The Game You Play (Rixon Raiders 2)

. If we bring Thatcher into this, Principal Finnigan will intervene. But I have to tell Jalin. I’ll think of something to protect you, but everyone’s going to know something happened when we unveil them tomorrow. Maybe if we get this place tidied up and I speak to him, we can control the story.”

It wasn’t ideal. But it wasn’t like we had a list of options.

“When did you get so devious?” I asked around a half-smirk, brushing over the fact she was prepared to lie to protect me because I didn’t know what the fuck to do with that.

“I learned from the best.” She shot me a knowing look.

“You know, if I didn’t hate you so much, I think I could probably grow to like you.”

“The feeling is entirely mutual.” Hailee mirrored my expression. “Come on, we have a lot of work to do if we want to get this place tidied up before class tomorrow.”

I pulled out my cell phone.

“What are you doing?” Hailee sounded wary.

“Calling in reinforcements.”

Felicity

“Want to talk about it?” Mya asked me.

“Nope. I want to get wasted, flirt with cute guys, and then eat my body weight in ice cream. Maybe not in that order.” I took a long pull on the liquor Mya had sequestered off her grandmother. It almost blew my brains out the first sip I had, but at least it left me numb.

“I hate to break it to you,” my partner in crime said, “but I’m not exactly sure this is the place to meet guys.”

We were down by the river, huddled on a bench. It probably wasn’t my brightest idea ever, but I couldn’t sit at home, wallowing. Deflecting Mom’s incessant questions. It wasn’t like I could call Hailee; not when she was off with Jason preparing for the Seniors Night thing tomorrow. At least it was family and close friends of the team only. I wouldn’t have to survive sitting there, watching him, remembering how he made me feel... how he trampled all over any hopes of there being something real between us.

Fuck you right out of my head.

He hadn’t meant to say the words. I’d seen the surprise in his dark eyes, the flash of panic. Any other girl would have probably slapped him across the face and run a mile. But not me.

What the hell was wrong with me?

“You’re in deep with him,” Mya said, and my head whipped up to hers.

“Huh?” I slurred.

“I said, ‘you’re in deep with him’.”

“I’m not... I wasn’t supposed—”

“Girl, we both know it doesn’t work like that. You don’t get to decide who you fall in love with.”

“I’m not in love with him.”

“Maybe not now. But it’s there, inside you. You want him.”

“I do,” I admitted, my eyes darting to the ground beneath me. “He’s different with me.”

“They always are,” she sighed, her voice distant.

“Your ex?”

She gave a small nod. “Reeled me in before I could even see what was happening.”

“He hurt you?”

“He didn’t just hurt me,” Mya gave me a sad smile, “he completely destroyed me. Jermaine was my best friend growing up. Our momma’s were girlfriends, got pregnant together, raised us together. We were all tight.”