The Rulebreaker

With that in mind, I turn back to the girls I’m supposed to be helping coach and find Morgan poking one of the guys in the basketball team’s arm. It seems that even she’s mastered the art of flirting. I seriously have no hope.

Chapter Four

“I don’t understand. You’re freaking gorgeous, you’re funny, and your body is just, I mean, I could write songs about your body.”

I shoot Leyla a look. “You can’t write songs to save your life, so I don’t have much faith you’ll do my body justice.”

“See? And you know you’ve got it.” She shakes her head. “Why are you so damn insecure when it comes to guys?”

“I’m not insecure.” I frown, looking at my reflection in the mirror. “My makeup looks masterful.”

“It does.” Leyla nods in appreciation behind me.

“What does?” Maverick asks, walking into my room.

“Dude, you don’t knock? What if we were naked?” Leyla turns to him.

“I’d ask if I could stay here and watch.” He shrugs a shoulder.

“And I’d kick your ass,” she says, but melts into him as he gives her a hug.

“Damn, you look . . . ” He lets out a breath and shakes his head as he walks over to me. My heart speeds up.

“Right? She’s getting a guy’s number tonight. No, she’s going home with one,” Leyla says.

“Why?” Mav frowns deeply. “She doesn’t need a guy to make her feel beautiful or wanted.”

I roll my eyes and go back to applying my makeup. Normally, I’d agree with him, but honestly? I want to be objectified, dammit. I wouldn’t say it aloud, but I want to be and feel wanted by a man. I want someone to tell me I’m hot and that they want to have sex with me, or whatever it is men tell women. I want that.

“She’s going home with a guy tonight or I’ll riot,” Leyla says.

Maverick’s brown eyes meet mine in the mirror. He looks like he wants to say something, but instead, he shrugs and starts walking out of the room again.

“I’m leaving in ten minutes, if you want a ride, be ready.”

“We don’t want a ride,” Leyla calls out, then looks at me. “How are you going to get a guy if you hang out with them twenty-four-seven?”

“How do you get girls if you hang out with them twenty-four-seven?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Touché, however, I still stand by my original statement that women are more courageous than men and are willing to put themselves out there.” She shoots me a look. “Yourself excluded, of course.”

I laugh at that, because she’s not wrong.

“Holy shit. Who is this vision?” Colson boasts when we get to Tony’s.

“Can you stop?” I groan.

“She’s trying something new,” Leyla supplies.

“She wants to get a guy,” Maverick adds and there’s no denying the fact that he doesn’t approve.

“As she should.” Colson raises his beer high and eyes me up and down. “Maybe a hockey player?”

“Not you, if that’s what you’re getting at.” I shoot him a look.

“Nope. You’re right. We made a pact. No hooking up between roommates.”

I fix the short dress I’m wearing as I take a seat across from Colson and Leyla and Maverick settles into the seat beside me. As they start ordering food and drinks, I take a look around the bar to see if I find anyone attractive.

“Earth to Rocky,” Mav says loudly.

“What?” I meet his gaze.

“We’re waiting for you to put your order in.” He raises an eyebrow. “But we can wait for you to finish scouting for prey.”

“Oh shut up.” I laugh with an eyeroll and tell the waitress my order.

“Tequila, huh?” Mav comments after she walks away. “You must be serious about this.”

“Practice is canceled tomorrow morning. Leave her alone,” Leyla says across from me. “She needs to live a little.”

“I do need to live a little.” I smile and thank the waitress as she sets my drink down in front of me.

“And this is how you’re choosing to live a little?” Mav asks.

“What is your problem? You’re the one who’s always telling me I need to get out more and that I’m too hyper-focused on soccer and school and whatever.”

“You do need to get out more, but I didn’t think you were going to take that to mean that you need to find yourself a boyfriend or a booty call or whatever it is you’re looking for.”

“You have booty calls all the time.” I raise an eyebrow and sip my drink. “You literally just told me I need to give you pointers on that whole situation so that you can get yourself a girlfriend.”

“How are you going to give him pointers?” Colson chuckles. “I think it’s safe to say he dates more than you do.”

“You call that dating?” I blink.

“Dating, fucking, whatever. We’re too young to be tied down.” Colson glances at Mav. “Don’t tell me you want to be tied down, dude. Is this because your brothers are settling down?”