The Other Game: A Dean Carter Novel (The Perfect Game #4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

like Jackass, the stupid guy on campus.”
    I laughed again at the way she talked about my brother. Her clear-eyed impression of Jack was refreshing. “What did she think?”
    “She was impressed. Although she’d never admit it.”
    Melissa glanced up, and I followed her line of sight to see Cassie heading our way. She tossed her bag on top of the table before sitting down.
    “Hey, Dean.” She smiled at me, and when I smiled back, she glanced over my shoulder and her smile died.
    “Thought you weren’t coming to my game?”
    Jack surprised us all by sliding into the seat next to Cassie. I had to chuckle a little inside as she pretended not to enjoy that attention from him.
    “My roommate threatened to set me on fire if I didn’t.” She tried to sound nonchalant as she scooted her chair away from Jack’s.
    “Well, at least now I know how to get you to go out with me.”
    “I’m not going out with you.” Cassie frowned before shooting both Melissa and me a desperate look. Save me , it said.
    “At least give me your number then,” Jack said, as confident as ever.
    “No thanks.”
    “Why not?”
    “‘Cause I don’t want to.”
    “Aw, come on, Kitten,” Jack said, and I almost lost it, thinking back to our conversation from last night.
    “Stop calling me that!” She stood up from the table before abruptly grabbing her things. “I’ll see you later,” she announced, her gaze focused solely on Melissa. Then she bolted from the student union with my brother hot on her heels.
    “Damn, I almost want to follow them,” I admitted.
    “Me too. But I’ll make Cassie tell me everything later. I’m sure Jack will tell you too.”
    “Yeah, but it’s not as fun as seeing it live and in person.” I grinned, and Melissa nodded in agreement before shooting up from her chair.
    “Where are you going?”
    She grabbed my sleeve and pulled me up by it. “Come on. I have to see this.”
    She didn’t let go of her grip on my arm until we were outside, but we saw no sign of either Cassie or Jack. It wasn’t until I scanned the campus and noticed a small gathering in the distance.
    I pointed. “That has to be them over there. See that little crowd?”
    Melissa looked up at me, hands on her hips. “Are you joking? You think I can see anything from down here?”
    I squatted to her level and realized that she couldn’t see shit. “Guess not. Want me to put you on my shoulders? Then you’ll be the tallest person here.” I was half joking, but if she wanted me to, I’d gladly hoist her up. She couldn’t weigh more than a hundred pounds soaking wet.
    “No thanks. I like missing everything.” She laughed as she walked in the direction I’d pointed. “Does it ever annoy you the amount of attention he gets?”
    “Only every day.”
    “Because he’s a jerk?” she asked, her short but shapely legs working double-time to keep up with my regular pace as we headed in the direction of the crowd.
    “No. He’s not a jerk. It annoys me because he can do anything he wants and everyone eats it up. Girls, I mean. I just don’t understand how instead of hating him, they all worship him. It’s not like he’s boyfriend material or anything.”
    Melissa nodded. “Exactly! That’s what I don’t get either, but I’ve stopped trying to figure it out because everything about Jack Fucking Carter gives me a headache. Except this stuff with Cassie. Because I’ve never seen him act like this before.”
    “Me either,” I admitted as we caught up to the small group of people.
    “Really?” She shot me a look.
    “Swear.”
    “I enjoy my dates to be disease-free,” Cassie shouted, drawing our attention.
    “As do I,” my brother shot back, giving a head nod to someone who walked by.
    Cassie belted out a laugh. “Right. I’ve heard you’re not really particular about who you date.”
    He took a step closer and said, “Well, you heard wrong then.”
    “Oh, that’s right. Actually I heard you don’t date at all. You