Page 23 of A Fool's Game

“You seem upset.”

I laugh, too loud, a harsh bark. “Yeah, I’m upset. But it’s okay. You go…do you. I’ll be fine.”

She isn’t going anywhere. “You’re pissed because of Taylor.”

“I’m surprised to learn that you have a boyfriend, sure. I’m baffled that you chose that asshole, definitely. And I’m confused about why you gave me your number in the first place.”

“I gave you my number because I was hoping you might be my boyfriend too.”

Confusion gives way to hilarity which dissolves into blind rage.

Ten, nine, eight, seven… I breathe slowly. I bring myself back under control.

Unfortunately, it’s not enough to make me walk away. It’s only enough to force more words out of my mouth—the last thing I should be doing right now. “You…what?”

She shrugs. “I thought you and I really hit it off.”

“I thought so, too. But you failed to mention your boyfriend.”

“It never came up.”

I feel my head tilt at an odd angle. I probably look like a maniac. “That’s certainly true.”

“So, what do you say?” she asks, as if her proposal was the most reasonable thing on the planet.

“What do I say to dating the same girl as some other guy?” I know my voice is too loud. I know people are staring. But I just can’t bring myself to care right now.

“You’ve never done it before?”

Another harsh laugh escapes my lips. “No.”

She shrugs. “You never know until you try.”

“I’m pretty sure I know.”

Her hands perch adorably on her hips, and she cocks herhead to the side. A pang of longing hits me like nothing I’ve ever felt before. This is exactly what I wanted—this woman standing in front of me. I never imagined it could go so wrong.

“You said you were open-minded.”

I shake my head. “Yeah, well. I thought I was.”

“You said nothing you found out about me would change your mind. You said it wouldn’t matter if I was a serial killer.”

“Way to call my bluff.”

“Just come hang out with us. One time. No pressure.”

“I just spent the last five days with that guy making my life a living hell. I’m not going to hang out with him in my free time.”

She glances over her shoulder to the table where Taylor sits and then back at me, forehead creased with a question. “Taylor?”

“Yeah, Taylor.”

She shakes her head. “I didn’t know you worked with him. He means well. He’s just…dedicated.”

“Dedicated to being an asshole,” I mutter under my breath.

“Tomorrow night. My house,” she says as if she didn’t hear me.

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