Page 49 of The Play Maker

Austin shifts in his seat. “I can help you out,” he says, breaking me out of my spiral. “Tit for tat and all that.”

I arch a brow. “Help me how?”

He shrugs, that cocky smile creeping back. “Make him jealous. Or help you find someone better. Dealer’s choice.”

My eyes narrow at him. “I’m not looking for help.”

He grins, completely unbothered. “Seriously though. Who is he?” He leans in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Is he in here right now?”

I roll my eyes, heat prickling behind my ears. “You’re ridiculous.”

“But you like it.” He winks. “Come on, he goes to our school, right?”

I don’t answer. Because honestly… I don’t know.

“Then he’ll probably be at the party tomorrow night,” Austin finishes when I don’t answer. “Perfect opportunity to get your man.”

I shoot him a glare. “First of all, never say that again. And second, I’m not going.”

“You are now.”

“Austin—”

“Maisie,” he says as he slides his plate closer and steals the last mozzarella stick, “don’t make me beg.”

He leans back in the booth, one arm slung casually over the seat, the other bringing the mozzarella stick to his mouth. That slow, amused smile curves his lips—the one that makes it way too hard to look at him for too long without forgetting how to speak.

“You need to let loose sometimes, Mais. You can’t spend all your time wrapped up in your head.”

A weird feeling swirls in my stomach, and I bite back the urge to argue.

Because he’s not wrong. I do live up there in my head, spinning circles and chewing thoughts until they’re paper-thin.

His smile softens. The teasing fades from his voice. “You helped me out a shit ton with classes,” he says quietly. “Let me do this for you. I’m a good wingman—I promise.”

I open my mouth, then close it again.

Because, as much as I hate the idea of being in a crowded room with sweaty bodies full of people I don’t know, I also don’t want to spend another night alone in my bedroom, staring at a screen, wondering if I’m ever going to feel anything real.

So I exhale slowly. “Fine.”

His grin widens. “I knew you’d cave.”

I roll my eyes, but the smile that tugs at my lips feels inevitable whenever I’m around him.

He takes a massive bite of his burger, chews, swallows, then turns back to me. “It’ll be fun. I promise,” he says, his mouth quirking into a boyish grin. “I’m going to help you get your guy.”

And even though I know the odds of Six being there are next to nothing, I can’t help the way my chest flutters at the thought of spending more time with Austin.

Because when I’m with him… I don’t feel like hiding.

11

AUSTIN

“You’re gonna break your teeth clenching your jaw like that,” I tell Nathan, grinning as I nudge his shoulder with mine.

He doesn’t look at me, just glares across the room.