Page 31 of Fair Catch

I grimace before muttering, “Jesus Christ, guys are fucking idiots.”

“Further proof that sexuality issonot a choice,” Kason adds.

Another left swipe on Logan reveals Nicholas.Pro: I drive a big truck. Con: It’s compensation.

“Absolutely not,” I tell him, shaking my head, because there’s no fucking way in hell I’m being woken up by some giant diesel engine roaring outside the apartment.

A disgruntled sigh leaves Kason, and he aims a glare at me. “Am I the one on this app or are you?”

My rebuttal is on the tip of my tongue, but he has a fair enough point. Still, I feel like the pickings are slim as hell, and from the few he was even entertaining, he needs all the help he can get when it comes to choosing someone even remotely worth the time.

“Online dating is…” He trails off, shaking his head. “Well, clearly, it’s shit.”

“I don’t even use them and I could’ve told you that,” I counter before jumping over the back of the couch and plopping down beside him. “Apps aren’t gonna get you much more than a one night stand these days.”

A sour look crosses his expression, nose scrunched up in distaste. “Explains why making it three messages without receiving a dick pic is a damn miracle.”

“That’sbecause guys our age have a tendency to think with the head in their pants instead of the one housing their actual brain.” I pause, swiping my tongue across my lip before adding, “And to be frank, you don’t seem like the kinda dude who just wants to get dicked down. Or vice versa.”

Nodding a couple times, he mumbles, “It’d be nice to have a real relationship before I play hide the salami for the first time.”

Despite the semi-serious topic, I can’t help the laughter that slips out.

Clamping my hand over my mouth, I mutter, “You did not just allude to sex ashide the salami,”from behind it.

Kason’s eyes are wide as he watches me try to contain my chuckles. “I did, actually. And in the same sentence I told you I’m also a virgin.”

I’d been so focused on the euphemism, I completely missed that important detail, and it only has me cracking up harder. I’m talking keeled-over, breathless laughter. The kind that eventually goes entirely silent because noise becomes physically impossible to make.

Thankfully, Kason joins in, deep chuckles coming from him too, and it only keeps me going longer.

I manage to compose myself after a couple minutes—way longer than it takes Kason—and when I clear the tears from my eyes and sigh, I find him staring at me.

“I’m still shocked you know how to laugh,” he says eventually, shaking his head. “I don’t think I’ve seen you smile before, let alone laugh. You damn robot.”

Snorting, I roll my eyes. “Just because I don’t like people doesn’t make me a robot.”

“Regardless, it’s nice to hear it.”

We stare at each other briefly, comfortable silence surrounding us like we’re sharing some sort of bonding moment, and I’m not really sure how I feel about it.

It’s just weird.

Everything about this situation is, and it’s mostly because I’m torn between holding onto my dislike for him and my growing fondness. But regardless of which direction I go, there’s a big part of me that would love more time here by myself, getting to study in the peace and comfort of my own room instead of one at the library. So if getting him on dates will get him out of the apartment, I’m all for it. The poor fool just needs a little help picking someone that’ll stick around for more than a night.

An idea goes off in my head, lighting up like a lightbulb, and I motion toward his phone.

“Well, now that I know the stakes are even higher, since you’re swiping that V-card, I think we can do better than the garbage that’s been coming up on your screen.”

Kason arches a brow and drops his cell to the cushion. “So it’swenow?”

Shrugging, I try to brush off the mild slip-up. “What can I say, you got me invested in this little endeavor of yours to get laid before graduation. Sue me for not wanting you to come home depressed or dissatisfied after sleeping with one of these lint-lickers.”

“Lint-lickers,” Kason echoes, arching a brow. “Can’t say I’ve heard that one before.”

“You haven’t seen that commercial?” When he shakes his head, I let out another laugh. “Then you must’ve grown up under a rock.”

“Something like that,” Kason murmurs, and from the slump of his shoulders and beaten down look on his face, I can tell there’s more on his mind than just the shitty pickings on the app.

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