Hard Pass (Trophy Boyfriends 1)

“Yes you could have.”

But I know what she means: the remaining $50,000, I paid to buy out her entire baseball collection, that money enabled her to hire Kyle and Tanner. To pay her utilities and buy an actual desk—the one she really wanted, not the cheap one she had in her Amazon cart.

Stars shine in her eyes when she looks at me now, but I know it’s not from the money. “I love you.”

It’s because of that. Her arms wrap around my waist and she kisses the tip of my chin.

My lips part. “I…” A lump catches in my throat. I’ve never said the word love to anyone other than my parents. This will be the first time and I mean every fucking word of it. “I love you too.”

Miranda bites down on her bottom lip to stop it from quivering. “Let’s not get sappy in the middle of the room. We’ll embarrass ourselves and I’m trying to be professional.”

She pulls herself away. Straightens her long skirt. Tucks a few errant strands of hair behind her ear.

She’s perfection. Sassy, chaotic perfection. “I’m so proud of you.”

An air kiss and she disappears into the small crowd.

Then.

Claire stalks over, weaving her way through, steam practically rising from her ears. “Those buffoons pretending to bartend are making a mess! That big one just told Kyle he was cut off from life! They’re asinine—could you please go do something?”

“Tripp? That big one? Or Trace, the other big one?”

That gives her pause. “Are you being serious right now?”

“Yes.”

Miranda’s best friend scrunches up her nose. “Those are not their names.”

“One hand on the Bible.” I laugh.

“Well that explains a lot.”

“Aww, come on,” I tease, knowing she’s still single. “You don’t think either one of them are cute?”

Another eye roll and she crosses her arms. “Hard. Pass.”

The End