The Perfect Score (Kissing the Enemy Book 3)

by Maggie Dallen

  One word but he made it sound so very ominous.

  I swallowed. I’d come this far, I couldn’t hold back now. The floodgates of truth had been opened. I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. “I was also jealous.”

  He stared at me as though he hadn’t heard. Finally, he said, “Jealous.” He said it like a foreign word, like he was tasting it, seeing how it felt on his tongue.

  I nodded. “Jealous.”

  His nostrils flared and for a second I thought he was pissed, but then amusement flashed in his eyes and the sight of it took my breath away. “You were jealous,” he said.

  I nodded and he let out a huff of air that I knew to be a laugh. Great. Now he was laughing at me. Okay, this wasn’t funny anymore. I shifted to pull back but his arms tightened around me, tugging me closer so I was pressed up against his chest, my feet dangling over the floor as he lifted me off the ground.

  “Of whom?” he said.

  Of whom. The proper formal grammar made me smile. I didn’t know why, it was just so…not like any other guys. He was so not like any other guys. Here, now, being held in the death grip of his embrace, I felt unutterably stupid for having been jealous. “Um, Kelly and Tiffany?”

  It came out as a question and his laugh would have been irritating if he hadn’t followed it up with another crushing kiss that made me forget all about embarrassing insecurities.

  It was such a good kiss I kind of forgot that Kelly and Tiffany ever existed.

  The next time we pulled apart, I had to admit something even worse. “I’ve got to go.”

  He frowned. Man, I loved his frowns. Especially this one because it so clearly told me he hated the thought of letting me go.

  “I’ve got to cook dinner for my little sisters,” I said. “My mom works late.”

  That had him releasing me, slowly but gently, until my toes touched the floor once more. I could tell he wanted to say something, or he was trying to figure out what to say.

  I waited patiently.

  “What is it?” I pushed his chest gently as if that would dislodge the words.

  Okay, so maybe I hadn’t waited all that patiently. But my nudge seemed to do the trick.

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  I smiled. “I don’t want to go.” I made a funny face. “But you should see my sisters when they don’t eat. Feral is the best word for it.”

  That got his lips twitching a bit. I took that to be a win. Soon I’d have him smiling outright. Maybe one day in the not too distant future he’d even let out a proper laugh.

  Man, I would pay money to hear him laugh for real.

  “Come with me.” Once again the words just sort of came out. I didn’t let myself overthink it, even though my belly burst into nervous flutters at the thought of this guy coming over. I rarely had anyone over. Mainly because we didn’t have the room, or any privacy, but also because I was protective of my sisters. When I was home it was our time.

  But I wanted them to meet Ox. More than that, I wanted him to meet them and I desperately wanted to see how he’d deal with their youthful glee that would undoubtedly come with a new guy in the house.

  If he thought I was high-energy, he had another thing coming. My sisters had more energy than the sun.

  He studied my face and whatever he saw had him nodding. “Okay.”

  I grinned. “Okay?”

  He nodded, taking me by the arm and steering me toward the door. I stopped just as we reached the doorway. I didn’t know why, I just…didn’t want to leave here without some sort of closure.

  No, not closure. I just wanted…oh, I didn’t know what I wanted. I guess I just needed to know that this was real. That whatever was happening between us was serious. That I wouldn’t wake up to find that this was a dream, or worse—find out that he had some other girlfriend hidden away somewhere and that all he wanted was to get in my pants.

  I looked up at him, and now I was the one struggling for words. He did that searching thing again with his eyes. The way they moved over me made me one hundred percent certain that he was either a mind reader or he just saw me better than anyone else on the planet.

  “You’re so beautiful.” His voice was so low I almost didn’t catch it. But I did. I shivered, as much from the unexpectedness of his words as the reverent tone.

  I glanced down at the oversized jersey I was wearing—the old Eagles one I’d snagged from my dad’s closet. “Oh yeah?” I gave him my best flirtatious grin. “So Sporty Spice is your thing, huh?”

