Page 71

“I’m attracted to both,” Jeannie explains. “Just notactualpenises.”
I nod, giggling. “Solid reason. But… the question still stands.”
She shrugs. Then says, “The girl making out with Jonah ain’t bad.”
We lose it in a fit of laughter, and when I’m finally settled, I turn to look for Jace. He’s sitting with his team, their heads all bowed in the middle, like during a time-out, clearly talking about something far more important than we are.
“You Rivera’s girl?” someone asks, and I turn back around, only to come face to chest with a boy.
I crane my neck, my eyes meeting that of Jace’s main opponent from Fremont. “What’s it to you?”
His friend joins him now, two buffoons versus me.
Sammy cracks, “Oh, look, it’s dumb and dumber.”
His friend ignores her, tells me, “I heard you don’t like us.”
I scoff. “Maybe if you were actually skilled in defense, you wouldn’t need to take cheap shots to try to take your opponents out of the game.”
A warm body presses up to my back, and I know it’s Jace without having to look. He slides his arm to my front, hand flat on my stomach as he pulls me closer to him.
The guy who first approached lifts his gaze from me to Jace. “What, your woman has to speak for you?”
“You didn’t ask him anything. You asked me,” I retort. “Dipshit.”
Sammy cackles, and he glares at her before facing me again. “You got a mouth on you, huh? You know where that mouth would be better used?” He grabs his crotch. “Right?—”
“One more word, and you’redone.” Jace’s voice slices through the air, sharp and deadly.
The atmosphere turns silent, and one by one, Jace’s teammates surround the two Fremont players.
“Let’s go,” Dumber says, tugging on his friend’s shirt. At no point does anyone square up or ball fists. They just… give up and leave.
I turn in Jace’s arms. “Sorry,” I mumble.
Taking my hand, he leads me to where he’d been sitting before. “You didn’t do anything,” he says, guiding me down to his lap. The rest of the team is chatting with Sammy and Jeannie now. Jonah and his girl sit next to Sammy, and she shifts inches away from him, looking disgusted.
I lose focus when Jace traces my neck with his nose, sniffing the perfume he loves so much. I twist slightly, meeting his lips halfway. His kisses are soft, chaste, just enough to drive me crazy. I pull back an inch. “Did I tell you how much it turns me on to watch you play?”
He nuzzles my neck again, and with his lips against my flesh, he murmurs, “I don’t think you mentioned that.”
I hold his head to me, lace my fingers through his hair.
“Shame my dad’s home. I could’ve shown you proof…”
“Fuck.” He rears back, tapping my ass. “Lift up a second.”
I do as he says, giving him the room he needs to adjust himself and sit back down just as his phone rings.
Heaving out a heavy sigh, he reaches into his pocket for it and answers it quickly. “Hi, Mae.” He listens intently, his gaze dropping. “I’m in Fremont right now, so I’ll be a little bit.” … “Thanks, Mae.” He hangs up. “We gotta go.”
46
Jace
Harlow’s quiet on the ride back home, and I’m too damn angry to speak. I just wanted one night. One night to actually relax and not have to worry about my grandpa’s bullshit.
We’re back in Rowville and just passing our houses when Harlow finally speaks, her voice shaky. “Where are we going?” I don’t know if she’s disappointed we had to leave or if she can tell I’m upset and doesn’t want to push me. Either way, I hate the uncertainty in her voice—the way it trembles as it comes out just above whisper.