Page 36

“What?” Scott tossed the bottle to the side. “It’s a hot day. You will dry before you know it.”

“I might take you up on that offer now, Dan,” I grumbled under my breath, scanning the human boys’ lust-filled eyes.

Dan stood up. “Well, I guess it was a good thing, then.”

I shook my head, still looking across the court and then my eyes widened when they landed on a certain pair of eyes I wouldn’t have expected to see here.

“Hey, I’ll be back,” I shot at Dan before jogging off.

Coming to a stop in front of a circle of guys, my focus was on the middle one. All the boys were staring at me with complete and utter shock.

“Hey, you! What you doing here?” I smiled, my high ponytail flipping as I cocked my head to the side.

He didn’t say anything. He just stared at me with his mouth open before snapping it shut.

“Um, my sister is playing.”

I nodded my head. “Gee, how long you been here?” I placed my hands on my hips, still smiling at him. He looked so cute all shocked.

“Um, since it started.” Cole nodded his head in the direction of the team we were playing “You’re playing her.”

“So, you have been watching me all day? And didn’t think of talking to me?” I laughed lightly and placed a hand on my heart. “I’m hurt, Cole.”

“Yeah.” Cole rubbed the back of his neck. “Didn’t want to be like a stalker or anything.”

“CHLOE!”

I looked over my shoulder. Dan was waving his hand for me to come back.

Turning by head back to Cole, I said, “So, this is awkward. I bet you didn’t really want to call me, did ya?”

One of his friends jeered, which caused me to frown slightly, until Cole shot him a dirty look.

“Of course I was going to call you, Chloe. I just wasn’t sure if you wanted me to,” Cole said, still looking really uncomfortable.

“Well, like I said last night, you should use my number.” I winked at him. “Anyway, I better get back to the team.” I turned to jog off before Cole stopped me.

“You sure about that, Chloe. Looks like you have enough guys over there.”

Frowning, I stopped and turned around. “Didn’t pick you as the jealous type.” I smiled shyly. “But you know, I also didn’t pick you as the kind of guy to let others intimidate you.”

Cole smirked slightly. “Game on then.”

I laughed. Just what I wanted. Another guy to play games with. Well, at least this one couldn’t burn me.

Dan glared at the boys. “Human guys are pathetic.”

I shook my head as the buzzer rang, signaling that halftime was over. “Don’t be jealous, Dan.”

“I’m not jealous.” He crossed his arms. I turned away from him. Maybe I should end both these relationships I was having. Let’s face it. Nothing good was going to come of them.

I was pulled around sharply as a hand wrapped around my upper arm. Dan crushed his lips against mine. Some people say that romantic kisses are the best. Fireworks explode and life is just so much better. Well, I can tell you right now that kisses driven by passion are the best kisses you can receive.

Dan pulled his lips from mine with a huge smirk on his face. “Just let others beware. There is competition.”

I was still a little giddy from the kiss. “Well, I think they got the memo.”

I glanced behind Dan and saw the broken clipboard in Xavier’s hand. He was glaring so hard in our direction that I was surprised Dan wasn’t dead.

Turning to jog onto the court, I caught Cole’s expression out of the corner of my eye. He had a pleasant smirk on his face and his arms crossed. I sent him a small wink, while I threaded the bib over my arms and taking my position on the court.

Catching the ball, the umpire blew her whistle and the game began and I’m not just referring to the basketball game.