  “On you? Yes.” His eyes danced with laughter and affection but his voice was totally serious. He hesitated for a second. “I’d like anything on you.”

  I opened my mouth. My first instinct was to tease him. I mean, that was a pretty cheesy line and it was rife with double entendres. But something told me that even saying that much was a rare gift, and it was one I treasured.

  Maybe one day in the very near future I could tease him when he said something cheesy but not until he was ready. Besides, I was kind of too busy swooning over what he’d said.

  Cheesy or not, it was heartwarmingly sweet.

  It also got me thinking. I tugged at the hem of the jersey. We had that Halloween party coming up and I had an idea. Well, truth be told, I’d had the idea before but now it just seemed way too perfect. That possessive little maniac in me absolutely adored the idea of claiming Ox as my boyfriend in front of all of our friends.

  Namely, Kelly and Tiffany.

  Yes, I was catty when I was jealous. And no, I wouldn’t apologize for it.

  Reaching up I linked my arm through his and tilted my head back to give him a smile. “You ready to meet my little sisters?”

  He nodded and we headed for the stairs.

  “I should warn you,” I said. “They’re even more outgoing than I am.”

  “Impossible.”

  He said it in that gruff way of his but I heard the teasing note and it made my whole belly warm. There was something so beautiful about knowing that I was one of the lucky few who ever got to see this side of him.

  Ox was mine. We might not have defined the relationship yet, but I knew it deep down inside. He was mine and I was his.

  Now I just needed to make sure the whole world knew it.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ox

  For the first time in my life I wasn’t at ease on a football field.

  I was actually…nervous. That had never happened before, not when I had a ball in my hands and was working on the next play.

  But my nerves had absolutely nothing to do with the scrimmage that was underway and everything to do with the cute little midget currently playing running back for the other team.

  One week had passed since we’d made out in my bedroom and then spent an amazing evening cooking dinner for her crazy little sisters.

  One week of complete and utter…confusion.

  Maddie let out a little shriek as she stumbled backwards and landed on her butt while scrambling for the ball. In true Maddie fashion, though, she tilted her head back and let out a loud laugh.

  This girl was great at laughing at herself—and at everyone around her. Maddie loved to laugh, and it had been immediately apparent one week ago that she shared this trait with her sisters. Between the three of them I’d been surrounded by more outgoing, affectionate females than I’d ever come across in one room.

  It had been…overwhelming. But also kind of amazing. Her sisters welcomed me with open arms—literally. Lots of hugging went on that night. And I’d watched in amazement as Maddie had listened to their stories, asked all kinds of questions about classmates and enemies and gossip. It was clear that Maddie was an involved older sister. For the first time in my life I envied someone for having siblings.

  Her sisters asked me countless questions but Maddie fended them off, jokingly telling them that I was in witness protection and wasn’t allowed to answer any personal questions.

  They’d laughed. So had I. Did I mention that it was a great nig
ht? Maybe quite possibly the best day of my life.

  I mean, for the first time ever, I’d gotten the girl. Me. Someone I liked cared for me in return. The novelty of it had made me want to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

  And then we’d gone back to reality. Sunday I got a few texts from her but she was busy with family stuff. Then on Monday we went about our school day and it was like nothing had ever happened.

  No, that wasn’t quite right. It was like we were right back where we were a couple weeks ago. She ignored me. Not in a mean way, but she was clearly avoiding me.

  Or maybe she hadn’t ignored me and then I’d ignored her?

  I didn’t know, all I knew was that she was back to acting weird…but apparently only around me.

  Of course, it was possible I was overreacting. The girl was busy. Like crazy busy. Every time I did see her she was rushing off to coordinate the next scrimmage or make plans for the final tournament after Thanksgiving. When she wasn’t working on league stuff she was planning for the Halloween party with Kate.

  She was very clearly busy, and maybe just…too busy for me.

