Page 15 of Caught Stealing

Because it’s embarrassing to be so easily tossed to the side and forgotten immediately after it happened. Because I’m ashamed of falling under Holden’s seductive spell so quickly and easily, all to simply get out of my head for a few moments. Because if I was going to tell Kason, it should have been when it happened. Six months ago. Not now.

And—maybe most importantly—because even if we are best friends, Holden is still Kason’s teammate. With football being Kason’s life right now, the last thing I’d ever want is to severely mess with the juju between them mid-season. Even if he’s willing to do it himself by jumping into bed with Holden.

So rather than let this secret spill from my lips, I lock it down and lose the key.

“I just think you can do better than him, Kase,” I tell him, repeating the sentiment from earlier. “He’s…”

“A fuckboy?” Kason supplies, a smirk on his face when he says it.

Understatement of the year.

“I think you’re putting it mildly.” I pause, hedging a little further. “And if you already know that about him, I don’t understand why you’d even entertain the idea of getting with him.”

“He’s a good guy, Phoe. And it’s nothing serious, we’re just testing the waters.” His shoulders lift in a shrug. “Who knows, he might not even be into me like that after we’ve been teammates this long. Sharing a locker room kinda leaves little to the imagination.”

“Which would make total sense when he was trying to take you home last week,” I deadpan.

Kason smirks. “Okay, smartass.”

“Just saying,” I say, raising my hands.

“You have to admit, fuckboy or not, he’s really hot.” His lips quirk up from a smirk to a full-blown grin. “Anyone with eyes and two brain cells to rub together can see that.”

I laugh under my breath. “If you say so.”

“Don’t act like you haven’t noticed.”

I just roll my eyes and shake my head, not daring to touch his comment. Because, unfortunately, yes. I have noticed just how good-looking Holden is.

Up close and very,verypersonally.

Five

Holden

The week passes quickly, and before I know it, I’m suited up and running through the tunnel for yet another Saturday on the field.

We’re getting late in the season—this week’s match-up against the Crown Point Hawks—and we’re all aware this will be the biggest test of our abilities, as the Maine-based school still remains undefeated. A fact which has nerves swirling through my body, causing me to bounce up and down like a deranged idiot as special teams lines up for kick-off.

The ball sails through the air toward the Hawks until it lands safely in the arms of a returner who calls for a fair catch around their thirty-yard line. Special teams leaves the field, and I watch as the offensive line and Chase King, QB for the Hawks, takes position behind his center to start their first drive of the day.

He’s good, I’ll give it to him. I’ve been following his career as much as any other quarterback in our conference. Except there’s no way he’s gonna be leading Crown Point to victory today. Not if the boys and I have anything to say about it.

“You ready for this?”

Kason’s voice from behind me is startling, and I twist to look at him. Completely ignoring his question, I ask one of my own.

“Am I blind, or were you in stealth mode while standing here this entire time?”

“Nah.” He says with a smile before nodding his head back toward the stands. “Grabbed something from Phoenix quick before coming over here.”

My brows crash together. I’m not sure what response I was expecting, though it certainly wasn’t that. “He’s here?”

“He comes to all our games.”

I’m not sure why it surprises me, seeing as these two are about as codependent as two people can be—and both are entirely oblivious about it. But somehow, it still does.

For reasons I can’t quite place, I’m itching to look over and find him in the stands. Maybe even catch his attention and rile him up a bit. Still, through sheer willpower or stubbornness, I manage to keep my focus locked on Kason instead.

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