Page 144 of Faking the Goal

I give them a look cold enough to frost the beer bottles in their hands. "Got a problem with it?"

Their expressions change immediately.

"Nope."

"Not at all."

"Was just asking, man."

One of them actually raises both hands slightly like I've got him at gunpoint.

Taylor lets out a soft giggle beside me and slides both arms around my waist, pressing herself closer.

"Sorry, boys," she says sweetly. "He's still adjusting to the whole boyfriend thing. Turns out Sunshine here is a little possessive."

I glance down at her.

She gives me the most innocent smile I've ever seen on a woman who knows damn well what she's doing.

And judging by the way the three guys immediately decide they have somewhere else to be, apparently we're selling this relationship just fine.

We keep moving deeper into the frat house, my face already aching from maintaining this ridiculous smile, the kind that belongs on the poster of some cheesy romantic comedy instead of attached to me. Taylor isn't doing much better. Every few seconds I catch her stealing a glance at me, her lips twitching like she's one second away from laughing, and the harder she tries to hold it together, the harder it becomes for me to do the same.

"My face hurts," she mutters through her smile.

"Mine too." I breathe out through my nose. "This is stupid."

A chuckle escapes her, soft and light, and the sound does that thing to me again.

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit it, even to myself, but I've started looking forward to hearing her laugh.

"You came up with this idea," she reminds me.

"I know."

"I'm just making sure you've accepted responsibility for the emotional trauma you're inflicting on your own facial muscles." She glances up at me. "Seriously, Ken-chan, I've never seen you smile this much. Have you considered doing it more often? It actually looks good on you."

"Shut it, Trouble," I mutter through gritted teeth, somehow keeping the stupid grin plastered on my face.

Another laugh slips out of her before she leans slightly closer. "Why do you keep calling me Trouble, anyway? I keep forgetting to ask."

I look down at her. "Because wherever you are, trouble usually isn't far behind."

Her mouth drops open. "Excuse me?"

"You asked."

"That is slander."

"It's an observation."

She gives me an offended look. "For your information, trouble finds me. I am an innocent victim of circumstance."

I snort. "That's the biggest load of shit you've told me tonight."

Her laugh comes out louder this time, and I can't help smiling down at her.

Before she can defend her apparently spotless reputation, someone steps directly into our path.