Page 48 of Playing a Player (Sweet Cravings 1)

I'm falling for a guy who just wants to be my friend. So I have to listen to his bed squeak and other women scream his name. I have to sit next to him on the couch and pretend everything is fine. And I have to watch the guy I'm falling for eventually fall for someone else.

The article was basically just me saying that I

was an awkward failure. But I didn't want to write about this now anyway. Not when I knew that I was falling for Rory. I pressed send before I could change my mind. Hopefully Judy would just reject it and I could move onto writing something else. I got up and went into the kitchen. I had been writing for hours, and it was almost dark. If Rory had gone to work, he would have been back by now. He was definitely avoiding me. I walked back into my room and slammed the door. The thought of eating made me feel nauseous. None of this was fun anymore. Any thought I had of it being a game had disappeared. I laid my head down on my desk and started to cry.

My computer dinging, signaling I had a new email, pulled me out of my pity party. It was from Judy.

"What the hell was that? I said sexy, not sappy and boring. There was nothing about how to play with a player. Talk about what you've done. Do lists. Lists are hot right now. I've already pitched the idea to the top. Don't screw me on this."

-J

I laid my head back down on my desk. Fuck me.

Chapter 21

Rory never came home last night. I considered calling Emily and asking her what I should do, but that would involve confessing that I had taken her husband's advice instead of her own. She'd be so disappointed with me.

Rory's feelings wouldn't be hurt by this. He was playing me too. I bit my lip. He wasn't. He had warned me that a one night stand wasn't what I wanted. But I kept pushing him until he finally had sex with me. He had been trying to look out for me.

With each minute he didn't come home, the more I realized that none of this mattered. He had probably slept with another woman last night. He might even be fucking her again right now. He didn't want me. Screw this. I'd mix some lies in with the truth and use a different name. He'd never know it was him. I began typing furiously. I wrote down a list of things I had done to lead him on, trying to compile a step by step guide on how to play a player. After a lot of brainstorming I came up with five solid steps: give him a taste, remain unattached, flip the switch, turn up the heat, and make him jealous.

Step one was "Give Him a Taste." I described playing along with Rory's idea of a one night stand. Writing about it was actually fun. Just thinking about his lips pressed against mine sent a chill down my spine. I emailed my new article over to Judy along with the list of steps, presenting the idea that each part of the series would be a different step. This time I was confident that it was exactly what she wanted.

By the time I was done, it was almost 5 o'clock. Poker night was tonight, and even though Rory was avoiding me, I was hoping he'd at least be home for that. Which meant I needed to get ready fast.

***

I finished applying my mascara and looked in the mirror. My tight, lacy, crop top looked perfect with my super short skirt. I grabbed a necklace and put it on. It hung right between my breasts. Everything about this outfit screamed "whore." Fortunately I didn't actually have a date.

The boys had started playing poker in the living room a few minutes ago. They were laughing and cursing. I wasn't even sure if they knew I was home. Rory was definitely there. I recognized his laugh. I loved his laugh.

For some reason I was incredibly nervous to leave my room. I hadn't seen Rory since the shower incident. And now I needed to lie to him and say I had a hot date. Would they all be able to tell I was lying? "You can do this," I said to myself in the mirror.

I took a deep breath and walked out into the hallway. Rory, Jackson, and Connor were all sitting around the poker table.

"Hey, guys!"

All of their heads turned toward me.

"Damn, Keira, you look amazing." Connor pulled out the seat next to him. "I'll deal you in. We were wondering when you were going to show up."

"Oh, sorry, I can't join you guys tonight." I leaned against the armrest of the couch.

"But you were going to be our fourth. We're not stripping this time," Jackson added.

I laughed. "Well that doesn't sound nearly as enticing."

"We can play strip poker if you want," Connor said and winked at me.

"I'm really sorry, guys, but I completely forgot that it was poker night. I made plans."

"That's fine. Just invite them over here," Jackson said. "The more people, the more fun. Especially if we're switching to strip poker again. New meat!"

New meat? Sometimes the things Jackson said sounded awfully gay. "No, I mean I can't play."

"Why?"

"Actually, I have a date tonight." I smiled to myself, hoping that it would look like I was really excited to see the sexy man I was going on a date with.

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