Page 89 of Playboy For Hire

“Leaving,” I said curtly. “Don’t let me interrupt your date.”

I spun around, but Ryder grabbed my arm.

“Seriously, what are you doing here?” he asked, his voice heated.

“I’m seriously leaving.”

“I said we should get some space, but you followed me here?” He gave me a baffled look.

“What? You think I—” I broke off, shaking my head. “God, you really have a low opinion of me if you think I would stalk you. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

Ryder blinked. “You didn’t know I would be here? “

“No, Ryder, I didn’t. It might shock you to learn, but you are not the center of the universe. My friend Jae-won suggested trivia and I thought it sounded fun.”

It hadn’t actually sounded fun at all, but I wasn’t going to admit that it sounded better than sitting around moping over Ryder.

He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I just assumed.”

“Spare me your apologies. You don’t owe me anything. You made it quite clear how you feel about me. And now I can see why.”

I nodded at the girl he’d left behind, who was watching us, along with everyone else at her table.

“Quinn, come on.” Ryder stepped closer. “It’s not personal. It’s a work thing.”

“Kissing her is a work thing?”

“Literally yes. It’s part of the deal. Remember, I offered to kiss you too, the first time we went out.”

“And I told you you didn’t have to.”

“Well, some people want different things. I’ve been working with Tessa for months now. It would be weird if people never saw her boyfriend kiss her.”

“So youaredating her.”

“It’s just a role I’m playing,” he hissed, “Jesus, do you want me to put air quotes around it? This conversation already looks weird enough to everyone who’s watching.”

“Don’t do me any favors. Go back to her if you’re so concerned.”

“Iamconcerned, but I’m also concerned about you.”

I looked at him for a long moment. “I told you that you didn’t have to kiss me, that first night.”

“Yeah. But I—I thought you needed it.”

“You said you couldn’t stop thinking about it after.” I was angry, and on the verge of tears at the same time.

Ryder flushed. “Yeah, well. I guess I couldn’t.”

“But now you don’t want to see me anymore.” I shook my head. “How am I supposed to believe anything you say? How do I know you’re not also kissing her because you want to? How do I know you weren’t with her this whole time?”

“Quinn, come on. Don’t be like this.”

“Don’t be like what?” I laughed bitterly. “I guess it doesn’t matter, since you and I aren’t together and never were.”

Ryder looked pained, and opened his mouth to speak.

“Just save it,” I told him. “I don’t want to hear any more excuses. You lie for a living. Why should I be surprised you lied to me?”

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