  She glanced over at me as the rest of her teammates hustled off the field. She gave me a shy little smile that warmed my heart and made the anxiety that had been brewing in my gut take a break.

  I was officially turning into an overanalyzing idiot. Look at her. She was happy and laughing. She wasn’t on edge and snapping at her friends. So that was good, right?

  While I was happy to see her back to her normal happy-go-lucky self, I couldn’t help but think that we’d swapped places.

  I didn’t know what was going on between us and I hated that. This uncertainty had started up as soon as I’d left her at her house with her sisters, a quick peck goodnight all I could sneak under the watchful eyes of her family.

  I’d gotten into my truck, driven back home, and immediately started to doubt that any of it had happened. Things like this just didn’t happen to me.

  And maybe they still didn’t.

  I watched her run off the field, but not toward me. She was heading toward Trent and a couple other guys from my team. She’d talked them into joining, probably with the promise that they’d be meeting lots of single girls.

  “Can’t take your eyes off your girl, huh?” Levi came to a stop beside me and Noah headed in our direction as well.

  I glared at Levi. He’d done nothing but tease me about that kiss on the field for the past week. I was hardly about to give him anymore fodder.

  “Callie told me you two are a thing now,” Noah said.

  Callie was one of Maddie’s best friends so if Maddie told Callie that, and Callie told Noah…that was a good sign, right?

  Oh man, pathetic was too good a word for my current state. What kind of guy didn’t know if he had a girlfriend or not?

  I lifted my head to look past him to where Maddie was talking animatedly to my football teammates.

  I should be over there. I should have my arm around her. It should be me basking in the glow of that smile. So why was I over here in a weird bro huddle gossiping about my love life when the girl I loved was over there chatting up my teammates?

  Wait. Hold up. Love? Who said anything about love?

  Levi’s voice cut into my catatonic state. “Dude, are you going to go into a rage or something?”

  “Shut up, Levi,” Noah said before taking a swig of his water bottle.

  “I’m just sayin’. Ox is looking over there like he’s going to turn green and bust out of his clothes.” Levi dropped his voice. “You won’t like me when I’m angry.”

  I was only dimly aware of his horrible Hulk impersonation. I’d stunned myself stupid with the casual L-word usage.

  I didn’t love Maddie…did I?

  No one fell in love that quickly. And even if they did, they were certain that the other person felt the same.

  Right?

  Noah stepped into my line of vision. “Are you going with Maddie to the party tonight?”

  I stared at him blankly, my mind still racing to uncover the mysteries of love. I meant to say “what?” but it came out as a sort of grunt instead. Noah understood, nonetheless.

  “The costume party,” he prompted.

  “Are you going?” Levi asked Noah.

  “Yeah, Callie’s driving up for it. She promised Maddie and Kate she’d help decorate.”

  “I can’t believe Kate let Maddie talk her into hosting,” Levi said with a shake of his head. His gaze followed Kate who was handing out some equipment to Kelly and Tiffany, who’d just arrived. Late, as usual. The moment Levi’s gaze found Kate’s his smirk turned into a dopey grin that made me mildly nauseous.

  Was that what love looked like? Did I look that stupid every time I thought about Maddie?

  Ah hell.

  “So, you going?” Noah asked.

  I met his gaze evenly. I had no answer. Maddie hadn’t mentioned anything to me about the party—not since she’d tried to convince me that I should help plan it.

  Levi turned his attention back to us. To me, to be more precise. “Are you going with Maddie?”

  The way he sang her name, like we were in middle school and was about to start singing K-I-S-S-I-N-G made my hands clench into fists. I wouldn’t really hit him, but sometimes Levi needed to be put in his place.

  In true form, Levi backed away with his hands up. “Okay, okay,” he laughed. “I get it. You’re not in the mood to share. I can respect that.”

  He ran off and wrapped his arms around Kate from behind, lifting her off her feet and making her laugh.

