Page 98 of Caught Stealing

A game well into the third quarter at this point, and I don’t think they’ve stopped for more than five minutes.

“E-Trade always has the best commercials.”

Luca looks over at Noah like he’s just lost his marbles. “You’re off your rocker, man. It’s always Budweiser. Hands fuckin’ down.”

A snort leaves Noah, and he shakes his head. “Yeah, if you like to cry, maybe.”

“It’s calledethos,Noah.Not that you’d understand what it even means, seeing as you’re a sociopath allergic to all human emotion.”

“Aw, you noticed. How sweet of you,” Noah snarks back before tossing a chip at Luca’s face.

I think I’m about to losemyfucking marbles if I have to listen to this any longer.

“Oh, my God, do they ever shut up?” I mutter to Theo, who is sitting beside me on the couch.

He lets out a scoff. “I’d have thought you would know they don’t after spending ten days with them in Florida.”

Touché, my friend.

“Wishful thinking, I guess,” I say with a sigh.

I’ll admit the game itself has been somewhat entertaining up to this point, despite those two bickering like an old married couple. Nashville and New England have been going back and forth with the lead, and the wide receiver named Grady caught a bomb in the endzone to put them ahead by two points.

But the half-time show was abysmal at best, which I shouldn’t be surprised about. I think the only way I’d ever be hyped is if they put some sort of metalcore band on stage—or even alternative or punk, like Fall Out Boy.

My phone vibrates in my palm, pulling my attention away from the two idiots still snapping at each other to check the incoming text. And I can’t help the smirk curling my lips when I read it.

H: Aren’t you happy I convinced you to come? This is fun.

Convince?

He must be trying to rewrite history because, from my view, it was more like kidnapping me from my apartment after blackmailing me with threats of a sex-ban if I didn’t come with him.

P: Yeah…not in the slightest. Noah and Luca are driving me to the brink of insanity. I could be at home watching porn instead. All alone. In peaceful silence.

H: That does sound enticing, but football is sexier than porn, and you know it.

Instinctually, my eyes flick over to where Holden sits at the other end of the sectional. He must feel my gaze on him, because his focus slowly shifts my way.

H: Look at me like that again, and I’m gonna need to borrow the pillow beside you.

P: I have no idea what you’re talking about.

H: Mhmm. Sure, you don’t.

H: Oh, and for the record, baseball players are hot too.

The smirk lifting my lips can’t be helped as I send him a text back.

P: If that’s the case, maybe you should attend a game or two this season.

H: I don’t know if they’re THAT hot. I mean, nine whole innings and no one hits each other?

P: All they do in hockey is hit each other, but I don’t see you heading to the rink anytime soon. Not even for your best friend.

I glance up and wait for Holden to read the text, only to arch a brow at him when he looks up at me. His smile is instant, and I watch him type out his response.

H: You make a fair point, Nix. Care to make a deal with the devil?

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