Page 47 of The Player's Obsession

She changes the subject. “What’s up? I’m in the middle of packing.”

“Me, too. That’s why I called. What color is your dress for the wedding?”

“Blue. What are you wearing?”

“Blue,” I say without thinking. I’m sure I have a blue jacket, but this is uncharacteristic. I’ve never coordinated outfits with anyone. What was in that coffee?

“The happy hour tonight should be fun. It’s a mixer, and you’ll meet the guys.”

“Okay. That’s fine. I wish we didn’t have to lie to them. I’ve never done anything like this before. But a deal is a deal, right?”

“Yes.” Is she having second thoughts? Luckily, I have her signature on the agreement.

“I guess the public’s attention is good for you. It sells us being together, and Melanie will find out. Right?”

“I guess so.” I’m caught off guard.She knows why I’m doing this?“You know about my ex?”Why is this a surprise to me?She’s an intelligent woman.

The most humiliating part of Melanie dumping me was having it play out in the public arena. Anytime I looked online, I saw memes of me kneeling on the field and a picture of Melanie with a thought bubble saying, “I don’t want you anymore.” I haven’t felt that humiliated since I fumbled a ball, and it was recovered by an opponent who ran it in for a game-winning touchdown. The situation with Melanie took me to such a low point I wanted to hurt someone. I was that angry.

“I didn’t at first, but it was all there when Lucinda and I looked online. That’s when we figured out what you were up to. You’re still in love with her, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I don’t know why. Maybe a part of me wants her to regret leaving me.” Hearing the words leave my mouth, I realize how absurd it is to go to this extreme to get even—especially with someone who has moved on. I’ve given Melanie months of my time, and for what? She’s still marrying my teammate.

I need to put Melanie in the rearview mirror and focus on moving forward. Now that Penelope is in the picture, that might be possible. We’re obviously attracted to one another, and there’s nothing in our agreement to stop us from having sex. Everyone has a weakness. I need to find hers.

CHAPTER22

Penelope

When Lucinda knocks, I open the door and let her in. Before closing it, I look outside, half expecting to see my brother or his friends lurking in the parking lot. Satisfied everything is okay, I sigh in relief and shut the door.

“I’m so glad you’re here. You’re the only one I trust to show me what goes with what, so I don’t look like an imposter who got dressed in the dark.”

“Relax, you got this.” She dismisses my concerns with a wave of her hand like it’s possible to turn into a fashionista overnight.

I’m not that good. But the items we bought would make a fashion editor drool.

“Oliver said he’ll wear a blue suit to match my dress for the wedding.”

Lucinda gives me the side eye and slowly shakes her head.

“What?” I ask.

“You don’t get it,” she moans.

“Get what?”

“That boy likes you. It’s so obvious, and yet you’re so oblivious. If it weren’t so sad, it would be comical.”

“I don’t have any feelings for him,” I declare. Secretly, I’ve wondered what it would be like to be with him. I’m sure he knows what he’s doing in the bedroom. The way his shirts hug his chest and biceps and the fragrance he wears—oh, shit.

I like him.

I find myself daydreaming about him instead of working on my computer. I walk around my apartment in a daze because my head is filled with thoughts of him. I try to imagine what he looks like naked and what it would feel like to have his lips exploring my body.

“Okay, I guess I do like him. He has this smell and…”

“Yes?”

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