole.”

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