Page 87 of The Wrong Play

Step two:Slip into Riley’s room unnoticed.

Step three: Sleep under her bed like a psycho,as nature intended.

We got into the locker room, and I gave a little fist pump when I checked my phone and saw that I’d been right, Rileywasin the library.

“All right, here’s the deal. Riley’s roommate only leaves her room for class. So, I need you todistracther.”

Matty’s lips curled up in suspicion. Probably thinking of the Darla Pinswallow situation. This was going to be a piece of cake compared to that.

Probably.

Maybe.

“Distract her how, exactly?” he asked.

I slung an arm over his shoulders, noting my superiority because out of the three of us, I was the only one who didn’t stink right now. “I don’t know, Matty. How do you usually get girls?” I asked sarcastically. “Talk to her, charm her, maybe ask about her hobbies…” I rolled my eyes, because seriously, this shouldn’t be too hard for him.

“What if her hobby is murder?” Parker asked. I paused at that thought before waving him off.

“Then this is a great opportunity for personal growth,” I finally answered.

Matty snarled and shook off my arm. “You are the worst.”

I smirked as I headed toward the shower, eager to get out of here and into Riley’s room.

I was waiting down the hall from Riley’s room, and Matty was not here. Instead, he was freaking out somewhere, frantically texting me, and wasting precious time.

Matty: Wait…wait, wait, wait. A thought just came to me. And it seems crazy. But I need to check…because it’s you.

Matty: Are you trying to sneak into Riley’s room?? Without her knowing…!?

Me: I don’t like how you make it sound illegal.

Matty: BECAUSE IT IS!

Me: You sound like a cop.

Matty: You sound like a future inmate.

Me: If I go down, I’m taking you with me.

Matty: What the hell does that mean??

I checked my app again, making sure Riley was still in the library. She was still there, but she’d been acting very tired when I dropped her off this morning. So, she probably would be heading to her room any time now. He needed to get his ass moving.

Me: You’re up, buddy. Go get her.

Matty: WHAT??

Me: Just keep her occupied for like, awhile. You got this, champ.

Matty was a lot of things—nosy, annoyingly good at video games…a worry wart of the highest order—but one thing I’d never truly appreciated was his ability to charm a woman. The man actually had game.

From my position down the hall, hidden in the shadows like the world’s hottest criminal, I watched as he strolled up to Riley’s room, knocked twice, and leaned into the doorframe, displaying a confidence that made me a little hot as a matter of fact.

The door swung open, revealing her.

Emma.

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