Page 1 of Big Rucking Disaster (Rucked by You #8)
Prologue
Johnnie
“ Y ou were amazing, baby.” Carly feathered her hand through my hair.
I hated when she did that.
Both called me baby and ran her hand through my hair. Her fingernails always snagged on it, pulling at the roots.
I glanced around to see if any of my teammates were paying attention.
Nope.
Isaiah was making googly eyes at his man, Travis.
Roger had his arm around his twelve-year-old daughter Cassandra’s shoulders. Travis had brought the young woman to the match since her mom, Becca, was home with baby Kristine Angelique. Before long, Becca would be back in the stands. Having kids never held her back.
Jason’s fiancée, Sonya, grinned as she kept Walter, Jason’s parrot, on her shoulder. She’d snuck the salty-mouthed bird into the stadium, supposedly behind security’s backs.
They didn’t care. Just like they’d let Carly in when she wasn’t really supposed to be here.
“Are we going out with the team?” Carly’s green eyes shone. She loved spending time with the team. She loved being one of the wives and girlfriends. What she didn’t understand—but what had become incredibly apparent to me recently—was just how much everyone else despised her.
Oh, they’d never say so. My teammates and their families would never do anything so cruel. But Isaiah’s Travis had asked an innocent question about why she hadn’t been invited to their housewarming since everyone was supposed to be there.
The worst part was, I hadn’t even considered inviting her.
When she found out, she was furious.
I thought that might be the end of us.
In fact, I sort of hoped it might be.
Nope.
She’d redoubled her efforts to get invited everywhere and to be in the middle of everything.
Is she doing this because she cares about you, or because she wants to be on the in with the team?
I didn’t have an answer for that.
“Carly?”
“Hmm?” Finally, she pulled her gaze away from the other players and their partners.
“I have a headache. I think I just want to go home.”
“Oh sure, baby.” Again with the feathering. “You took a hard hit. Francine didn’t do a concussion protocol on you. I think she should have.”
Irritation rose in me. Carly was forever questioning Francine’s treatments. Our trainer was the best in the league, and we were damn lucky to have her. I kept waiting for a pro hockey, soccer, or football team to poach her. She loved rugby, though, and didn’t mind the Vancouver rain.
“I didn’t hit my head, so she didn’t need to do anything. It’s just a little buzz, but it’ll get worse if I don’t lie down.”
“Sure. I’ll take care of you—”
“No, that’s not necessary. Really.”
“Baby, of course it—”
“Jesus Christ, Carly.” I pulled away. “Give it a rest. Give it a goddamn rest.”
“Hey, everything okay?” Roger gently eased Cassandra into Travis’s arms and approached Carly and me. “There are little ears.”
Speaking of ears…mine burned. “I’m sorry.” I faced Roger. “My bad.” I pivoted to my girlfriend. “I’ve had a rough day, and I need to be alone. I’ll, uh, call you.”
Before anyone could respond, I beat a path to the exit.