Page 99 of The Wrong Play

Jace.

Jace, who had once again gone out of his way to orchestrate another crazy thing.

The realization hit like a slow, warm flood in my chest. That sneaky, manipulative, insufferable?—

I shook my head in mock exasperation, but I couldn’t fight the way my lips twitched up, the way my stomach flipped in that dangerous, weightless way that only he could cause.

I was swooning.

Like, full-on, stomach-floating, heart-squeezing, brain-meltingswooning.

God help me.

“I’m just happy to be along for the ride when y’all’s men get you such prime football real estate,” Natalie declared, flopping into her seat, kicking her legs over the railing like she owned it. She undid the lid to her water bottle, taking a dramatic sip, then grinned. “Told you—he’s got it bad.”

Casey sat beside me, stretching her legs out, her hands clasped in her lap. “Natalie considers herself Tennessee’s biggest fan,” she said, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

“I don’t consider it, I know I am,” Natalie retorted. I giggled softly, but my attention was on the field. Watching a certainfootball player who’s golden hair was peeking from under his helmet.

My heart skipped, my hands tightening on the armrests, and I leaned forward, watching…my boyfriend showing off on the field.

A warmth bloomed in my chest despite the nervous flutter. The crowd roared louder, the drums kicked up, and I couldn’t look away, caught in the glow of him, wondering what he’d do next.

The game began, and I could barely keep up with what was happening on the field. But every time Jace exploded across the turf, my stomach clenched, my breath catching in my throat. The way he moved, powerful and controlled, sent a thrill through me that had nothing to do with the game itself.

A burst of excited squeals erupted around me as the kiss cam flashed onto the giant screen above the field. The camera panned across the stadium, zeroing in on unsuspecting couples, each reaction more entertaining than the last. Casey and Nat immediately perked up, elbowing each other and giggling as they watched the awkward, sweet, and sometimes downright hilarious kisses play out. Some played along, kissing sweetly while the crowd cheered. Others got caught in awkward situations—one girl straight-up rejected the guy next to her, causing an entire section of the stadium to howl with laughter.

“Fuck, yes,” Natalie wheezed. “That guy just went in for a kiss and got denied. That’s what I like to see.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest, nodding wisely. “You have to make them work for it.”

I laughed, shaking my head as another couple popped up on the screen—an older man and woman who, despite looking a little shy, kissed to the roaring approval of the fans.

Casey nudged me. “See, football is fun.”

Natalie scoffed, looking offended. “This is not football,” she said primly. “This is human suffering in action.”

Casey shook her head in amusement.

Another round of couples flashed on the screen, the camera lingering on a guy who had been sitting next to a woman clearly not interested in him. The second she turned her head and started talking to someone else, the entire stadium booed him.

I was mid-laugh when the camera panned again?—

And landed on me.

I froze.

Natalie sucked in a sharp breath, her hand flying to her mouth.

“Oh, shit,” Casey whispered.

I barely had time to process the collective cheers that erupted around us before the camera zoomed in like it knew exactly what it was doing.

My mouth opened, shaking my head furiously. No.No,no,no. This was not happening.

Casey and Natalie were dying.

The camera wasn’t moving.

“Seriously,” I hissed, turning toward them. “Do something!”

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