Feeling inadequate, or unhelpful, was a pet peeve of mine and I looked through my notes of all the players that I knew or trusted enough to ask questions to. There was at least one from all the major teams.
She clapped her hands, startling me, and said, “Got it. I have a plan for Max.”
“Care to share it?”
“Yes, because I’m going to need your help.”
“Name it.”Help her? Hell yeah. She’s been doing all the work.
“Max is in a fraternity and there’s a mixer Tuesday night I need to get into.”
“You want me to help you get in? Easy enough. Where’s it at?”
“More than that,” she said, her voice getting weaker. She glanced at the ground and groaned before adding, “I’m going to need help getting sexed up.”
8
AMBER
This is the worst idea I’ve ever had in my entire life.
Help sex me up?
God damn it.
“Girl, why are you pacing our living room?” Marissa asked, peering up from her large textbook full of Post-It notes and highlighted phrases. Tuesdays were her study night, no matter what, and tonight was no exception. “You’re making me antsy.”
“Sorry. It’s nothing. Just Jeff is helping me with the article, you know that, right?”
“Yeah, Laney brought it up. And you have a date tonight?” she asked, not hiding her surprise—or joy—from me. She had a manic smile and she even dropped her pen. “Like, he’s taking you on a date or helping you get one?”
“Uh, the second?”
“Have fun. Jeff is asnack.”
“I’m aware.” I still wore black sweatpants and an oldGame of ThronesT-shirt, but I had shaved my legs, showered and put on my best makeup. Wearing it always made me feel like I was playing dress-up, or trying to be cute when I never would be. My mom used to laugh when I wore lipstick, telling me it wouldn’thelp, and those feelings never really went away. But I hadn’t talked to her since that phone call and I’d built myself up bit by bit. “It’s still weird he’s helping me. We aren’t friends.”
“Who cares. He owes you if you’re going to write about him.” She paused when someone knocked on the door. “That must be him, huh? I can’t wait to hear about how this goes.”
I smoothed my hair down and made sure I didn’t have anything stuck in my teeth before I let him in. It was obnoxious how my body burst with anticipation. He was going to help me dress the part, coach me on what to say and set me free in the bar to get answers from Max. That was it. It wasn’t a date with him.So chill the hell out.“Hey, Jeff.”
“It’s fucking cold outside. Damn, let me in,” he said, rubbing his hands together over his mouth. It gave me a couple of seconds to study his loose black T-shirt that was extra-long. It showcased his pecs and biceps—my God, they were perfect—and he brushed past me without wearing a coat. “It’s supposed to snow tonight, too.”
“Great,” I replied, already thinking about the outfits I couldn’t wear. It was hard to besexywearing pants. Jeff didn’t wait for me to guide him before he headed toward my room and plopped down on my desk chair. “Sure, make yourself comfortable.”
“Already am.” He grinned widely at me, crossing his arms over his chest and eyeing me up and down. “For starters, those sweatpants are hideous.”
“No shit. They are my comfy pants, asshole. I’m not trying to be cute and shit when I’m binge-watching Netflix.”
“I was teasing.” He lowered his voice and the expression on his face softened. “Are you nervous? You’re a bit prickly.”
“This was a terrible idea.” I let him hear me before I went to my closet and shuffled through my clothes until I found two dresses. “I am not prickly.”
“Yes, you are.” His voice was way closer to me than I anticipated and I jumped. He stood right behind me. In my closet. His cologne and warmth didn’t have far to travel to greet my skin and the nearness to him caused my pulse to race in my ears. “If you don’t mind, I’m gonna grab a couple options that catch my eye.”
“Uh-huh,” was all I managed to say. He reached his right arm over me, placing his other on my shoulder, and he grabbed a blue dress I hadn’t worn in years. It was hard to focus when his hands were on me. His large, strong hands that I shouldn’t be thinking about.
The investigation. He thinks I’m unremarkable.
