Player's Guide to Catfishing (PLAYBOOK #1)

CHAPTER 35: Quid-Pro-Quo

LIAM

I watch Odessa sleep as the sunlight tries to crack through her thick curtains. It’s almost 2pm which means all her housemates are either at school or running errands.

All I know is we’re alone and currently bunking class.

Vecker is sleeping on her stomach and in the middle of the bed again. The sheet I tried to cover her with is only concealing her ass which means her smooth pale legs and bare back full of my love bites is exposed. So is the slight bruising on her inner thighs from round two and a huge shoulder hickey.

“You did say not to hold back,” I move a strand of hair from across her face.

I never got why people watched others sleep. I actually found it creepy and borderline stalking but as I stare at Vecker in a deep sleep—I finally get it.

She is naked, bare and let me screw her senseless all morning.

I have won many games, had many good nights filled with alcohol, family, friends and good moments in general but nothing and I mean absolutely nothing, comes close to this morning.

And I got a Porsche for my 16th birthday.

“Cap?” The tap on my door wakes me up instantly.

Due to my many annoying alarms and living with loud boys, I am a very light sleeper—especially when I’m sleeping alone.

My body has experienced the warmth of waking up in Vecker’s embrace and now it thinks anything else is cheap and no label scrap, particularly sleeping alone.

“Liam?”

The voice travels through the door after another knock, it’s not locked but no one would dare walk into my room uninvited. I am very strict with my privacy.

“Yeah,” I rub the side of my head.

It’s almost 6pm when I glance at the clock. After spending most of the day sleeping, Vecker drove me home before heading to rehearsal.

“We’ll talk,” she gave me a tight smile when I hopped off her car.

I didn’t want to read much into it because I expected this—stoic—reaction from her. I expected it to sting and make me want to shut down.

I also expected the awkwardness which is why I didn’t say anything, and I mean absolutely nothing.

“So you are home.” JJ is slipping on a grey t-shirt that still has a tag on it. “Where were you last night? You missed an epic night.”

Something tells me it was worth it.

“I was tired so I stayed over at Vecker’s.” I pull the tag off his collar, surprising him.

“Oh,” he smiles knowingly. “Anyway I’m doing a grocery run before practice, you want something?”

JJ looks like he slept all day which means he’s nursing a wicked hangover and probably missed classes too.

“Ahm maybe coffee and those frozen bagels John B always buys.” I yawn

“Cool.” I follow his distracted eyes to my bicep, where clear-as-day nail marks reside.

“Shut up.” I shut the door on his face when he starts laughing.

I walk to the bathroom and turn around to find similar scratches all over my back and behind my neck. My shoulder even has bite marks, which makes a smile finally appear on my face.

I am not usually a fan of hickeys or anything related to markings from intercourse but it does boost my ego a bit to know stoic and pensive Vecker felt so passionately about our encounter that she branded me.

Now I wish I left more than just a few hickeys on her.

“You want me to what?” Elsa, one of my first hookups at Oakwood asks.

She’s bisexual and I mean that loosely because the only guy she has ever slept with was me. Yes, I technically took her v-card but she was shagging girls’ way before that.

I was an experiment for her, a very good one because she hooked me up with most of her sorority sisters after. Now I need her busty and beautiful body for something else.

I have a stupid idea.

A very stupid idea, that I hope is stupid enough to actually work.

“Please Ellie, Vecker is really mad at me.” I check my watch, we have 7minutes till her lesson is over.

“How is seeing us together going to help you? Won’t it make things worse?”

“Maybe. I just want to spark some jealousy, hopefully she’ll be so mad that she’ll have no choice but to talk to me.”

What? I did say it was a stupid idea.

“You’re an idiot.” She confirms, “But fine, only because I owe you one.”

“Thank you,” I stare at her workout attire. “But lose the pants.” I need her to look hot.

It won’t be hard because Elsa is a natural beauty queen. Blue eyes, blonde hair and a great ass. What? I know I sound like a douche but it’s true.

“If she has half a brain, she’ll dump you immediately.” She still pulls down her pants to reveal, exercise shorts I knew she had under.

