How I Played the Playboy

Chapter 10

{•••••}

As soon as I enter the house, a little, golden, ball of fluff attacks me, yapping furiously.

"Hey, Maxie!" Anthony bends down and picks up the little furball, who licks his nose in return. "Maxie, this is Courtney. Say hi to Courtney." He holds the puppy's paw, making it wave as if to say 'hello'.

"Hi Maxie!" I giggle at the little golden retriever.

"Do you want to hold him?" Anthony asks. I nod and gently carry him. Maxie gives me a wet kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, back off Maxie. She's mine." Anthony points a finger at him.

"Not anymore... A puppy just stole your girl!" I laugh. Anthony rolls his eyes and heads over to the couch, motioning for me to follow.

I awkwardly sit on the couch next to Anthony (but not next to Anthony) when I hear a chirpy voice from the kitchen.

"Anthony?"

"Yeah, mom?" He replies.

"You're home early. What happened to your date?"

"Uh..." Anthony mumbles as his mom enters the room.

"Oh, hi!" She says, surprised that I'm here. I awkwardly wave back.

"Wow, um... I'm sorry if I knew you were coming over, I would have cleaned up a bit more, uh..." She fumbles around, attempting to pick things up.

"Oh, gosh! Where are my manners?!" She extends a hand towards me. "Amanda Roberts."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Roberts. I'm Courtney. Courtney Clarke." I smile.

Mrs. Roberts turns to Anthony. "Such a sweet girl! Much better than that girl from last month... what was her name?"

"Ellen?" Anthony doesn't look up.

"Yeah, her," she turns towards me again. "So impolite. I honestly don't know where Anthony finds girls like her!"

I mentally agree. Ellen Parker Ross - one of the sluttiest and cruelest girls in my school. She managed to last with Anthony for about two weeks, and lost her V-card with him (so she claims). Then he broke her heart and she was torn and became crueler by the day (specifically toward people like me). Lovely girl, Ellen.

"Can I get you kids anything to eat?" She asks and brushes a piece of her pale, blond hair behind her ear.

"Nah, mom. We'll just order a pizza." Anthony replies.

"Okee-dokee. I'll be upstairs if you need me." She says and heads out.

"She's nice." I say.

"That's only because you're here." Anthony shows his signature smirk. I roll my eyes.

"So, what should we watch?" He asks me and turns on Netflix.

"Doctor Who?" I give a cheesy smile.

"Psh! No!"

"Well, you asked." I pout. He shakes his blonde hair.

"Courtney, have you ever seen Mean Girls?"

"No..."

"What?!" He seems shocked. "No way!"

"So what if I haven't seen Mean Girls?"

"So what?! Mean Girls is literally the BEST movie ever!"

"Uh, I oblige - Spiderman all the way." I state matter-of-factly.

"You nerd, we are watching Mean Girls." Anthony insists and presses the 'play' button for the movie. I fold my arms and slump in my seat.

"Hate you." I mumble.

"Well don't, I'm paying for pizza." Anthony retorts and scrunches his nose.

{•••}

"No! Don't you dare take that last slice!"

"Too late!"

"If you eat that, I swear--"

"Too bad!" I smile and shove the last piece of Hawaiian pizza into my mouth.

"Courtney!"

I smirk and swallow. "Whatcha gonna do, son?"

"This." Before I can reply, Anthony tackles me to the couch, tickling me.

"A-Anthony! S-s-stop it!" I say in between laughs.

"Why? Whatcha gonna do son?" he imitates my voice.

"Anthony! That is not what I sound like!" I yelp.

"Could you guys keep it down? I'm trying to study!" A voice yells.

We both look behind to see a young boy, no more than 12 or 13, standing impatiently (tapping his foot for dramatic effect). Anthony rolls his eyes.

"Dude, since when do you study?" He smirks.

The boy lets out a soft chuckle.

"So, who's this, cutie of the week?" He says, turning to me.

"Her names Courtney," he wraps his arm around my waist pulling me closer. "And she's mine, Kyan."

Kyan looks over at me and sends a wink, then shrugs before walking out the room.

Monkey see, monkey do.

Suddenly, a loud ringing comes from my purse. I open the bag and look at the name displayed on my phone. My hand starts to shake and bite my lips to stop them from quivering.

"Courtney?" Anthony tries to grab my attention, but his voice is miles away.

I read the text over and over again. Billions of questions race through my mind.

What does she want from me?

"Courtney!" Anthony shouts, snapping me back to reality. I look up at him, his eyes wide.

"I have to go." I say.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, it's really just and emergency." I pull on my wretched heels and snatch my coat. Just as I'm about to leave, a hand grabs my arm and pulls me back.

"Courtney. What's wrong?" His voice is no longer teasing as usual, but a serious manner.

"Don't worry about it," I give him a small peck on the cheek. "Everything's fine."

{•••••}