Play Dirty (Make the Play #4) Read Free Page A

say.
    He shakes his head. “You’re full of yourself, you know that?”
    “I know Ashley,” I remind him. “And I know that your plan will work.”
    Slowly, he pivots. “Then why didn’t you say yes when I first suggested it?”
    “You caught me off guard. I needed to process it.”
    Narrowing his eyes, he studies my face. “Once we start this, there’s no backing out.”
    My chest tightens. A group of students whisk past us. My gaze flickers to them momentarily.
    “Talia?”
    My head snaps up at the insistence in his tone. “Okay.” I nod firmly.
    “Okay?” He raises his brows. “You sure?”
    I nod again. Then before I can register what’s happening, his mouth is on mine. It’s firm and warm and takes my breath away. When he pulls back, I’m dizzy. Reaching out, I clutch his shirt.
    “That’s our way of sealing the deal,” he says, his eyes sparkling. “Handshakes are so boring, you know?” When he leans in close, I steel myself for another kiss. “And I know we’re just pretending, but it wouldn’t kill you to give me something, Tals.” My face flames. Inside I think of a million things to say to defend myself. It’s not that I’m a bad kisser. I wasn’t prepared. How was I to know he was going to kiss me? But I know my words will fall on deaf ears, so I simply let go of his shirt. Smiling, he backs away from me. “Oh, and one more thing. Remember the plan. Don’t end up falling for me, okay?”
    “Trust me, that won’t be an issue.” I laugh bitterly as he slips into his car and drives away without so much as a backward glance.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Heather calls the minute I get home.
    “What did Josh want?” She asks, not even bothering with a ‘hello.’
    “Um.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and bite down on my bottom lip. It tastes like lipstick. “He…um…” Glancing around the room, I make sure my younger sister isn’t around. It’s not like my family won’t find out about Josh and me. If we’re really going to go through with this plan, my family will have to think we’re together. My stomach knots. I hate the idea of lying to them. Especially my dad. He tries so hard to connect with the guys I date. The thought of him attempting to get close to Josh when we’re just playing a game is enough to make me feel ill.
    “He, um, what?” Heather presses.
    Even though I don’t see or hear Anna, I still hurry down the hallway and slip into my bedroom. After closing the door firmly behind me, I rest my back on the wall and blow out a breath. Here goes nothing. I suppose it’s best if I try this out on Heather anyway. It’ll give me practice before I have to broach it with everyone else. “He sort of asked me out.”
    “What do you mean sort of?”
    Lightly, I bang the back of my head against the wall. “Um…well…” Come on, Talia . “He didn’t sort of ask me out. He asked me out.”
    “Like on a date?”
    “No. Like he asked me to be his girlfriend.” Man, that sounds so cheesy.
    “No way!” Heather screams into the phone so loudly that I have to draw it away from my ear.
    “Yes, way,” I respond, my voice wavering a little. Her stunned reaction reminds me of how unbelievable this is. Josh doesn’t do commitment. And this was seriously out of nowhere. We haven’t been seeing each other, and our kiss was months ago. No one’s going to buy it.
    “This is seriously epic,” Heather states. “You’re the luckiest girl at our school. First you knock Ashley off her throne, and now you snag the hottest guy at school.”
    I freeze. She’s buying this?  
    “Looks like it,” I say weakly.
    “Why aren’t you more excited? I would be over the freakin’ moon.”
    My heart dips. I know Heather has a crush on Josh. “I am. I think I’m just surprised.”
    “Well, yeah. I mean, it’s Josh Easton. He’s not exactly boyfriend material.” She pauses. “That kiss you gave him must have made a quite an impression.”
    “Seems like it.” I shove