Page 57 of Love Puck

Because Gigi—and the rest of these women—thought more highly of me than they should.

Because the idiots on the other team were right—I was a cheater. And the worst part about it was—I didn’t care. I wanted Cash. And even though it wasn’t fair to him at all, I’d keep cheating with him.

As long as he’d let me.

“Thanks, Gigi. That means a lot.” I gave her a smile before she turned and coasted off. My belly clenched up into a thousand knots. This lying game I’d been playing—in so many parts of my life—was getting freaking exhausting. And every time I wondered how much longer I’d have to keep up this rouse—I reminded myself.

“Forever,” I whispered while I stopped on the center line.

Freaking forever.

13

Cash

A loud, angry knock sounded at the door.

I frowned and turned down the volume on the TV.

An even louder, angrier knock followed.

“Christ, keep your shirt on,” I said as I tossed the remote on the couch and stood. I strode to the door—but not fast enough for the knocker. Another round of banging started before I opened the door. “What is your—” I started saying.

But then my mother interrupted.

“I finally get a grandchild and you don’t think to give me a call? And I have to find out on a goddamn TV show? Instead of from my own son?” She pushed in past me and looked around. “Oh, my goodness. Look at the good boy!” my mom squealed and rushed toward Wyatt. He was on the couch with his head raised. Probably wondering what all the racket was about.

Mom talked exclusively to Wyatt for the next ten minutes or so—completely ignoring me.

It was pretty fuckin’ funny.

When she finally spoke to me, she said, “You did a good thing, Cash. He’s adorable.” Wyatt thanked mom by licking her cheek. She laughed and gave him more pets.

“He’s a good dog, and he keeps me company,” I told her and walked around the back of the couch to sit.

Mom’s eyes widened and she pointed at me. “Do not sit down,” she said in her mom voice. “We are going for a walk—or a drive—” she looked from Wyatt to me, “can he go for a walk?” she asked in a whisper.

I chuckled at my mom. “He can go for walks. He’s got three good legs and has no problem getting around.” I leaned against the side of the couch. “And you don’t have to whisper around him.”

She frowned at me and rolled her eyes. “I just didn’t want to offend him, that’s all.”

This time I out and out laughed at my mom. “He’s good, Mom. What’s up?”

Hesitantly, she peered up at the camera in the corner of the room. “Not here. Let’s get away from that piece of crap.” She waved her hand toward the camera. “You must get sick of having that thing around all the time.”

I shrugged and wandered off to find Wyatt’s leash. “Nah, you get used to it. I forget it’s there most of the time.” Unless I was at Jillian’s. But Mom didn’t need to know that.

Ten minutes later, we were at a park. It wasn’t a very big one, but that wasn’t the point of this excursion, and I knew it.

We found a bench and sat down.

“What’s going on?” Mom asked as she rubbed Wyatt’s back.

“I got a dog.”

Mom’s head snapped to me. “That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”

I gazed out at the busy park. Parents stood around the little playground and watched their kids. Other people walked around and visited. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

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