Page 35 of First Puck

“It’s barely been a week,” I replied instantly.

“Of course!” Lance clapped his hands together. “And we’re going for hard and fast, aren’t we? You’ve been taking it slow for too long. I put you on the offensive, so how have you attacked?”

I sighed as I turned from him, looking through the window at the diners who sat under the veranda, enjoying the spring air. “Okay, maybe there was a break in ‘defense,’ if you’re determined to talk like that. But how am I meant to know for sure it meant anything?”

“If I know Brad, you’ll find out soon enough.” Lance reached forward, gently lifting my hand from the tabletop and lacing his fingers through mine.

My eyebrows shot up, but I quickly forced myself to relax.

Brad 9.0 required a lot more than handholding—literally—and probably more in the future. It was Lance’s riskiest plan yet, but if he was right, then it could be the one that paid off.

“And you?” I asked quietly, trying to not be so aware of how his thumb circled the soft skin of my hand.

“Well, as you can see, he’s completely overjoyed to see me. So I’m obviously having an effect.”

I gave him a pointed look, which resulted in a knowing smirk. He wasn’t just the freshman team captain because he was the best in the game. It was the fact that he was always three steps ahead that put me on edge. Like now, when he lifted my hand and brought it to his lips.

“I just need to make sure I push all the right buttons so he realizes the love of his life has been here all along.”

It might have sounded passionate, but his wicked expression said everything.

“You’re talking like you’ve done this before,” I said.

“No, not this specifically, but isn’t your group project this semester about stimulation and response? Won’t it be so fun to put it into practice? You’re the stimulation, and we’ll wait to see our test subjects’ response.”

I should have known from the way he lit up when I told him about my project that it had been a mistake. Of course it had given him ideas.

Thankfully, my group had chosen a different subject to study for our end of term project. I couldn’t imagine what would happen if I wrote a report on Lance’s grand plan and submitted it.

He seemed way more confident in his approach to Brad 9.0 than I was.

“Besides, like you, if I tried to be straightforward with Tommy again, I’m pretty sure I’d ruin any other chance I had.” Lance hitched a brow. “So, don’t worry. I’m in the same boat. It’s a risk for me, too.”

I ran my eyes over him, still pulsing out his siren call of sex, which grabbed the attention of anyone who could see him. All he needed to do was laugh and people would zero in on him.

“I still can’t believe you’re struggling. You’re always so confident.”

“Apart from this.” Lance shrugged. “Apart from here. Tommy is a special breed of creature who’ll warm up with time. Probably.”

“Well, there is that…” I trailed off as I thought about failing again. The familiar sting of pain nudged my heart.

Lance said he’d hit on Tommy once before, and it ended disastrously, but it was a year or two ago. So, I would have said the warming-up period was officially over, but then again, Lance could apply that logic to my relationship with Brad as well. It didn’t explain why Tommy was so angry with everyone, but it made more sense why he was so sharp with Lance.

“Right,” Tommy’s voice suddenly snapped between us as he placed the bottle of wine on the table, “what do you want?”

Lance leaned back, perking up straight away, and squeezing my hand like he was asking me to stay still.

“Oh! We’ve barely had time to choose. Alex? Is there anything you’d like?”

When I actually thought about it, I was starving, but I barely recognized anything on the short menu. And the prices next to them made me want to clutch my wallet protectively.

This was the kind of place where jewels sparkled around throats and wrists, and the scent of money floated in the air.

“I’m not sure what’s good,” I replied. It was easier to say that than just admit I’d rather have a protein bar and go to bed. I’d prefer to wake up hungry than battle with Tommy, but I’d made an agreement with Lance.

“I can come back if you’re both just going to piss about,” Tommy said flatly.

“Oh, my! Tommy! I hope you don’t treat all your customers like this! Or are we just that special?” Lance’s smirk grew deeper with every word as Tommy looked like he was barely controlling himself.

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