“Shirt too,” Vecker won’t look unless she looks like the ghost of Olivia Fisher.

“Idiot.” The shirt comes off to reveal a pink sport bra that pushes her knockers up. I pull her hair out of its ponytail and ruffle the locks up a bit.

I’m still into curly brunettes with blue eyes.

ODESSA

I had s*x with Liam Griffith!

That’s all I can think about the entire time during rehearsal with Tiffany. I kept having very vivid flashbacks of our bodies meshed together and his tan tattooed hands all over me.

I actually shagged my FAKE boyfriend (multiple times) this morning.

Traces of his expensive cologne and s*x sweat still linger under my nose and when I don’t focus, ghosts of his touch tease me, honestly—haunt me.

Like promised, I am sore as hell from our intense morning and I had to wear a scarf to cover the love bites that make it look like I was attacked by a swarm of angry bees.

Sh*t.

I HAD s*x WITH LIAM GRIFFITH and it wasn’t just any s*x but the best s*x of my life.

“Okay, I need you guys to bring in your Shakespeare papers tomorrow. Professor Cho agreed to look over them before finals.” I close the white board marker, “that’s all for today. Class is over.”

They all sigh in relief and begin packing, I’m left with a series of “bye Vecker” as I pack the supplies coach Carter bought for me.

Goosebumps cover my entire body when I walk out of the library because Liam is just across the building. I bite my lip when another flashback of him going to town on my lady down attacks.

Messy bouncy blonde hair is the only thing visible between my legs as his tongue does things, I didn’t think tongues could do.

A trail of sweat drips down my forehead as a tan and tattooed forearm snakes around my narrow thigh to keep me still.

I suddenly remembered to buy Jessica flowers for dragging me to her monthly waxing appointments because between her grooming obsession and America’s hygiene and skin care OCD. I was prepped and ready for the festivities of having s*x with a Greek god.

My eyes glance across when Liam laughs lightly and of course some blonde in tight shorts and a sports bra is the one holding his attention and currently responsible for the joke.

Flashback over.

I keep my eyes on Liam as I descend down the steps. He is in a matching grey sweat set for basketball practice, which starts in 20minutes. I hate that I know that because despite what he thinks, I sort of memorized his schedule.

“Hey Vecker.” Oliver calls making Liam and the blonde turn around to find me standing there awkwardly.

Great.

Liam’s expression turns dark as the blonde’s smile turns into a satisfied smirk. I face Oliver who is also in practice gear and he gives me a folder.

“I had my report in the car,” he seems proud of it so I fake a smile.

“Great, I’ll drop it by his office first thing.” I put it inside my bag.

“Do you want me to walk you to your car? I could carry—” An arm covering my shoulder cuts him off.

“I think I can handle it from here.” Liam’s arm is the one responsible and I can’t help but tense up.

It’s like someone poured cold water over us, we’re both so rigid and awkward.

“Right.” Oliver’s face pales. “See you tomorrow then Vecks and you in a minute cap.”

“Sure,” we answer simultaneously.

“I think he has a crush on you.” Liam watches him disappear down the corridor. He doesn’t remove his hand so I pretend to stretch, so it falls off.

“Wow.” He shoves his hands into his track pants and frowns. And I mean his tan eyebrows close in as wrinkle lines crease his smooth forehead.

“What?” I question innocently.

I don’t want him touching me with busty blonde residue.

“Nothing.” Liam shakes his head before adding, “You look like you can manage walking to your car alone.”

Wow.

“I’ve managed it before,” I agree.

“Night then,” he bites the same time I mummer, “d**k” and we walk away in opposite directions.

I’m in a mood. I’m sore, hungry and in a very annoyed mood now that I just saw Liam—who for some reason, seems very mad at me when he’s the one laughing with blondes in sports bras.

“Freaking man child.” I huff.

“Our periods are coming,” America greets when I enter the house.

“What?” I put my keys in the bowl.

“I have cramps from hell and we’re all synced so we’re staying in tonight and ordering a crap load of food and drinking beer.”

“Sold!” I push my hand in the air.

I hate it when we’re all synced but it does explain my mood or why I was suddenly horny this morning.