The Game You Play (Rixon Raiders 2)

“You could go with them? Just because she has a boyfriend now, doesn’t mean—”

“Mom,” I sighed. “It isn’t like that. I’m happy for her. She deserves this.”

“Oh, sweetheart, I didn’t mean... Of course you should be happy for her. I just meant, I remember what it’s like to lose your best friend to a guy.” She gave me a warm smile. “Your day will come, Felicity. High school can be a confusing time. But soon you’ll be in college and I’m sure you’ll meet a nice, intelligent young man who will sweep you off your feet.”

“Like Dad swept you off your feet?”

Her eyes lit up. “Exactly. Guys in high school have a lot of growing up to do. Why date a boy when you can wait a few months and date a man; am I right?” She winked playfully.

“Oh God,” I grumbled, throwing a pillow at her. “Get out of here. It’s too early for this.”

“Okay.” Her soft laughter washed over me. “But if you hurry, I’m making bacon and eggs.”

“Sure thing, Mom.”

She left and I sank back down against the pillows, trying to ignore how much her words affected me.

Grabbing my cell off the nightstand, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe this was the start of my fairy tale? Maybe this time I would get my prince?

But when I finally looked at the screen, there was nothing.

Maybe Jason didn’t want to wake you? I knew better though. Jason had bailed when things got too intense. Yet again, he hadn’t let me touch him. He hadn’t wanted to have sex with me. He hadn’t even bothered waking me to say goodbye. Because he was keeping me at arm’s length. He’d given me so much last night, but he refused to give me the one thing that I really wanted.

His heart.

Jason

“So what happened?” The first words out of Cameron’s mouth weren’t a surprise. Of course he was going to want to know what happened with Felicity. But what was I supposed to tell him when I still didn’t know what the fuck had happened?

“So you did go over there?” Asher added, shooting me a sly grin. “I knew the excuse about your old man was a lie.”

“We talked,” I deadpanned, loading more weights onto the chest press as Cam got into position.

“Talked.” His brow went up. “You expect us to believe that?”

Shrugging, I played it cool. They didn’t need to know Felicity and I had shared a moment. Whatever the fuck that meant. Or that I’d held her like she was the most fucking precious thing in the world. Then as soon as she had fallen to sleep, I’d hightailed out of there without so much as a goodbye because I’d panicked. Because for the first time since Aimee, things felt quiet. There was no expectation crushing my chest; no weight of the team, of winning State, there was just me and a girl and silence.

They didn’t need to know that at all.

“Believe what you want; it’s the truth. She told me exactly what happened with Thatcher and his goons and then I left.”

“Right,” Cameron said, leaning down on the bench. “And I’m not head over heels in love with your step-sister.”

“Really?” It was my turn to raise a brow. “You’re really going to throw that shit in my face?”

“It’s in your face whether I throw it or not.” He blew out an exasperated breath. “Hailee and I are endgame. The sooner you get on board with that, the easier things will be on all of us.”

“Endgame. You think you and her are...” Fuck. I couldn’t even say the word. I knew he loved her; knew she felt the same... but endgame?

From the look of complete seriousness on Cam’s face though, I had underestimated just how deep his feelings ran.

“I’m following her to college, man. You think I’d be doing that unless I plan on putting a ring on it one day?”

“Fuck off,” I said. “Now I know you’re yanking my chain because there’s no way in hell you’re seriously suggesting one day you might—”

“Marry her?” A faint smile tugged at his mouth. “Serious as a heart attack.”

Asher snorted and I levelled him with a hard look. “Are you hearing this?”