Page 16 of The Captain

“Crew is really nice to me.”

“Is that what it is? He’s nice to you?” Lincoln stated, not really needing confirmation one way or another, that the reason he and I don’t get along is because he could be a world-class jerk to me.

“It helps,” I said innocently and proceeded to quiz him on the notecards. He wasn’t in bad shape when it came to what he knew, but I knew he got himself all flustered when he needed to just focus.

We end the session late, when the clock strikes ten. “I have an early class,” I announced and stood from the booth.

Lincoln grabbed his bag, and he followed me out of the diner, giving my mom a side hug after she gave me one. I eyed him, curious as to why he was so intent on my mom liking him and frowning when he winked at me.

Outside, he gets the door for me, and I smile at the squeaky hinges on the door. This was Mick’s car a few years ago, according to her, and it was kind of adorable that he kept using it even now.

The drive back to my place isn’t long, and the silence is filled with music, with us both relaxed into our seats. I didn’t know how to feel about it.

When we pulled up to my building, he told me to wait, and don’t ask me why, but I did. I found myself unfortunately liking that he opened the stupid car door for me.

“All right, well, I—”

“I need to see you tomorrow,” he interrupted, his face unreadable.

I licked my lips and glanced at my door before I looked back at him. “Okay? Why?”

“I need to study every day leading up to that test.”

“Yeah, you should, for sure, just to make sure you’ve got the material down,” I said, though I didn’t see why that involved me.

“So, I need to see you.” He cleared his throat. “Every day until the test.”

I frowned, letting my shoulders fall on a sigh. “Lincoln, that’s excessive.”

“I’ll pay you.”

Immediately, I wanted to refute that. Say he didn’t have to pay me, but what would that say about the guard I kept in place to keep him from getting too close? Again.

“Please, Cassie-poo.” Suddenly, his eyes widen, and his hands fold under his chin. He steps into me and bends, so we’re eye-to-eye. “Please.”

Oh god, why did he have to do that to me?

I ground my teeth. “Fine. Stop doing that,” I snapped. “And don’t call me Cassie-poo!”

Without warning, Lincoln stepped into me, his arms scooping me up and spinning me around. I let out a shriek, mad at the smile that automatically pulled at my lips, and hit his shoulder. “Put me down!”

He did, then he smirked at me like he just won the lottery. I frowned again.

“See you tomorrow, Cassie-poo.”

I growled at him, and then he was gone.

SEVEN

Lincoln

Present

I fucking hated wearing suits, but it was necessary in my line of work, so when my sister told me their engagement party was formal, I was grateful that I had a couple of suits in my closet from game days.

Coach was still pissed at what I’d done, but we were thinking up a solution so that come play time this next season, I could make the team again.

I felt…weird about it. I don’t want to do it.

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