Page 69 of Make the Play

And now I can’t stop fucking replaying it. The way she fit against me, the way she smiled against my mouth like the joke was on both of us. The way her fingers curled in my jacket, not ready to let go.

The second she stepped away, I watched her slide the mask back on. Cool and composed, because the whole thing was just strategy.

BecauseIwas just strategy.

But I wasn’t strategizing, not for a damn second. And that’s the problem. Because she thinks this is fake, and I’m stuck somewhere between fantasy and free-fall.

She kissed me like it meant nothing, and I kissed her like it meant everything.

And it’s not just about the kiss. It’s her. It’s the way she laughs with her whole chest when she thinks no one’s watching. The way she gets quiet when she’s overthinking. The way she rolls her eyes and still lets me orbit her world as if I belong there.

My phone buzzes against the counter, the sharp vibration dragging me out of the spiral. I don’t even have to look to know who it is.

Sticks out for the boys????

Ryan:Well, well, well look who’s in love

Logan:Goddamn it I was in a meeting and missed it live. someone send the clip

Jake:10/10 kiss, chaz. excellent form. good hand placement. a little eager but we’ll let it slide.

Ryan:he def moaned into it

Eli:MOANED?

Jake:yeah man. the footage is right there. manhandled, blushed, then moaned. tragic

Me:I hate all of you

Logan:but you love Zoe…

Me:blocked.

Eli:so how long has this been going on exactly?

Me:this? the bullying? my entire fucking life?

Reid:no, dumbass. you being in love with Zoe.

Me:I’m not in love with her, we’re just dating

Logan:the nile is a river…

I stare down at my phone, thumbs hovering over the screen, knowing I should reply and fire something back, because that’s what I do.

But tonight, I don’t have it in me because for the first time, it’s not a joke. Not a crush. Not something I can laugh off.

My heart thuds once as I let myself think the one thought I’ve been denying since the beginning, and I blow out a slow breath, expelling the truth into the air, hoping maybe it’ll land somewhere safe.

I’ve been in love with Zoe for years.

Quietly. Pathetically. In that aching, too-scared-to-act-on-it kind of way. And tonight was the moment I realized she’s going to break my fucking heart.

Not on purpose, but because she’s pretending this whole thing is fake, while I’m struggling to pretend it’s anything but real after justonekiss.

Which is really fucking inconvenient considering we’ve got cameras watching, fans commenting, a whole fucking storyline being written about us, and she’s still treating it like a game.

Fuck.

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