Page 13 of Play Fake

“I got all this gear I need to get home. Think it’ll fit?” Liam asks her doubtfully, looking down at the multiple gym bags at his feet.

Olivia has a small car that gets around, but it is definitely not designed to haul gear for football players.

“Umm. I don’t know. Kenz is riding with me today too,” she frowns at the pile.

“I can squish in the back,” I offer, even though I’m not excited about it.

“We can try.” Olivia shrugs.

“I can give her a ride,” Waylon offers.

Panic at the idea of being alone with him surges in my chest. The last thing on earth I want is to be stuck in the cab of his truck while he mocks me.

“I’m going out to eat with Liv,” I interject.

“I can take you to the diner. Actually, if ya’ll don’t care, I could go for a burger myself.”

“Of course, Waylon. You’re always welcome,” Liv gives him a warm little smile, and I want to jab her in the side, but there’s no sneaky way to do that.

“Do you mind?” Olivia looks at me.

Yes. Yes, I mind so much I could scream it. But if I do, I’m going to make a scene over something that’s innocuous on the surface.

“Nope. That’s fine,” I shrug, like it’s no big deal. This is what I get for keeping secrets from my best friend. If I’d told her what had happened, she wouldn’t be putting me in this position. Except I didn’t tell her, so now I have to play along.

“You’re both gonna arrive at the diner alive and in one piece, though, right?” Liam asks, eyeing Waylon.

“Of course,” Waylon offers him a big grin. “We can keep our hands to ourselves, can’t we, Mac?”

“Never been a problem for me,” I answer him tightly.

And with that, my fate is sealed, and before I know it, I’m sitting in Waylon’s truck, listening to country music as we head toward the diner. I’m thankful it’s not too far of a drive because the tension in the cab from both of us not speaking is mounting with each additional minute that ticks by.

“I’m sorry about the other morning. Scaring you,” he says finally, his eyes glued to the road.

The apology surprises me, and I’m quiet for a second before I can respond.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry too. I was kind of bitchy. I didn’t mean to be. You just really scared me.”

“It’s fine. I like you bitchy.” He glances over and grins.

I have no idea what to say to that, so I just go back to staring down the road, watching the clouds roll over the foothills in the distance, and listening to the music on his radio. As we pull into a parking spot outside the diner, he jumps out and rounds the hood to open my door. My jaw almost drops because I’d never taken Waylon for the type, and it feels like an awkward gesture between us.

He holds his hand out for me expectantly, and I must look at him like he’s lost his mind.

“It’s a bigger drop with the way the curb is. Just don’t want you to eat shit and have Olivia and Liam kick my ass for it.” He raises his hand impatiently again.

This time I take it, and it envelops mine. As I go to step down, though, he wraps an arm around the back of my thighs and hauls me out in one swift motion putting me on the ground again, releasing me as quickly as he grabbed me.

I give a little gasp of indignation and turn to glare at him.

“If I would have told you what I was gonna do, you would’ve fought me. This way, it’s already done.” He winks at me and shuts the door to the cab.

I readjust the strap of my bag on my shoulder and make for the door. I don’t like the way the feel of his body against mine reminds me of the other morning. Not even a little bit, not even at all. I’m thankful when I see Olivia and Liam have already found a table, but less so when I notice they’re tucked in on one side of a booth.

I slide into the free side, groaning internally when the giant of a man at my back slides in next to me, necessitating I squish as close to the wall as possible to avoid touching him. He sees the motion and a little smirk pops across his face before he manspreads, pinning his thigh against mine.

The little bit of good will I’d had for him after the apology evaporates, I give him a surreptitious glare before Olivia hands me the menu, and I smile and thank her.