Page 66 of Make the Play

I roll my eyes, scanning the menu as the waiter approaches to take our order. Once the waiter leaves, I can’t help but glance at him again. He’s watching me, but not like before. Not like the smug bastard who walked through my door earlier, carnations in hand.

This is different.

There’s something behind his eyes, now. He's waiting, reading something I haven’t even written yet.

“So,” I say, refusing to let him get under my skin. “How long do you think you can keep up this perfect boyfriend act before you mess it all up? A week? A month?”

Chase raises an eyebrow, but the smile never leaves his face. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll surprise you.”

“Doubt it.”

We fall into silence, the first real break of the night. He plays his part perfectly—smiling, easygoing, saying all the right things. But I can feel his eyes on me, like he’s still waiting for something.

I ignore it until, halfway through the meal, he sighs and sets down his fork.

“Okay, seriously, what’s with you tonight?”

“What do you mean?”

He gestures vaguely at me. “I mean, you’re laying it on a little thick. I get that this isn’t exactly your dream situation, but can we at least try to enjoy the night? Just have dinner with your friend?”

The sudden sincerity in his voice throws me. Chase is never serious, never genuine when we’re like this. It’s always banter and teasing, but right now he looks frustrated.

I drop my gaze to my plate, guilt brewing inside of me.

He leans forward, voice lowering. “Even if this whole thing is fake, I’d still like to have a real conversation with you. Maybe even make you laugh, if I’m lucky.”

I glance up, catching his eye. For a moment, the familiar playfulness is gone, replaced by something that feels real. Something tangles in my chest at the sight, and I don’t know what to say, so I go for thinly-veiled humor.

“You think you’re that funny?”

His smirk returns, but it’s softer now. “Want me to tell you about the time Jake got his jersey stuck in the shower curtain at the arena? Took five of us to untangle him.”

I snort before I can stop myself. “Are you serious?”

“Deadly,” he says, grinning now. “He was like a trapped animal. We thought he was gonna gnaw his way out.”

Laughter bubbles up before I can stop it, and Chase watches me, his smile widening.

“There it is,” he murmurs. “My favorite sound.”

I stop laughing, caught off guard again by the way he’s looking at me. My heart stutters in my chest, and for a moment, I forget where we are. I forget about the cameras, the media, the whole fake relationship thing. It’s just me and Chase.

But before I can think too much about it, the waiter comes back with the check, and the moment passes. Chase signs the bill, standing up as I do. We head for the door, and I can already see the flashes from outside waiting for us.

“Ready to face the vultures?” Chase asks, offering me his arm with a grin.

I sigh, sliding my arm through his. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

The second we step outside, the cameras go wild again, and the shouts from the paparazzi are deafening. Chase keeps his cool, waving and smiling like a pro, while I try to keep up, doing my best to look like a woman in love.

“Chase! Zoe! Over here!”

“Give us a kiss!”

I freeze, my mind going blank, and for the first time since this started, Chase doesn’t automatically play along. He doesn’t move in, doesn’t even look at me, and it hits me all at once. He’s waiting, respecting my rule.

No kissing.

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