The Harder You Fall (Rixon Raiders 3)

“Like that is ever going to happen,” Felicity mumbled under her breath.

When Kellie was gone, I turned to her, my brows pinched. “What the hell was that?”

“I think that was a perfect example of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.”

“Just what I need,” I groaned, “more enemies.”

“You don’t need to worry about Kellie, she’s no one.”

But even I knew it was always the no ones you had to worry about.

“You’re vibrating.” Asher dropped his gaze to my pocket, but I nudged his face with mine, coaxing him back to me.

It was lunch and we were sitting with the guys and the rest of the team. It was weird, sitting here as his girlfriend rather than his best friends’ girlfriends’ friend. But no one gave us shit about it. In fact, no one cracked a single joke.

The fact wasn’t lost on me.

“Did you orchestrate this?” I asked him, ignoring the vibrations in my pocket.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

My eyes narrowed, as I glanced around the table. A couple of the guys smiled, but no one made a single remark. Not even Grady, who always had something to say.

“So you’re telling me this is just business as usual?”

The corner of Asher’s mouth tipped. “I said I didn’t do anything...” he let the words hang, but it was when his eyes slid to Jason that realization dawned on me.

“You did this?” I asked the brooding quarterback.

“I may have said something.”

I didn’t know whether to be flattered or offended. My natural instinct was to tell Jason I didn’t need his help, that I could fight my own battles. But as I was slowly learning about my friends, you didn’t have to fight things alone.

“Thank you,” I said, offering him an appreciative nod.

He shrugged as if it was nothing.

It wasn’t.

Asher slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side. “You’re one of us now,” he whispered against my ear.

I couldn’t help but smile. But it quickly fell when I felt someone watching me. My eyes searched the cafeteria, landing on Kellie Ginly at the gymnasts’ table. Her mouth curved when she realized I’d noticed her.

“What’s wrong?” Asher asked, commanding my attention. I hadn’t even felt myself tense.

“Nothing,” I lied, sliding my eyes back to Kellie. She wasn’t watching now, busy talking to her friends.

Asher played with the bracelet ringing my wrist. “I know you’re technically already wearing my number,” he said. “But the exhibition game is my last game and well, I’d really like it if—”

“Yes,” I breathed, leaning back to kiss him.

He chuckled. “You don’t even know the question yet.”

“You’re going to ask me to wear your jersey to the game.”

“Actually, I was going to ask you if you’d wear one of those Vinnie the Viking hats.”

“Liar.”