Page 21 of The Stand-In Boyfriend

“W-what are you doing?”

He chuckles, and I can feel the vibration all the way to my toes. “Figuring out how far I can push your boundaries. Since you seem to love them so much.”

Then he slowly pulls away, that smug smile still plastered all over his face. He looks cool as a cucumber while I’m a hot, panting mess.

“So, is that a yes to kissing?”

Chapter Nine

NOAH

“Jessy Bryant, huh?”

“What about her?” I turn my attention to Elliott. Apart from being my best friend, Elliott is also my teammate and a royal pain in my ass. I should have figured it wouldn’t take him long to start asking questions. He is one annoying fucker most of the time, but he’s one annoying fucker who has my back, so there’s that.

He lifts his hands in surrender, chuckling. “Just askin’, dude. No need to get all prissy like that.”

I frown, taking off my shirt and throwing it in the locker with more force than necessary. “I’m not being prissy.”

In reality, he’s probably right. Not like I’d ever admit it. I’m not even sure why it’s bothering me so much. I knew people would be nosy and get all up my ass. Hell, this whole thing started just because of that. Still, I don’t like it.

“So is it true?”

“Is what true?”

“Are you dating her?”

I narrow my eyes at him, trying to figure out where he stands with all of this. “So what if I am?”

Elliott lifts his hands in the air. “Nothing, man. Just wanna know what my best friend is doing.” He smirks knowingly. “That was quite a show you two put on today. I didn’t think she’d be so… territorial.”

Jessica? Territorial? Overme? Yeah, right.

“She wasn’t territorial, she was just…”

“Oh, yeah, she was.” Elliott’s laughter draws the attention of a few more of our teammates. “She all but pissed on you, man.”

I rub my hand over my face, already feeling the looming headache. “Whatever you say. She got rid of Lisa for me, so I don’t mind it one bit.”

“Oh yeah, Lisa.” He cringes at the mention of her name and I sympathize.

Lisa is one ofthosegirls. The ones who’ll do anything and everything to get to where they want to be, which is the top of the food chain in the school hierarchy. And since the top spot suddenly emptied with the graduation of last year’s senior class, she’s all in to get what she wants. Nobody particularly likes her, but we all have to put up with her because she’s on the cheer team, and the coach expects us to be on good terms with the girls.

“Yes, Lisa.” I grab my pads and start putting them on. “Can you believe she came to me with the story that we should be together since she’s the new head cheerleader and I’m the quarterback?” I shudder at the thought. “Seriously dude, that girl’s insane.”

“Seriously insane at sucking dick,” one of the defense players adds and the locker room fills with chuckles and snickers of agreement. “You should give it a try.”

I shake my head at them. “I’m not in the mood to have my brains sucked out, and then have her stuck to my side like a tick.”

“Didn’t you hear?” Bruno, our linebacker, pipes in. “Cap has a girlfriend now.”

This earns me more whistles and catcalls.

“Who’s the lucky lady?”

“Jessica Bryant.”

“Stick-up-her-ass Jessica?”

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