Page 43 of Off Limits
‘At that wedding. Sam Conway asked me if I could ask Lemon out. And I didn’t do it, so yesterday, before the game, she hauls me into her office and asks me again.’
My brow crawls up my forehead. ‘Did you wanna ask Lemon out on a date?’
He straightens. ‘You think I’d be here with you if I did? I mean, nobody’s said so, but it kind of feels like I’m being pressured into it. Somebody said that Lemon’s down bad for me. But… what if that’s the reason I’m here. That the reason the Mutineers drafted me is because Lemon persuaded her grandfather to go for me.’
‘That’s crazy. You’re one of the most talented players out there. Everybody says so. That’s why you got picked.’
‘Then why do I get the feeling that if I don’t take Lemon out, I might get benched?’
‘No way. Did somebody tell you that?’
He sighs wearily. ‘Maybe it’s my mind playing tricks on me.’
We’re silent for a moment.
‘So, do what you’ve been asked,’ I tell him. ‘Take Lemon out on one date, show her a nice time, then let her down gently.’
It sounds ironic, because in my mind, until this moment, that’s exactly what I planned to do to Jake. Except hearing him talk, he does things to my insides. He has me imagining all kinds of things I shouldn’t be picturing right now.
‘You think that’s what I should do?’
‘You keep everybody happy. I mean, don’t show her a really good time or anything.’
The corner of his mouth curves upwards. ‘I’m thinking fancy restaurant. No trips to the lake.’
I stifle a giggle. He watches me. He has my stomach doing somersaults.
‘You haven’t eaten anything,’ he says after a moment, changing the subject.
I pick up a chip and nibble on it. ‘I’m not real hungry.’
‘River told me the rules about your shorts.’
I meet his stare. ‘She did?’
‘She watched some documentary. She was outraged.’
He’s referring to the fact that the CMC are only issued with one size of made-to-measure hotpants for our uniform. We’re not allowed to go up or down a size. It’s part of the contract. Gain any weight and you’re out.
‘I like the sound of River.’
‘I’d love for you to meet her one day.’
He’s still watching me. My breath hitches in my throat. When I raise my eyes to his, an electric current shoots through me, then I panic and look away, back toward the sunset. He’s been so truthful with me. Where do I even start to show him the same level of honesty he’s shown me?
‘You got any brothers or sisters?’ he asks.
‘Just me.’
We lapse into silence.
‘Is there something wrong?’ he asks quietly.
I push my hair behind my ears and put my bottle of beer back down. Swallow the lump in my throat. When I glance back at him, light from the sun illuminates his skin. He really is a golden boy: handsome, considerate, sweet-natured. My stomach churns. I can tell by the look in his eyes that he wants me. And it’s not just my contract. If he knew who I really was, and what I do most nights of the week, would he still wanna date me?
‘Jake, I can’t do this,’ I say, and there’s a quiver in my tone. ‘It’s in my contract. I’m not supposed to be here. I’m not supposed to be near you.’
He looks down, his fingers peeling the label on his bottle of Bud.
