Page 44 of The Player's Obsession

This weekend is going to be my worst nightmare.

Lucinda and I walk to the car after Oliver’s Oscar-winning acting debut.

“Wow, that was so exciting. I hope we get to do that again,” she says.

“I don’t see why not. I’m stuck with him for a month. His next game is the first in the playoff round. I’m sure we’ll be at that one.”

“What did he mean when he said he’d text you on the way home?” Lucinda gives me a quizzical look.

“You got me. I’m sure it’s so the team will think we’re living together or something. Come’on.” I turn to Lucinda. “I can’t do this if you are going to overthink everything he does. We’re pretending. It happens all the time. Stars walk the red carpet, smile for the camera, and bam, the next day, their divorce is announced.”

“Are you sure you’re pretending? It looks pretty real if you ask me.”

“It’s easy to do when he looks and smells so good. How do I go to a romantic wedding with him and not fall for him when he smells like the night air and musk? He has to know his sweaty jersey and a hot kiss will have me on my knees begging him to take me.”

“And? You have a problem with that?” she says with sarcasm.

“I'd love to get laid. It’s been so long the batteries in my vibrator are dead. But this is a mutually beneficial business deal, and I agreed to go through with it. The final payment will give me my life back. I’m going to be so good at being his fiancée, he’ll miss me when I’m gone.”

“You have a long drive to get to the resort. You can spend it getting to know each other. Figure out your meet-cute and learn facts about each other, you don’t want to get tripped up over something small that can blow the entire charade.”

My phone dings with a text, and my heart races, thinking it’s Oliver. My heart sinks when I discover it’s my brother.

“Oh shit.”

“What?”

“Carlo saw me on TV with Oliver.”

“How is he watching TV? I thought he was homeless.”

“He must be at a friend’s house. I’m ignoring his text.” I am stronger than him, but I can’t trust him, and I can’t be around him. “I’m still pissed about him taking my grandmother’s jewelry.”

“You should be. I worry about him and his dirtbag friends knowing where you live.”

“There’s nothing left to steal.” We’ve reached the car, and as soon as we get in, I start the engine, turn on the heat, and put my fingers up to the vents. My teeth are chattering. I grab my coat from the backseat and slide it on.

With trepidation, I drive home, wondering whose couch my brother is crashing on. If he finds out I’m with Oliver, he’ll see a cow he can milk forever and never move back to New York.

I need to warn Oliver.

Fuckity, fuck, fuck.

CHAPTER21

Oliver

Ican’t be replaying the kiss with Penelope. I’m in love with Melanie. However, I can’t forget how sensual it was. It’s as if we didn’t feel fake at all. My teammates thought it was real, which will help sell the relationship this weekend.

“Glad to see you smiling again,” Darrel says as he passes by on his way back from the showers.

“Thanks, man. She’s nice.”

“I’m sure she’s more than that. I wanna hear all about it,” Travis says, flicking me with his towel.

“Yeah, we’ll catch up this weekend. I have to get going.”

On the ride home, I want to call Penelope but resist the urge. I wonder what possessed me to kiss her. I need to work on my impulse control. The moment felt natural. Let’s hope it looked unrehearsed.

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