The Game You Play (Rixon Raiders 2)

“So prickly,” I shot back. “So, George?”

“Is no one.”

I didn’t like the way she was deflecting. Hailee only usually did that if she didn’t want me to know something. And right now, there was only one person she didn’t want me to know about.

Felicity.

“I’ll find out, little sis,” I warned. “One way or another, I’ll find out who George is.” Grabbing an apple from the bowl, I bit into it, sending her a pointed look.

“You don’t care remember? So why would you possibly want to know who George is?” I glared harder and she chuckled. “Not so arrogant now, are you?” Her brow shot up.

Without another word I stalked out of the kitchen, the muscle in my jaw working overtime.

Fucking George.

It shouldn’t have mattered who he was. He could have been the Giles’ new pool boy or a family friend for all I knew. But it didn’t stop my mind zipping off in a hundred different directions, all of them ending at the same point. George wasn’t no one.

He wa

s someone, and I fucking hated it.

By the time I’d arrived at Asher’s house, George had taken on a life of his own. Snowballing into Felicity’s life. Maybe they were dating. Maybe he was an ex looking to rekindle their relationship. Or maybe Felicity was pursuing him. That one especially stung.

“Good mornin’.” Asher took one look at me when he climbed into my car and let out a low whistle. “What happened now?”

“Who’s George?”

“George? Is this some kind of test? Am I supposed to know who George is?”

“Just answer the fucking question.”

“Curious George? George Foreman? George Clooney?” Asher mocked, and I stared at him blankly. “No? Well, in that case I have no idea who George is.” My hands tightened around the wheel as I took the turn for school. “I’m guessing from the way you’re strangling the life out of your steering wheel that wasn’t the answer you wanted?”

“It’s nothing.”

He snorted. “If you say so.”

A beat passed. And another. Until I finally choked out, “I heard Hailee on the phone to Felicity.”

“And what? You’re worried George is swooping in to mend her broken heart? I’d call that a sweet dose of ‘I fucking told you so’.”

My chest rumbled with indignation as I swallowed my reply. It pained me to say it, but Asher was right.

“What, no comeback?” he added.

My eyes slid to his, silently pleading for him to drop it. But I’d picked the wrong friend to confide in for that.

“Didn’t I tell you this would happen?” Ash ground out. “Felicity is a catch, bro. If you weren’t so hung up on her, I wouldn’t have hesitated to try my luck there. But there are a lot of other guys out there, Jase.”

“I know. Fuck, you think I don’t know that?” The words came out strained.

“So what happened?” Out the corner of my eye, I watched as he twisted around, running a hand through his messily styled hair. “Talk to me; let’s try to fix this before it’s too late.”

“Coach is going to be pissed if we’re late,” I said, deflecting.

“Jase, man, come—”

“Just do me a favor and look out for her, yeah?” I lowered my voice, finding an empty parking spot. Cutting the engine, silence descended on us.