“You think we’ll need to order a doctor?” Her lips quirk. She’s messing with me and my use of the expression.
“Ha ha.” Unless Cain gives me trouble, but I find that highly doubtful given it’s his big day. How he found a woman to tolerate him, I’ll never understand.
I let out a long sigh and brace myself for what I’ve always considered the biggest challenge of my life, bigger than a pro ball game. But I’ve had it wrong. Cateline is my biggest challenge. Keeping my hands (and mind and the other thing that supposedly lives in my chest) off her.
But I’m a Boston Bruiser through and through. I won’t stop until I win.
Win what? Her affection.
Playbook or not, I’m in trouble.
“See you in the morning,” I say and hurry from Cat’s room.
When I get to mine, I study her handwriting on the list. The bullet points that look strangely like hearts. The wordloveis at the top.
If I cross out one little three-letter word, it could be a love list.
22
CATELINE
Now Connor knows my dirty little secret. Well, not dirty. Messy. I’m a mess and use notes to keep my life organized. My head in order. I close the door to my room to keep the chaos hidden.
But I cannot be mad at him. Okay, maybe a little, because he really leaned in hard with the teasing when it came to the not-love list.
He’s such a butt. Not the GOAT or even a goat. They can be cute. I mean an actual butt. “Connor Wolfe is a big butty butt head.”
I kick the pile of socks he made and flop onto my bed. My hair is loose and stringy after leaving the towel on for too long. My skin is dry because I didn’t moisturize after he barged into my pig pen.
Maybe I am a guinea pig after all.
Typically, Blancbourg Academy d’Etiquette offers one week of training. However, the commissioner insisted we shadow the football players in real life for several weeks to make sure they’re applying what they learned. Without students booked forthe remainder of the month, I accepted because it meant more money for the school.
When we made this arrangement, I figured I’d be a glorified babysitter. Now, I’m not sure what it means. Something shifted between Connor and me.
His expression when I walked out of the bathroom was beastly...but like he saw Beauty—Belle. Me, for the first time. That sounds silly, but I don’t know how else to explain it.
However, if I were a Disney princess, I’d probably be Mulan or Jasmine, given my dark hair and high level of independence. Without a doubt, Maggie is Cinderella. Pippa reminds me of Snow White in every way except her general appearance. As for Everly, she’d definitely be Belle.
But here I have my head in fairytale clouds. I should know better.
Whatever happened in here just minutes ago seems like something out of a fantasy. Especially when we fell and I landed on top of Connor. The way his gaze drifted to my lips like they were the most delicious thing he’d ever seen made my heart race.
Then again, he goes by Wolf.
A pesky thought pokes me in the ribs.Yeah, just keep telling yourself that, kiddo.
Maybe I will. But the fact of the matter is, Connor Wolfe and I are incompatible. End of story. It’s written in ink, for goodness’ sake.
The letter from the embassy that poked me in the ribs last week sticks out among the rubble and ruins of my wardrobe. I really should read it. Do something about it.
But for the first time in a long time, I’d rather clean my room and fold my clothes.
The next day,Connor and I depart Blancbourg to travel to the United States. I leave the school in Arthur’s care, knowing it’s in good hands. On the way to the airport, I pray I’ll have a flash of insight into how to come up with the additional funds needed while I’m gone.
I’m sure Connor will be busy at times, so I’ll be able to create the calendar, which I can sell online. That should help some. But what else can I do to raise the necessary money?
When we get to the airport, we check our bags and then head over to security.
