Page 86 of Playing a Player (Sweet Cravings 1)

"So what makes this different than the past hundred girls you've slept with?"

"Jesus, Jackson, would you keep your voice down?"

Gross. I knew I shouldn't be listening, but it was hard to stop. Had he really slept with over a hundred women? How many women had he slept with since he had moved in? I tried to stop my brain from doing the math. I didn't want to know the answer. Luckily Jackson's voice derailed my train of thought.

"I'm just saying..."

"Well it's different."

"Why?"

"If you're not careful I'm going to spit in your crêpe, Jackson."

"Dude. Chill. I just think if you're not really serious about her, then you probably shouldn't have asked her out. She clearly adores you. It's just going to get super messy when things go south. I mean, she is your roommate after all. Do you even know how to be in a relationship?"

"Why do you just assume I'm going to fuck this up? I am serious about her. I wouldn't have asked her to be my girlfriend if I didn't want to be with her. She's different. You know she's different. She's nothing like Harper."

Harper. That must have been his ex's name. It sounded so pretentious.

"Well thank God," Connor said.

They were all silent for a moment.

"Look, Connor," Rory said. "I'm sorry if I..."

"Keira's a catch," Connor cut in. "You would have been crazy not to take the next step. I think she's perfect for you. Congrats, Rory. You win."

"Thanks, man. See, Jackson. That's why I tell Connor stuff first."

"Yeah, whatever. You and Keira make a cute couple. Yadda, yadda. Happy now? Feed me please."

"I still might spit in your crêpe."

"As long as it has extra Nutella I don't even care. And I am happy for you. I just knew that Connor had a crush on Keira too. I don't want this to tear us apart."

"Is that why you're acting so weird this morning?" Connor laughed. "Look, like I said, Rory won. I've officially bowed out of this thing. Keira and I are just friends. That's it. You're being a little dramatic, Jackson."

"I just don't want this to break us up," Jackson said.

Geez, Jackson was so sensitive. I didn't want to hear anything else about how I was ruining their friendship. I wouldn't ever let that happen. They had all become my friends too. I opened up the door and stepped out. All three of them turned to me.

"So what does Sunday Brunch Day usually entail?" I asked.

"Usually we're too hung over to do anything fun," Jackson said. "But since we didn't have a late night last night, maybe we can play a game or something."

"Yeah? I have a whole bunch of games in the closet in my bedroom. What do you guys want to play?" I asked.

"I'm thinking we should just play Never Have I Ever." Jackson smiled at me.

"We're definitely not playing that," Rory said. "What do you want in your crêpe, Keira?"

"Whatever you recommend." I slid into the stool next to Connor.

"That just means you have a lot to hide, Rory," Jackson said. "Actually, I think it would be good for your budding romance with Keira if you

both aired out your dirty laundry."

"Jackson, cut it out," Connor said.

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