Secret Catch by Cassie Mae, Jessica Salyer Read Free Book Online Page B

and I’m pulled out of my daydream.
    “Yeah, sorry.”
    “You were thinking about me, weren’t you?” he teases, but I answer with the truth.
    “How’d you know?”
    “I was kidding… but were you really?” His voice cracks.
    “Why would I fantasize about a Trojan wide receiver?” I tease.
    “I’m fantasizing about a Skyhawk red head.”
    “ Really ? Anyone I know?”
    “You might know her.”
    “She’d have to be crazy to get involved with a Trojan.”
    “Maybe. But she doesn’t strike me as someone who cares too much about that stuff.”
    “True.” I move my pillow to get more comfortable and scoot down a little in bed. “So… are you going to keep playing with Josh?” I wasn’t going to ask, but for some reason I just want to solidify seeing him again.
    “I said I’d be there, and I always keep my word.”
    “Always?”
    “Always.” He says it with conviction, like he knows I’m asking so much more with the question. “But I… uh… I don’t think I can…” He pauses making my heart sink to my feet. Doesn’t think he can… what?
    The phone fuzzes as he blows out a breath. “I don’t think I can wait till Sunday to see you again.”
    I hold back my squeal since it would send Brad barging in and say, “I don’t want to wait either.”
    “Will you come to my game on Friday? I won’t be playing, so if you don’t want to I understand, but I was thinking we could go out after. Maybe get something to eat? I know this great pizza place.”
    “I like pizza,” I say a little too eagerly. “Do you think I should wear Skyhawk red?”
    “I’d definitely be able to find you in the crowd then. So what classes do you have this semester…”
    ***
    I scan the school parking lot before pulling in. I’m alone this morning since Brad wasn’t at my place when I woke up, so I texted him to make sure he was okay. He hasn’t answered, but that’s not completely out of the ordinary.
    My usual parking spot is empty, so I quickly maneuver my car into it. The engine quiets, and I gather my stuff together, but I don’t get out. I text Paige.
    U here yet?
    I didn’t get a chance to talk to her last night. I was on the phone till almost one in the morning.
    Just parked. Right behind u.
    After a glance in the rearview, I grab my bag and hop out.
    “Hey girly, what’s up?” she says when she reaches me. “I’m assuming since you never called me back last night, number eighty-eight called.”
    I texted her as soon as I got home from the park yesterday, since I had given him my number and she was all up in arms about it last Friday.
    “Your assumption would be correct.”
    “Spill the details,” she sort of sings at me as we make our way to first period.
    “What’s to spill?” I give her a little grin, and she glares at me. “Okay. We had a great conversation. Talked till late and he asked me out.”
    She bounces on her toes, making her brown hair fall in her face. “When? Where? What?”
    “Can you be a little quieter?” I laugh as a couple seniors give us bizarre looks as we pass. “Friday night. He wants to go to dinner after the game.” I let out a giant sigh. “And that’s where you come in.”
    She stops walking and turns to me. “Huh?”
    “I need you to cover for me.”
    Confusion clouds her eyes but then it clears up, and she nearly shouts her epiphany. “Oh! Because you want to go to a Trojan—”
    “Shh! Not so loud.”
    “Sorry.” She laughs and brings her voice down. “Okay, so what do you want me to say?”
    “That I’m with you.”
    “So I have to stay home this Friday night?” She somewhat pouts, so I give her my best please-do-this-for-me eyes.
    She shakes her head. “ Fine ,” she says on a sigh. “I hope you know what you’re doing, girly. If Brad knew—”
    “If I knew what?” Brad says, scaring the bajeeses out of me again .
    “Seriously, stop doing that!” I laugh and sucker punch him. He recoils as if I really hurt him when I barely grazed