Page 70 of Playoff

She makes a face. “I hate Vegas. The crowds, the smoke in the casinos, it’s gross.”

I laugh. “But there are amazing restaurants, wonderful entertainment, there’s really so much more to Vegas than people realize.”

There’s a thoughtful look on her face as she looks up. “I guess that’s fair. I haven’t been there for fun in a long time.”

“If we have time when we’re there, we’ll go to my favorite spa. It’s amazing.”

She nods. “Now that’s something I would take time off for.”

“Stick with me, kid—I’ll show you a good time.”

She laughs and goes back to whatever’s on her laptop.

My phone buzzes and I smile at the text from Blake.

BLAKE: How come you’re not playing poker with us?

ROWAN: I’m afraid I’ll wind up on your lap or something. You guys are both tipsy and rowdy.

BLAKE: That sounds like the best possible way to play…

ROWAN: I’ll give you something else to play with later tonight.

BLAKE: Does that mean I’m going home with you?

ROWAN: Do you want to?

BLAKE: That’s not a serious question, is it?

ROWAN: What are you going to tell Bodi? You guys share a car.

BLAKE: Bodi will keep his mouth shut and there’s nothing in your contract preventing you from giving a player a ride home, is there?

ROWAN: Of course not.

BLAKE: Maybe a group of us are going to get some food. Then you’re taking me home… No one is going to be paying attention to us tonight. There’s way too much going on.

ROWAN: You have practice tomorrow. People will notice if they see us show up together.

BLAKE: You can drop me off at the hotel so I can ride with Bodi.

ROWAN: Are you positive you can trust him? This is my job—my career—we’re talking about.

BLAKE: Absolutely. He likes to fuck around and give me a hard time, but he would never do anything to cost someone their job. And he likes you. We can trust him. I promise.

I sigh, because it’s hard to trust someone I don’t know with something so important.

But I do know Blake, so it feels like I have to trust the person he considers his best friend.

Otherwise, why are we even dating?

Are we dating?

Is that what this is?

I trusted him with someone much more important once upon a time—my heart—and he stomped all over it.

I have to believe it’s different this time.

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