He gives the saddest, most pathetic little nod in history, his whole body shaking like a leaf. “You’re insane, you know that? Both of you are. You deserve each other.”
“Finally, something we agree on,” I say, and because I’m already being an alpha jock incarnate, I pretend to jump him just to watch him squirm. It sends him right out the door.
Good fucking riddance.
“What the hell was that about?” Levi asks. “How does he even know Alexis, let alone about the two of you?”
I pause, keeping my back turned to him so he can’t see my surprise. Alexis hasn’t told him, then, about the situation with Hudson. Does that mean she’s been keeping it a secret, living in that fear all alone? No, Alissa knows. Her eyes said as muchwhen she caught us on the couch and I told her about Alexis’s wrist. Still, to keep that kind of thing all to yourself…
“I don’t know, man,” I say slowly. “But I don’t trust him for a second. If you see him around, make sure he doesn’t go near Alexis. Just to be safe.”
“You and Alexis, huh?” Raf grins. “I can’t believe you finally made a move on her without telling me. We’re supposed to be best friends, man.”
Hearing Raf say we’re friends sparks a warm feeling in my chest, though the puzzled look on Levi’s face at the wordfinallyreminds me I have to play into the ruse, not the truth.
“It just sort of happened,” I shrug. “We’re taking it slow, though. You haven’t missed much.”
Raf jabs me in the chest with a laugh. “Yeah, right. You can play innocent all you want, Taylor, but you know I’m going to get the truth out of you at some point.”
With one last glance at the door I let Levi bring me back to the group, trying to steady myself enough that I can pretend I’m just playing my part.
My teammates, not even trying to hide the fact they got another round in Levi’s absence, cheer as we approach.
“What was that about?” Eric asks, jerking his chin towards the bar, and Raf claps my shoulder.
“Blake’s got himself a girlfriend,” he sings in a teasing tone, and to my horror everyone but a scowling Levi joins in the chorus as he sings, “Blake and Alexis sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.”
“Alright, alright. Settle down.” I roll my eyes like I’m in on the joke, though really, Iamthe joke.
Because I am obsessed with a girl who loves to remind me that what we have is fake. A girl so lovely and kind that I’m drawn to her like a moth to a flame. A girl for whom I’d destroy myself to be close to her.
It defies all logic, the way she is worth every risk. Every inconvenience. She might have only known my name for a few weeks, but it’s longer than I deserve. She will never love me, and I don’t even care.
Because Alexis Moore is the sun in my universe, and I only want to be in her orbit.
Chapter 9
Alexis
At exactly eight p.m.,Blake texts to say he’s out front.
I drag my feet, of course. I can feel the flare-up of pain looming over me from a mile away, and crowded places are my definition of hell. There is also the issue of our near-kiss hanging between us, a thing we haven’t spoken about since it happened. But I promised I would go with him if only to keep us in the game. So after the third honk, I force myself to leave my safe cocoon and face him.
“Hey,” I say as I slide into the passenger seat. “Thanks for picking me up.”
Blake twists in his seat to face me, his eyes dragging over me as his gaze slightly darkens. “Always. You look cute tonight, Sunshine.”
“Cute?” I smirk. I put on my sluttiest outfit, though I suppose that’s still tame compared to other girl’s day clothes. A tight-fitting white dress that shows a lot—truly, a lot—of cleavage, heels that will make me regret having legs by the end of the night, and lightly patterned tights. Sure, most of it is covered by a long, knit cardigan, but still. Cute is not the word I would use.
“Would you prefer another adjective?” Blake raises a brow. “Ravishing, perhaps?”
I laugh. “You can use whatever words you want.”
“About that,” Blake twists even further in his seat until he’s fully facing me, a position that cannot possibly be comfortable for someone his size. “Can you give me a rundown of things you’re okay with? Like, can I hold your hand, touch your arm? Maybe kiss your cheek if it gets to it?”
I take a moment to process his question, the words leaving his lips at quite the speed as if he’d been afraid to ask.
“You are supposed to be my boyfriend,” I say. “You can touch me wherever you want, call me whatever you want, as long as you warn me before you do something big.”
