Page 160 of Their Cruel Play
All we know is Harper’s dad worked for Luke’s father when he had business dealings with my and Caden’s fathers. Harper’s dad disappeared with something that is important to all of them, which puts Harper in danger if they eventhinkshe knows something.
We need to focus on the game this week and make sure no one else attacks Harper. We can figure out the deal with our dads this weekend when we can get together somewhere we can’t be overheard.
“You got a plan?” Jack asks when I open my locker to get my clothes out after practice.
“Vaguely.”
Caden laughs and shakes his head. “Great, our girl’s first date and he vaguely has a plan.”
“You’ve gone on dates before?” Luke runs a hand through his wet blond hair. His side is still mottled in greens and yellows, but he’s moving better.
I nod. “But Harper isn’t like those girls. We got dinner and then went to the movies.”
“I think you’re missing the point.” Eli closes his locker and looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Harper is a girl.”
“Um, thanks?” I arch an eyebrow at him.
Eli smirks. “She wants to do what a normal girl does on a date. She’s been denied it all for years. Anything is going to be special to her because she’s getting to go out on a date.”
“But that means I could fuck this up too.” I pull on my t-shirt and sit on the bench to put on my socks and shoes. “I keep fucking up with her.”
“So stick with what you know.” Jack sits next to me and bumps his shoulder against mine. “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel for her. She wants to talk. She doesn’t need to be wowed. Fuck, man, you have all this history with her, and you can’t think of one thing she likes to do?”
I sigh. “I don’t think a game of hide and seek is going to cut it.”
Luke chuckles. “She seemed pretty interested in a game of hide and seek at Caden’s.”
Caden arches an eyebrow and grins. “We can make that happen.”
“I don’t think that helps me with tonight.” I rub the back of my neck. Though I’d be on board with that another time.
“You guys had common interests. Do something with that.” Eli lifts his bag. “Give her a date to remember, but realize she’s not expecting the moon and the stars.”
Harper
I’ve pulled out five different outfits and discarded all of them. This is ridiculous. I shouldn’t be nervous to go out on a date with Nico.
This is Nico.
The things I’ve done with him should make me blush, not worry about whether to wear a skirt or jeans or a dress. He’d approve if I showed up naked.
“Donating clothes?” Mom stops and leans in my doorframe. Her gaze lingers on the pile of clothes on my bed.
I blow out a breath. “Trying to figure out what to wear on my date with Nico.”
“A date?” Her eyebrows rise. “Like a date-date?”
“Yes, Mom, a date-date.” I shake my head, but smile.
She grins. “What’s the plan?”
I shrug. “He didn’t say anything, but maybe dinner? A movie? I don’t know.”
“I see your dilemma.” She rubs her chin as she looks over my selections. “Honestly? Dress comfortably. I don’t think you have to do much to impress any of these guys. So just wear what makes you comfortable and see where the night takes you.”
I nod and pluck at the black skater skirt on the bed. That’s helpful and not at the same time. “Thanks.”
She smiles and points to the skirt. “I liked your first day of school outfit. It very much screamed Harper.”
