Player's Guide To Catfishing (PLAYBOOK #1)

CHAPTER 40: A beautiful day in the neighborhood

LIAM

"I am flattered—" Vecker is still not getting it.

This has nothing to do with the stupid Northern Lights.

"Holding your hand," I lace our fingers. "Is like taking 10 Xanax pills and seeing you smile," I cup her face. "Is like having electricity shoot down my spine but in a good way."

I doubt the Northern Lights make anyone feel like that.

"I know it's weird considering how we met but I just know I'd miss you, even if I didn't know you."

She has had me twisted since the moment I saw her picture on the school page and I wouldn't have it any other way. I like that she has me wrapped around her finger, it scares me but I like it.

"Wow, deep talk from the basketball captain." She rubs her thumb over my playboy tattoo.

"Yes, it is" and that's not all. "The simple answer to your question is I watch you sleep mainly to imprint your face into my head. I have your entire face memorized" down to every strand on her head.

"I watched you last night," she confesses. "Before I jumped your bones, I took a moment and studied you too."

"And?" I am curious to hear what she thought.

"You're so fucking handsome, its irritating." She frowns and I laugh, "I'm serious. It's very annoying but I got it, I understand why you do it sometimes."

Did she?

"Why do I sense a but coming?" She doesn't seems taken like I was the first time I did it.

"Your eyes. I love your eyes and not seeing them," she shakes her head and dismisses the thought. "They are my favorite thing on you, that Siberian Husky sliver grey shade is so unique and I love it too much not to see ot."

She is one to talk, she won the eye color lottery.

"Remember that okay?" She holds my face, "whatever happens. Just remember I love your eyes."

"Vecker," I pull down her hands. "Is everything okay?"

She is really scaring me now and I feel like I am missing something important here.

"Yes," she grins genuinely.

"Then—" why the weirdness?

"Ekaterina" her Russian accent flows through because she pronounces it as Ye-kah-tye-REE-nah

"Huh?" It didn't even sound like English.

"My middle name is Ekaterina," she explains and my lips fall open. "It literally means perfection or pure depending on which parent you ask but the direct translation is—"

"Katherine," I fill in and she bobs her head.

Her name is Odessa Ekaterina Vecker, I can't believe she finally told me. 

ODESSA

"Since you're cooking, mind if I chip in for groceries?" I am already grabbing Liam's car keys.

He just came from working out and though he looks hot, sweaty and insatiable. My grandfather will kill me if I don't see this through.

"You need a reason to be Cambridge, I just gave you one." My grandfather hanged up and the phone switched off indicating it didn't work anymore.

"We can postmate groceries." He gulps down water from a 2L bottle.

Since he missed yesterdays' practice in the name of a family emergency, he had to proof to Coach Carter and himself that his head is still in it. Hence the 3 hour workout.