  Noah watched them too. “He’s an idiot,” he said, though his tone was more of a tolerant older brother than an annoyed former coach.

  I grunted my agreement and Noah sighed. “But at least he’s good for Kate.”

  I nodded silently at that. There was no denying that despite his annoying tendencies, he worshiped the ground that Kate walked on. She deserved that. They evened each other out in a weird sort of way. They pushed each other. They made each other better.

  I found myself seeking out Maddie again.

  “So, you and Maddie, huh?” Noah said.

  I didn’t acknowledge him. If he expected an answer, he clearly hadn’t met me.

  “I got to admit, I did not see that coming,” Noah continued. He seemed unperturbed by my silence. Maybe he did know me, after all.

  He also knew Maddie, and the fact that he was clearly confused by our…whatever this was between us, did not make me feel awesome. He was pretty much saying what I was thinking. What everyone around us was probably thinking. What the hell was she doing with him?

  Noah clapped a hand on my shoulder and I was forced to tear my gaze away from Maddie and look at Noah.

  “I’m happy for you, man.” He gave me a slow smile that I remembered well from my time as a player on his team. “Callie is too. She’ll be psyched to see you both with her own eyes at the party.”

  I gave him a little nod and he headed over toward Levi and Kate. A nod was the best I could do. I wasn’t even sure I was invited to this party, let alone as Maddie’s date.

  Sure, we’d had a spectacular kiss…or two. Or three. And yeah, it was cool that she’d invited me to hang out with her family. But in the week since we’d been nothing but buddies—if that.

  And now she was flirting with my teammates.

  Or maybe that was paranoia talking.

  Kelly sidled up beside me next and it was a struggle not to sigh in exasperation. All I wanted was a moment to myself to think and no one seemed to get it.

  I stiffened when she threaded her arm through mine and held on for dear life.

  Maddie did that. Maddie had always done that even before we were friends. It was a singularly Maddie thing to do. Having Kelly link arms with me just felt wrong, and a big part of me was worried that Maddie would see and get jealous again.

  She’d been jealous.

  I’m not proud of how happy that made me. Even now
when I wasn’t sure if she still felt the same, or if she’d already started to lose interest, I clung to that thought like a lifeline.

  “So you and Mads, huh?” Kelly said. Her voice was teasing but I could hear the tinge of acid there. Thank God Maddie had friends like Callie and Kate. Kelly and the other popular girls at our school didn’t deserve to be her friend.

  I looked down at her with a disapproving frown before turning my attention back to Maddie.

  Kelly’s sigh was as fake as she was. “I hope you two are happy together, but…”

  I stiffened again. I wouldn’t give in. Nope. She was trying to stir up trouble and she didn’t know any more about my pseudo-potential-maybe-relationship than I did.

  She stroked my arm and I got annoyed on Maddie’s behalf.

  “Look, Ox, you seem like a sweet guy.”

  I glanced down at her with a frown. She thought I was sweet? What on earth had given her that impression?

  “I really like you,” she said, her eyes softening as they met mine. “And I think we could be good together.”

  What the…what?

  She glanced over at Maddie and gave me a little grimace. “Not to be mean, but our girl Maddie isn’t really…” She sighed again and bit her lip. “She kind of has a short attention span, you know?” When I stared at her blankly she added, “With guys, I mean.”

  I knew what she meant. A roaring sound filled my ears as I realized what she was trying to tell me. She was wrong. I knew she was wrong. She didn’t know Maddie—not like I did.

  But then again, I didn’t know Maddie all that well, either. We’d only started spending time together this past summer. It had only been a couple months.

  Kelly turned back to look at Maddie and I followed her gaze. When she talked again, I barely heard her. My head was buzzing with an insistent, noisy tone that seemed to say I told you so. It said, You knew this was too good to be true.

  Because just then Maddie laughed loudly and went up on tip-toe, whispering something in Trent’s ear that had him grinning like he’d just won the lottery.

  Or the girl.

  Chapter Fourteen