The Other Game (The Perfect Game 4)

“Damn, I almost want to follow them,” I admitted.

“Me too. But I’ll make Cassie tell me everything later. I’m sure Jack will tell you too.”

“Yeah, but it’s not as fun as seeing it live and in person.” I grinned, and Melissa nodded in agreement before shooting up from her chair.

“Where are you going?”

She grabbed my sleeve and pulled me up by it. “Come on. I have to see this.”

She didn’t let go of her grip on my arm until we were outside, but we saw no sign of either Cassie or Jack. It wasn’t until I scanned the campus and noticed a small gathering in the distance.

I pointed. “That has to be them over there. See that little crowd?”

Melissa looked up at me, hands on her hips. “Are you joking? You think I can see anything from down here?”

I squatted to her level and realized that she couldn’t see shit. “Guess not. Want me to put you on my shoulders? Then you’ll be the tallest person here.” I was half joking, but if she wanted me to, I’d gladly hoist her up. She couldn’t weigh more than a hundred pounds soaking wet.

“No thanks. I like missing everything.” She laughed as she walked in the direction I’d pointed. “Does it ever annoy you the amount of attention he gets?”

“Only every day.”

“Because he’s a jerk?” she asked, her short but shapely legs working double-time to keep up with my regular pace as we headed in the direction of the crowd.

“No. He’s not a jerk. It annoys me because he can do anything he wants and everyone eats it up. Girls, I mean. I just don’t understand how instead of hating him, they all worship him. It’s not like he’s boyfriend material or anything.”

Melissa nodded. “Exactly! That’s what I don’t get either, but I’ve stopped trying to figure it out because everything about Jack Fucking Carter gives me a headache. Except this stuff with Cassie. Because I’ve never seen him act like this before.”

“Me either,” I admitted as we caught up to the small group of people.

“Really?” She shot me a look.

“Swear.”

“I enjoy my dates to be disease-free,” Cassie shouted, drawing our attention.

“As do I,” my brother shot back, giving a head nod to someone who walked by.

Cassie belted out a laugh. “Right. I’ve heard you’re not really particular about who you date.”

He took a step closer and said, “Well, you heard wrong then.”

“Oh, that’s right. Actually I heard you don’t date at all. You just sleep with any girl who bats her fake eyelashes in your direction.”

“Ooh,” Melissa whispered at me, and squeezed my arm.

“I really need to meet your sources,” my brother said with a grin.

Cassie mumbled something under her breath before turning her back to Jack and storming away. The second I thought it might be over, he took off after her, clearly intent on winning this battle.

I glanced at Melissa once they disappeared inside the building.

She grabbed my hand, pulling me along with her. “We’ve come this far,” she said as she opened the doors and stepped inside.

I had no clue where Jack and Cassie had gone until I heard my brother’s voice again coming from a nearby classroom.

“Don’t make me beg, Kitten. Don’t make me beg in front of all these people. It’s embarrassing.”

Melissa and I ran down the hallway and stood in the classroom’s open doorway like we were watching a live play.