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“I asked first.”
Sighing, he shook his head. “Fourteen.”
Her jaw dropped. “Holy crap.”
“What can I say? I had a dad who worked all day and lots of idle time on my hands.” Football and girls had been his extracurricular activities. Still were.
Wait, asshole. You’re married now.
“Oh.” She looked like she could almost feel sorry for him, which was ridiculous. “I was eighteen.”
“A late bloomer?” He smiled, trying to tease.
“Just smart enough to know I didn’t want to get knocked up by some jerkoff who’d leave me a teenage mom.” Sheridan sighed. “Sorry. I saw it happen too many times in high school.”
He knew what she meant. He’d seen it happen as well. “I think you’re trying to distract me.”
“From what?” She frowned.
“Our challenge.” If she thought he’d forgotten, she was sadly mistaken. “I have you right where I want you, you know.”
She arched a delicate brow. “In your lap?”
“Yep. No one’s paying us any attention. They’re all engrossed in their own conversations.” Their entire table was deep in conversation. Other tables were being served their dinners already, which meant theirs was coming soon.
Meaning Jared needed to work quickly.
“Trust me, if it’s more of what you said earlier, you’re going to lose.”
She said that with such confidence he couldn’t help but chuckle. “You have zero faith in me, don’t you?”
“You can probably say just about anything to get a woman to fall into bed with you, but this is different. Not only do we have that agreement thing going on, but I’m not about to lose the bet we made.”
Hmm. Neither was he.
“Besides.” She sent him a beguiling look. “We have a contract, Jared. This is all for show, right? None of this is…real. I mean, if we were to do anything and you’ve already paid me, that makes me essentially a prostitute, right?”
He felt as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been dumped over his head. Right. Just the reminder he needed. She didn’t believe in this marriage so neither should he, despite how much he secretly wanted to. Sheridan acted like she was his business partner, not his wife. “I…I can’t even believe you would ever think that about yourself. Forget it, the bet’s off.”
Her eyes widened. “Wait, what?”
“I shouldn’t have taken it this far,” he said grimly. He battered down the hope that rose within him at her reaction. “I’m not an asshole, Sheridan. I’m calling off the bet.”
“But—”
“Come on. There’s no need to pretend it’s anything other than what it is.” He smiled but it was halfhearted at best. He was suddenly so damn tired. “Can you stand up? I need to grab another beer.”
She stood, backing away a couple of steps when he stood as well, his back to her as he glanced toward the bar. He saw his friend Nick sitting there, nursing a beer with a morose expression on his face, and he figured they could commiserate together.
“The waiter’s coming with your dinner.”
He turned to look at Sheridan. “Yeah?”
“You’re going to come right back?”
Jared shrugged. “I’m not that hungry after all. Sorry, babe. I’ll send your friend over to sit with you.” Without another word he took off, headed straight for the bar, catching Nick’s eye. He waved his near empty beer bottle at Jared.
Perfect. If he couldn’t indulge with Sheridan then he would get drunk. Complain and strategize with Nick and plan out what they were going to do for the season.
