Page 11

“That’s my boy!”

“Well, damn!”

“Get a room!”

Caleb runs his tongue across my lower lip, and I gasp at the feeling. Using my reaction to his advantage, he sweeps his tongue into my mouth. It is hot and deep and feels like something we should not be doing in front of his whole team. Something we shouldn’t be doing at all. We definitely should not be kissing, but I can’t stop him. I don’t want to.

He grabs my arms and hooks them around his neck. He does the same with my legs so that I’m wrapped around him.

“Hold on,” he whispers against my lips as he lifts us from the ground with ease and walks back towards where I left my stuff.

Trevor is standing there, slacked jaw at the sight of us. I would be too. Our kiss came out of nowhere, but it’s too late to back out now.

I clear my throat. “Why are you carrying me?”

“I don’t need the team to see me with a hard-on.”

“Wait, what do you—” I swallow when I finally pay attention to the hard mass pressed against my center.

He kisses my neck. “Yeah.”

“Safe to say everyone thinks we are dating,” I mutter, hiding my face in his neck.

“Perfect. There’s no backing out now.”

When we reach Trevor, he taps my butt and loosens his grip on me. Immediately, I jump off him and try to put some distance between us.

Trevor points between the two of us. “How long has this been going on, and why didn’t I know? I feel left out of the gang.”

“For a little bit now,” I say, realizing Caleb and I need to work out details of our ‘relationship’ so we are on the same page.

“The pictures circling around on social media…” Trevor begins.

Caleb shakes his head. “I was with them for less than five minutes. They wanted pictures. I definitely did not sleep with any of them.”

Trevor lets out a breath. “Good. There was some talk I didn’t like going on with the coach and higher-ups. This will calm them down.”

Damn. Caleb was being really serious. I thought he added a little dramatics like he usually does. But it’s the real deal. His career is at stake.

“Good. Cause he’ll be sleeping on the porch if I see some shit like that again.” I give Caleb a look. I mean it. He better count his days if it happens again. I’m not about to be out here looking like the stupid girlfriend. Even if it is fake. The people don’t know that.

He grabs my hand and gives it a kiss. “I solemnly swear to not be an idiot again.”

“You better.”

5

Josephine

“You're lucky my outfit is still intact,” I complain to Caleb as we walk into his apartment. He has to shower, then we are heading to my parent’s house for dinner.

It will only be the four of us since my older sister, Justine, recently moved to New York to pursue her dreams as an artist. I miss her a lot. We weren’t super close growing up, but now we are thick as thieves. If there is one person who I’m telling the truth about Caleb, it’s her. She’s going to think I’ve lost my mind.

He ignores me, so I continue, “We should’ve talked about your plan. You know I don’t like to be surprised like that. I need at least a ten-minute warning before you do something shocking like that. Oh my god, we have to tell my parents we are dating. We should tell them we are fake dating. No. We can’t do that. They won’t approve of this scheme. Plus, imagine telling them I’m doing this for sexual favors—”

He grabs my hips and pushes me against the wall in the entrance hallway, trapping me against him.

He grins at me with patient eyes. “JJ, take five deep breaths.”