Page 70 of The Off-Limits Play

“Why?”

“So I can program my number into it. I want updates on Zoey.”

“Oh. Yeah, I guess that’s okay.” Digging it out of his back pocket, he hands it over, and I plug in my details under Keyser Söze.

Handing it back, I finally get myself a smile as he laughs and shakes his head. “No, that’s not gonna work.” His phone taps out a beat as he deletes the name and replaces it with Sci-Fi Girl.

“Lame.” I wink at him.

“It’s that or Lady Limpalot.”

I laugh. “And you think my insults are bad. Boy, you better come up with a better name for me than sci-fi girl.”

“I’ll work on it,” he mumbles, fighting a grin as he puts his phone away.

“Promise you’ll text me?”

“Yeah.” He nods. “I’ll let you know how Zoey’s doing.”

“Don’t just text me about that.” I rest my chin on my arms, grinning at him and wondering how I’m ever gonna walk away from this car.

Can the night just last forever, please?

Can I just hop back into the passenger seat, and he can drive us somewhere quiet? Somewhere dark and secluded so we can?—

“Well, I better get going.”

“When am I gonna see you again?”

He lets out a soft sigh and shrugs. “Not sure.”

I narrow my eyes at him, loving the way the streetlights cast shapes across his gorgeous face. He looks like a piece of artwork, all serious and sharp in the soft yellow glow.

“I’m going to a party on Saturday night. Come with me.”

“I can’t.”

“But you don’t have a game this weekend. You can stay up as late as you want. Better yet, why don’t we spend the day together as well?”

“I can’ttake youto a party.” He gives me a pointed look, like I’m stupid for even suggesting it. “And I’ve got shit going on this weekend.”

“What shit?”

“It doesn’t matter, and that’s not even the point. I can’t be seen hanging out with you.”

I huff and shake my head. I’m seriously gonna have to talk to my dad about this bullshit rule. He can’t go hindering my dating life this way.

He will never be okay with Carson, so just keep your mouth shut.

“You don’t have to take me to the party.” I try for one more sell. “It’s at the Sigma Beta Mu house, and I’m going. If you happen to show up, I might see you there.” I wiggle my eyebrows at him.

Working his jaw to the side, he shakes his head again, and I can’t help whining in frustration.

“Come on! As soon as you arrive, we’ll disappear into a dark corner or a bedroom upstairs and no one will even see us together. You can even sneak in a side window if you want to. Just text me when you get there, okay?” I point at him.

He stares at my finger—well, glares at it—before giving me the smallest, barely there nod anyone has ever done.

It’s really hard to know if he means it, but I smile anyway and step back from the car.

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