Page 39 of Love on the Waiver Wire

“Why?”

“You won.”

“Oh.”

He freezes, and I want to know what’s going through his brain. “I appreciate you doing this, even if it’s a punishment.”

“You can punish me any time, Peaches,” he says simply, and I simply choose to ignore the innuendo in that.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Finally, at midnight, he stirs, checking his phone for the first time in hours. By this time my head is resting on his shoulder as one of the wives brings up shit from the past again. “I should probably go,” he says quietly, patting my thigh.

“Probably,” I mumble, internally pouting a bit.

“Would it make you feel better to know that I would absolutely watch this with you again?”

I perk up, not expecting that. I mean sure, I figured he’d probably look stuff up about the past seasons maybe out of morbid curiosity, but I didn’t think he would actively suggest we watch it again.

“Are you that desperate for my attention, Owen Crosby?” I smile.

“Are you being an asshole, Isla Warner?”

My smile only widens at his words, and I stand, stretching my arms above my head.

“That’s what I do best,” I reply finally.

17

OWEN

“Cooper I’m not dating anyone you set me up with. I don’t trust you after last time.” Leo shivers in his seat, shoveling chicken into his mouth.

“I’ve apologized for that a million times, man. Let it be. I’m serious, there’s a couple of really nice girls I met the other night.”

“And I’ll meet them myself and make that judgement call,” he says with a shrug.

We’re taking a break from practice for lunch, and the two have been at each other’s throats all day. I’m not sure why.

“I’m always open to being set up,” Emmett says, pushing his salad around his plate.

“Why would I set you up? You have no issues getting girls.”

“You’re saying I do?” Leo asks, slamming his fork down on the table.

“I’m saying that you’re a man whore who should settle down.”

“Says you,” Leo says under his breath as he stabs his chicken, shoving it into his mouth as he looks away dejected.

“Why are you guys fighting between yourselves when the perfect candidate is sitting right across from us?” Dirwin asks, motioning to me.

I shake my head, drinking my water. “I’m not looking to date right now, sorry,” I tell them.

“We’re not asking you if you’re looking to date, we’re telling you that you’re a great candidate. Cooper is trying to set everyone up.”

“Cooper should worry about himself,” I shoot back, officially joining the argument.

“Cooper is worrying about himself, thank you very much. In fact, he has his sights set on someone,” Cooper says, rolling his eyes and shimmying his shoulders.

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