The Game You Play (Rixon Raiders 2)

“Well then, nothing happened.”

“Jason, don’t do that. Don’t deflect. I told you not to—”

Pushing off the counter, I brushed past her. “You don’t need to worry, little sis, me and Felicity are just friends.”

“Friends?” She snorted. “You really expect me to believe that you and... you’re up to something.”

Letting out a frustrated breath, I spun around, meeting Hailee’s narrowed gaze. “What the fuck do you want from me? I overlooked the fact you and Cameron—”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake, we love each other, we’re in love. Trust me, it would be a damn sight easier if I didn’t love your best friend. But I do. And I won’t apologize for that. If only you’d drop this macho don’t-care-about-anyone bullshit maybe you’d understand. Or even let someone—”

“Careful, Hails, you’re starting to sound like a romantic, and I know you know better than to think life is one big ole fairy tale and everyone gets their happily-ever-after.”

“Agh,” she threw up her hands, “You’re so frustrating. I give up.” Hailee stomped out of the room and I couldn’t help but smirk. Getting under my step-sister’s skin had once been one of my favorite pastimes, but now I saw it for what it was; juvenile sibling rivalry that had crossed a line.

I downed the rest of my shake and grabbed my keys.

“Jason,” Denise’s voice grated across my skin like nails on a chalkboard. “I was hoping to catch you before you left.”

“I need to go, or I’ll be—”

“This won’t take a minute.” She gave me a strained smile. “It’s Hailee, she still won’t talk to me.”

“Not my problem.”

“I know the two of you still don’t see eye to eye, but I thought... well, I thought after everything, you might talk to her for me?”

“You want me to talk to Hailee about how you what? Ruined my family? Lied to her all this time? Stood by and did nothing while we terrorized each other? Tell me, Denise, what exactly should I talk to her about?”

Shame burned her cheeks as she spluttered, desperately trying to take control back of the conversation. I might have tolerated Hailee now because of Cameron and our shared hatred for our parent’s deceit, but I didn’t owe Denise anything. She represented everything I despised.

“Jason,” she sniffled barely holding back the tears, “that’s not fair. Me and your father never meant to hurt anyone.”

“That’s just it though, Denise, isn’t it? No one is ever supposed to get hurt but they always do.” The words hit me square in the chest.

It was the truth. People always found a way to hurt one another. Screw each other over in the name of love… greed… jealousy.

“I can see this was a bad idea; forget I said anything.” She hurried out of the kitchen, her sobs punctuating the tension.

I probably should have felt even an ounce of guilt at making my stepmom cry, but the truth of it was, adults were supposed to set the standards. To teach their kids respect and integrity. My old man might have taught me how to throw a perfect pass, but he failed miserably when it came to teaching me how to be a stand-up guy. Even after losing his shot at going pro, after meeting Mom and settling down, he couldn’t give up his football-star life. He and Mom spent years pretending, years of playing their roles as doting father and mother, husband and wife. When really it was all a sham. Mom stayed with him out of obligation, while he clung onto a dream that would never be his, finding solace at the bottom of a bottle or a stranger’s bed. I never wanted to treat someone the way Dad treated Mom. Someone he was supposed to care about, to love. Which is why I planned on never settling down. I’d seen enough news articles on football players and the impact of the game on their personal lives and relationships to know that it wasn’t worth the headache or heartache.

It wasn’t worth it.

But football, the game, that was worth it.

It was all I needed.

By the time I arrived at school, first class was already in session. Not that it mattered I was late. Teachers regularly turned a blind eye to my tardiness or absence. Instead of sneaking into AP Math, I decided to hit the gym. After my run in with Hailee and then Denise, I needed to burn off some extra steam, and practice wasn’t until after school.

But even after a good work out, I was still restless. It coursed through my veins, making it hard to focus. Usually, I’d text Jenna or one of the other gymnasts or cheerleaders to see if they wanted to help me relax, but the only person I wanted to text was the one person I shouldn’t.

I’d snuck out of Felicity’s room yesterday morning for a reason. To avoid any awkward conversations, where she got the wrong idea, and I had to dig my way out of the hole I’d gotten myself into in the first place. But my dick seemingly didn’t appreciate not getting his because before I knew it, he had me pulling out my cell phone and texting her.

Me: Where ru?

Felicity: You are alive then? I thought maybe you’d been abducted by aliens…

Me: I didn’t want to get you into trouble with your parents.