Page 76 of The King Contract
“Dan,” I warn, my gaze darting to the back of Callum’s head.
Dan rolls his eyes. “I know Mack knows, and he’s about a day away from telling Callum. So, let’s skip the bullshit.”
Callum spins around, his brows scrunched. “What are you talking about?”
“I wouldnothave told him,” Mack huffs, folding his arms.
“Yes, you would.” Dan steps forward to close us into a circle and looks at Callum. “Noah’s pretending to date Millie to help salvage his reputation and keep him in the WSA’s good books.”
Callum’s mouth drops open, and he whips to me. “You listened to Mack?”
Mack side-eyes him. “I resent that.”
“It’s obviously the worst idea in the world.” Dan waves his hand dismissively. “But she agreed, so whatever. But what we heard right now? That wasnotfake.”
“Nothing fake about what my boy does in the bedroom. Ain’t that right?” Mack holds his hand up for a fist-bump, but I ignore him.
“Why are you so concerned?” I ask Dan. “We’ve become friends. Friends sometimes progress to friends with benefits. That’s all it is.”
“Doessheknow that?” Dan’s stare pierces through me and guilt rears its ugly head.
I know what he’s getting at. Dan knows I’m not interested in anything more than a friends-with-benefits type situation with anyone. That I need to focus on my career and get my shit together hasn’t changed, even if I do love spending time with Millie. Getting into something with someone when I’m about to knuckle down for the pros is exactly what I was trying to avoid. I can’t afford any distractions once the season picks up, including dating someone or having to let someone down.
“She knows this has an end-date,” I reply, trying to convince myself. “It’s temporary.”
“We know that’s not how this works.” Callum gives me a sympathetic look. “Once fun and sexy times start happening, it’s way harder to cut ties.”
“Look at him and Steph,” Mack offers. Callum slaps him up the back of the head and Mack howls. “You assholes have got to stop doing that!”
Callum ignores him. “A fake relationship means you both benefit and get out of this situation as winners. Once feelings are involved, shit gets messy. And I love you, but you don’t handle messy.”
“Nothing’s messy,” I assure the three of them. “We’re having a bit of fun while we’re together. It’s nothing more than that.”
“Millie’s a good chick,” Dan grunts. “Don’t screw her over.”
My head whips to him, my blood pulsing with annoyance. “You think I’d screw her over?”
“You’ve done it with plenty of women this year,” he bites.
“I never lied to any of them.” I take a step towards Dan. “They knew I wasn’t after anything serious. Millie knows that too.”
Dan takes a step forward. Thanks to his size, his reach is so great he nearly closes the distance between us. “Messing with her emotions and then saying,but I told you I don’t do girlfriends, doesn’t absolve you of being an asshole.”
What is his problem?My hand curls into a fist at my side. “You’re acting like a dickhead right now.”
“Maybe it’s my turn for once.” Dan’s gaze flickers down, then back to my face. “You going to punch me, King? Go ahead. It’ll be me cleaning up the mess as usual.”
Callum and Mack simultaneously step between us, pushing us so we separate slightly. “Let’s not do this, boys,” Callum instructs.
Dan and I remain silent as we glare at each other. I know him well enough to know he’s struggling with his own issues, and his anger is somewhat misdirected, but his words sting.
“Fuck this,” I spit. My three friends watch as I stuff my belongings back into my case. “I’m going to bed. Do me a favour and stay out of my shit.”
When I get back inside the tent, Millie is already under the covers, asleep on her side. I flick the lamp off and slide into the other side, careful not to wake her. I contemplate throwing an arm across her, but the exchange of words with Dan rings in my ears. However I might feel about what went down, I don’t want Millie getting hurt. I can’t keep doing boyfriend stuff, like snuggling and kissing andhead,no matter how much I enjoy doing them.
Fuck. Ireally, reallyenjoy doing them.
SURF ‘N’ SLAY GROUP CHAT
