Page 63 of Make the Play

I glance sideways, only to find Chase already watching me. That same grin, equal parts smug and amused, playing on his lips like he knowsexactlywhat he’s doing. He leans in, mouth brushing my ear.

“You know,” he whispers, “Ireallylike it when you’re like this.”

I turn my head slowly, hoping he’ll move away from my face as I do so.

He doesn’t, but his smirk deepens. “So mean.”

Heat licks up my spine, but I refuse to acknowledge it.Refuse.

“That’s ayouproblem, Walton.”

Chase tilts his head, eyes roaming over my face, dipping down to my mouth and back again. “I don’t think it is.”

Before I can tell him where to shove that smirk, Lulu gestures across the table. “Okay, so what’s Reid’s?”

There’s a beat of silence while Logan blinks. “His what?”

Reid gestures vaguely. “She wants to know my couple name.”

The whole table falls silent for about ten whole seconds before Jake pipes up. “You’re a lone wolf, my guy.”

Logan nods solemnly. “Yeah, it’s just Reid or Hutchy. No combination necessary.”

Tamara tilts her head thoughtfully. “Maybe… Grumplestiltskin?”

I sip my drink. “Stonewall.”

Charlie shrugs. “Popsicle?”

Reid lets out the loudest exhale I’ve ever heard. “I’m going home.”

Jake points his beer at Eli. “E.T. can get you there.”

Eli flips him off without looking his way.

From the bar, Gary’s voice erupts like a thunderclap. “I swear to God, if I hear one more of these goddamn nicknames, you’re all barred!”

The table breaks into fresh laughter. Logan cackles like he’s just won the lottery, Eli scowls into his beer, and Tamara shakes her head like she regrets every life choice that led her to this moment. Even Reid cracks what might be the ghost of a smirk.

I take a slow sip of my drink, letting the noise fade just enough to notice the weight of Chase’s arm still draped around me. His fingers flex gently against my shoulder like he’s forgotten they’re there. But I haven’t.

When I glance over, he’s already watching me quietly, like he’s been doing it for a while. And for a second, I forget how to breathe.

Because the worst part isn’t the teasing or the chaos or even the fact that our fake relationship just got a goddamn nickname.

It’s that I have no fucking idea what he’s thinking.

Chapter fourteen

You just cursed me

Zoe

Scrutinizing myself in the mirror, I nearly jump out of my skin when the loud knock comes. I already know who it is before I even get to the front door of my apartment, because apparently even his damn knuckles are self-assured.

I stare at the door. Exhale. Stare some more.

Then, finally, with the deep, suffering sigh of a woman making a grave personal sacrifice, I open it.

---