Page 82 of The Love Playbook

And I have to say, if this is what a relationship with Jackson is like? I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.

CHAPTER FORTY

Jackson

Autumn and I settle into a comfortable routine. Sometimes she comes to my place. Sometimes I stay at hers. Finding time for each other is nowhere near as insurmountable an obstacle as she tried to pretend it would be when she was searching for reasons to push me away.

She breezes into the kitchen and turns her face up for a kiss.

“Keep it PG, please,” Eli says as he follows her in.

Autumn casts him a glance, her wicked smile in place as she reaches for me again.

Laughing, I grab her hands before she can start rubbing my dick through my clothes. “Eli. Dude. You should know by now that comments like that just make her do the opposite of what you want.”

Eli chuckles as he rips open a bag of chips and dumps them into a bowl. It’s game night. Autumn’s here early to help us set up. People are due to start showing up soon. “Yeah, man. That’s the point. I thought it’d be funny to see your reaction to people walking in while your girlfriend’s feeling you up.”

Right on cue, my cheeks heat. Then there’s a knock on the door before it bursts open, admitting Andrew, Liam, and Dylan.

Eli cackles, and Autumn swats him on the shoulder before heading to the living room to greet the new arrivals. We’re doing a single elimination tournament again tonight, and Autumn has decided that she’s in charge of the sign-up sheet and brackets. I think it’s mostly because it’s a good excuse not to play, but also she enjoys pairing people up in what she considers the most advantageous arrangements—her words, not mine.

We both watch her walk away, and Eli lets out a sigh. “I know I tried to warn you off her, and for a while there it looked like I was right and I had to workreallyhard not to tell you that I told you so. But I’m glad things are working out for you guys.”

“Thanks, man. Me too.”

Soon the living room is overflowing with teammates and friends with raucous laughter and shouts of encouragement filling the air as the tournament gets underway. By the end of the night, I’ve been eliminated and it’s down to Dani and Eli battling out on the couch, both of their faces fixed in expressions of determination like they’re both fighting to the death instead of playingMario Kartin our living room.

Autumn comes up next to me, and I put my arm around her to pull her close. “This was fun,” she says just loud enough for me to hear, turning her face up for a quick kiss. “I think I’ll be in charge of the roster from now on.”

Chuckling, I give her a squeeze, then let my hand drift down her back to her ass. “Sounds good.”

Her face thoughtful, she watches Dani and Eli, letting out a hum.

“What?” I ask. “What are you thinking?” I know Eli’s been crushing on Dani for ages. Maybe Autumn knows something about Dani’s feelings?

But she shakes her head, turning a smile my way. “Oh, nothing. Just thinking.”

I glance between her and our friends on the couch. “Care to share your thoughts?”

Her hand snakes its way around my waist, her fingers dipping below my waistband. “My biggest thought is that I can’t wait until everyone gets out of here. I’m ready to get you alone and naked.”

Turning to face her fully, I claim her lips. “Let Eli deal with getting everyone out. We’ll help clean up later. Let’s go to my room.”

With a smile, she turns and leads the way.

If someone had told me at the beginning of the semester that this is where I’d end it, I’d have laughed in their face. And I guess I’m still laughing. But now it’s from happiness. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

EPILOGUE

Dani

“And here we go,” Autumn says as she pulls me to my feet and leads me to stand in front of the bathroom mirror.

“Whoa,” is all I can manage. I had no idea I could even look like this. My hair falls around my shoulders in loose dark waves, which is apparently my natural texture. My makeup is subtle, just enough to enhance my features, but I don’t look overly made up. I look like me, just … pumped up a couple notches. My clothes … Well, that’s another story. I tend to live in joggers and hoodies, but Autumn pawed through my closet and hers to find a curve hugging tank top and a stretchy mini skirt that makes me look … well, distinctly more feminine than I’m used to, that’s for sure.

“You look hot,” Autumn tells me from her spot in the doorway. “Let me just finish getting ready, and we’ll head out.”

“Sounds … okay.” It doesn’t even matter what I say, because she’s already disappeared into her room.

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