Page 9 of The Trade

She laughs again, folding her arms tightly across her chest. “Cass is fine, West.”

“Sure she is.”

“You know, you never told me your side of things. You and I have talked a few times since you two broke up, but you never actually mentioned what happened.”

“I didn’tbreak upwith Cass,” I clarify. “We were never together.”

“Oh, that’s not what she told people.”

“What exactly did she tell people?”

“She said you wanted to be exclusive, but she didn’t.” A sweet smirk twists her expression. “Then you got angry and called her a slut in front of the whole football team.”

“God, Shan.” I give her a humorless snort. “I think you know me better than that. I mean, come on ... you really believed that bullshit for the past two months?”

“Not really.”

“Look ...we were never really together,” I adamantly repeat. “Cassidy was also hooking up with other guys on the team, you know? I told her I knew about it ...but I was trying to have a private conversation. She was the one who started shouting at me in front of Cam. Which, by the way, he was the only other guy around us at the time.Whole team, my ass.”

“That sounds a little more reasonable.” She smiles, and a cute little dimple appears on her left cheek.

“Honestly, Shan?”

“What? You never gave me the lowdown.”

“It’s kind of an unspoken rule—don’t talk about hookups with the girl you’re interested in.”

“West ...”

“Shannon,” I counter.

“You’re notinterestedin me.”

“I’m not?” Surprise laces my words, edged with silent laughter.

“I know you, West,” she says. “I know the type of girl you usually go for, and it’s not me.”

“Yeah, no, you’re definitely my type,” I insist, running a ragged hand through my hair. “I think you’re just about everyone’s type.”

I let my gaze wander, unabashed, tracing the contours of her body. She’s undeniably attractive. Gifted with curves in the right places, her skin is a smooth canvas scattered with cute little freckles. And her lips, pouty and inviting, punctuate her soft features perfectly.

“Ohh, I see.” Her giggle is lighthearted, a faint blush filling her cheeks. “So, when you say you’re interested ... you mean you want to sleep with me.”

I raise both brows.

“West ... we’refriends.”

“Yeah.” I manage to stifle a full-fledged grin. “And I’d like to stay friends.”

“Andyou’d like to sleep with me.”

“Shannon.”

“Cass would kill me,” she argues.

“And?”

“And ... it’s not gonna happen.”

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