Page 29 of Devil's Bargain

“Jesus, Nina. A little quieter, please! I’m not going to fuck him. I took his bag by mistake! It wasn’t part of some elaborate plan to get in his pants.”

“Mistake,” she hums. “Right, okay.”

I take another sip and roll my eyes. “Don’t believe me then.”

She laughs. “I don’t. I really fucking don’t!”

I swirl the ice in my cup. Why am I here? I don’t even know.

“Come to my game.”

“Go to class!” I laugh, shooing him away with my hand over the rail.

“Is that a yes?”

Amused, I start walking. “Bye, Rick.”

* * *

Nina throws the trash in the nearest garbage can as we leave the arena. The parking lot is heaving with spectators on their way home after the game.

She sucks sugar off her fingers and smiles at me. “I’ll give it to you—I had a good time!”

The sight of Rick in his football outfit… I’ll be dreaming about it tonight. “Me too!”

“I need the bathroom. Are you coming?”

I throw my empty drink in the trash. “I’m going home.”

“Now? It’s still early!”

“I’m beat!” Which is true. I’m exhausted!

Nina checks the time on her phone before putting it in the back pocket of her black jeans. “I’m heading over to Ben’s. Are you sure you don’t want a lift?”

I shake my head, watching a group of female students nearby squeal with excitement as they pull each other up on a truck bed. “I’m sure.” It’s not that far of a walk to my rundown house. It’s dark out, but it’s still early.

“Message me when you get in so I know you’re home safe!”

The truck drives away. I smile at my best friend. “Pick me up tomorrow morning?”

“Always!” She walks away but turns before I have a chance to shout bye. “Enjoy your dreams tonight!”

I laugh at her cheeky wink as she turns the corner and disappears from view.

The car park is quickly emptying out. A couple of teenage kids hover by their parked cars, and a group of teenage girls wait outside the entrance like buzzing flies around a steaming pile of shit, hoping for a glimpse of the players.

It must be a nice little boost for the ego to exit the changing room freshly showered to groups of swooning girls. The thought of them batting their eyelids at Rick annoys me far more than it should.

That realization is all the motivation I need to begin the twenty-minute walk home.

I cut through the cluster of trees at the end of the parking lot and walk along the main road. I have my earplugs in, so I don’t notice the headlights behind me at first. It’s not until the car drives alongside me that I falter in my step and pull one of my earplugs out. I know that white hatchback. It usually sits parked in the staff parking lot at school.

Scott leans over and opens the passenger door. “Get inside!”

His face is in shadow. I can only see his tailored navy chinos and the hem of his white button-down shirt.

I hesitate for a short moment as a car drives past. This is a terrible idea.Screw it.I drop my bag in the footwell and sit down. The moment the door shuts, he pulls away into the dark night without another word.

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