Page 23 of Foul & Fake
Like the fact that I used blackmail and was actively stalking you when she ran into me.
She visibly relaxes, and it occurs to me that she was worried I told her — or worse, showed her — the video. “Oh. And how long does the whole hazing thing last? I meant to ask you.”
Read: how long do we have to keep this up?
“Usually the season, but it tapers off before the end of the year. It probably gets old fast. You looking for an out already?”
“No,” she says with a slight frown. “I just wondered how long we have to keep this up before they figure out it isn’t real. Probably after the season, huh? If we stop right when the hazing does, it’ll look suspicious.”
“Probably, but by then what can they do I guess? I’ll take whatever it is if you want out before Christmas, but fall will be over before you know it. I’ll keep them off your back.” Even if I have to say she never knew it was fake and put the whole thing on me being lazy, I will. “You were never supposed to be a target, Riley. If anything they’d want to prank Oakley, but I can talk those dicks down.”
She shrugs a little, refusing to look at me. “I feel like a New Year’s breakup could be believable.”
Tentatively, I reach over and slot our pinkies together. “You should break my heart publicly,” I joke. “No-holds-barred.”
“Oh, I plan on it. The whole nine. Drunken tears, throwing things at you, airing all our dirty laundry. It’ll be a spectacle like Northgate has never seen.” She squeezes my pinky. “Okay, then. New Year’s.”
“New Year’s,” I agree, both of us going quiet for a beat before I force myself to break it. “So I should probably let you get back to kicking names and taking ass, but I wanted to ask if you’ll go to my game tomorrow.”
She grins. “Can I bring Josh? He’ll be devastated if I go without him, and I need someone to explain to me what’s happening.”
“Yeah, Josh is cool. You can sit with my sister if you want, but no pressure.”
I stand up to take my leave, but before I do I tug her chair out to spin it toward me, then brace my hands on the armrests. “You should probably give me a little peck to seal our deal.”
“Oh, should I?” She reaches up, cupping my chin and pulling me down, stopping just shy of my lips. She’s so close to me, I can feel her lips move as she whispers, “Think this is close enough?”
“Nope.” I press my lips to hers once, twice, three times, and then hold a second longer to edge us both. “There we go. Enjoy the cupcake.”
I tap her nose and then take my leave, glancing back over my shoulder once to make sure she’s watching me go, and when I meet her eyes I toss her a wink.
We may not be actually dating, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun until New Year’s. We just have to make sure we don’t get lost in our roles, because every time I’m with her, I see how easy it could be to get caught up in the moment. I need to keep my head in the game.
Chapter 9
Boundaries
RILEY
“Well that was… something,” I mumble, snuggling a little harder inside Eli’s oversized Vipers hoodie. They won, I guess, and it seemed like Eli did a good job, but it might as well be a dead language for all I can understand it.
The funniest part is I could tell which girls were forced to be here by some other dumb soccer boy, but I have a feeling none of them were forced in the same way that I was. The scowling girl that sat next to me almost had me curious enough to ask though. I think she said her name is Mayson? “Is it always so cold at these things?”
Josh nods, but his attention is on the Vipers’ celebration as we make our way toward the exit with the crowd. “Honey, it’s September in Washington. It’s always cold.”
The reminder that I have to fake-date Elias Reyes for the next four months brings a little heat back to my body, but it vanishes instantly when I see a girl walking toward us with purpose.
Shit. Is that his sister?
I feel ridiculous in a hoodie the size of a dress as she approaches, and I don’t know whether to smile or be on guard.
“Hi,” she says, familiar dimples peeking out the second she reaches me. “I’m Juliana, Elias’ sister. You’re Riley?”
Oh god. “Yeah,” I say quickly, flicking my eyes briefly to her friend. “Riley Dattner. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Really?” she says with a chuckle. “I’m sure he didn’t tell you the time he chased me with a bee. I’m allergic by the way, so you have my full permission to hit him in the nuts whenever you need to.”
“Good to know. I might just take you up on that.”
