Page 14 of Play Maker

She winced. “No fake anything.”

“While we’re on the subject, no secrets. I don’t want to find out three months from now I was grooming you for a cult or something.”

Blue gave a decisive nod. “No secrets.”

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms as I studied her before I presented my final demand. “You have to be willing.”

She scoffed. “I came to you. How is that not willing?”

“You came to me after shotgunning a bottle of wine during a high stress period with a lot of emotional fallout. Tomorrow Blue might wake up and regret everything about this conversation. In which case, I have no problem forgetting this ever happened. Even if you’re one hundred percent on board, you might not like me pushing you out of your comfort zone. I’m not going to drag your grumpy ass around if you don’t want it.”

Blue studied me. “Are you a psychology major?”

I chuckled. “No. Business management with a minor in music.”

“The best I can do is promise to try, but you can’t give up when I mess everything up either.”

“I’m not the giving up type. Unless there are spiders involved. In that case, I’m fucking out.” I shuddered. “So many legs.”

Her nose wrinkled. “I certainly hope there won’t be any spiders involved in my dating life. Will you teach me or not?”

Before I could give her a final answer, the cashier called our number, so I hopped up to grab the food. I was going to say yes—no doubt in my mind—but one aspect of her request still bothered me.

The need for her to date other guys while I watched. I’d never considered myself possessive until the last twenty-four hours or so. Even my relationship with Eva had been low-key. Some might even say hidden. I might have been bitter—was still bitter—about the end result, but I’d had no problem sharing her with the world. Eva demanded attention wherever she went, including mine.

Blue only needed herself, utterly confident doing her own thing even if it meant she was alone doing it. Except for now, apparently.

Pressure built in my chest when I pictured Blue smiling at another guy, with another guy’s hands on her. My fingers curled into claws around the plastic tray holding our food. I thanked the apathetic cashier and yanked napkins from the holder to give myself a few more seconds before turning back to the table.

Violent urges weren’t usually my thing, but I couldn’t deny the savage response heating my blood. I didn’t examine the reaction too closely. Blue was a friend asking me for help. I’d provide whatever help I could. My dick twitched at the possibilities, and I frowned down at my crotch.

Big Mac had his own ideas of how to help, which I intended to ignore. He always got me in trouble anyway.

I set the tray of tacos and sides on the table between us and met her questioning gaze. “Okay.”

A smile slowly emerged, like the sun coming from behind the clouds. “Okay?”

We stared at each other, letting the reality of my agreement settle. I’d probably regret this in the morning, and I’d definitely regret it when we got to the post-date scenarios. I wasn’t actually sure I could give her pointers on blow job etiquette without a mutiny from Big Mac.

Blue broke the moment by grabbing a napkin from the pile. “Great, we can start right away.”

I pointed a taco at her. “Slow down, speed racer. I don’t have a seminar prepared for teaching socially awkward hotties how to people.”

“Fine. We can start tomorrow.”

I snorted. “I have class tomorrow, then training, and…” I trailed off when I realized I didn’t have anything to add after training. It was my week to get groceries, so I should probably go shopping, but I didn’t have cheer practice or movie night or a fashion show. Eva had slowly taken over my life. Without her, there was suddenly room for something new.

Hopefully, Blue’s crazy request would be good for both of us.

“I’m going to need a couple of days to come up with ideas,” I finished lamely.

“Maybe step one could be talking to your roommates.”

The mouthful of taco I’d just bitten into threatened to get stuck in my throat. This time, the choking feeling wasn’t from any possessive caveman urges—it was pure, unfiltered dread. Eva and I had kept our ill-fated relationship a secret from my roommates, and they’d all had front row seats to watching it crash and burn.

They kept asking if I was okay, and I didn’t know how to answer. I wasn’t. I was shook. I caught my feelings at random times, but the sharpest bits were from her up and leaving without talking to me rather than losing the love of my life. I was starting to suspect I’d fooled myself into wanting a future with Eva. How was I supposed to explain I’d fucked up my friendship for nothing? And that I was upset because she’d ghosted me when she should have had my back?

I swallowed hard and wiped my mouth with a napkin before covering with a joke. “That seems unnecessary, and frankly, borderline hostile on your part.”

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