Page 23 of Hate the Game (Playing Dirty #1)

***Savannah***

“You should hang this on your door. Just to make them suffer.” Blaire scowled towards my door like she could see her brother standing there. He’d really pissed her off somehow. “I can’t believe that big dummy believed we’d painted our tits and smashed them on the paper.”

I giggled, drunk off of chocolate and ice cream. “You should’ve seen his face.”

“They looked like the Three Stooges standing in their door, staring at you. I was waiting for their tongues to roll out and slap the floor.” She finished stacking the last of her craft supplies into her bag and rolled her eyes.

“I have to go home. If I’m still out past eight these days I get so tired that I’m tempted to just lie down on the ground to sleep.

This little dude is sapping every bit of my energy. ”

It was the first time she’d really talked openly about the baby all day. “You’re having a boy?”

She nodded and her shoulders slumped. “I think you’re the first person who hasn’t taken one look at me and judged me. My father and brother certainly have.”

“What’s there to judge?”

“I don’t know who the father is. It was a party weekend and… Anyway, I don’t have any idea who he is or even where he is.”

I scooted over to her and hugged her. “Okay? There’s still no reason to judge you. I’m sure if you’d have planned everything out you would’ve gotten his number. You were just being young and having fun. I’m sure your brother has done the same thing a hundred times over.”

“You’re going to be my best friend, Vannah.”

“Same, Poppins.”

After she left I grabbed my toothbrush and toothpaste and headed to the bathroom.

There was no way I was going to chance running into Ryder in the shower later that night after the way he’d looked at me earlier.

I’d nearly combusted and unless I was ready to throw my morals out the window and jump on the Ryder train, I needed to keep my space for a while.

Or not. I pushed into the bathroom and saw Ryder standing at the sink brushing his teeth.

I took a deep breath and stood beside him without saying anything.

I kept my eyes to myself as I prepped my toothbrush and slid it past my lips.

It was a popular time of night and there were multiple people in the showers and someone standing on the other side of Ryder at the sinks.

It was safe but I could feel his eyes on me and it didn’t exactly feel safe.

I could feel my body heating and knew I was blushing.

Ryder finished brushing his teeth but he took his sweet time rinsing his mouth and gathering his things. He brushed against me as he walked by to leave and I nearly swallowed my tongue from the flare of heat that hit me.

I made the mistake of thinking I was safe and that he’d gone back to his room but when I left the bathroom he was leaning against the wall next to my door, waiting for me.

I took a deep breath and gave myself a pep talk.

I could handle Ryder. I was strong and tough enough to not fall to my knees in front of him.

I might’ve whimpered when he slowly turned his head to face me. My hands shook so I clutched them together at my back as I stopped to look up at him. “Did you need something?”

His eyes moved to my lips and flicked back and forth between them and my eyes. “Are you busy tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” I had to clear my throat so it sounded even somewhat normal. “Let me check…”

I was so stupid to open my door and turn my back to him but I needed a few seconds to remember what I was doing.

My mind was racing with silly what-ifs that I had no business entertaining and it was making me slow to react.

I made unintelligible thinking sounds as I tapped away at my phone without actually looking at anything.

I felt Ryder’s body heat behind me and squeezed my eyes shut. I was in so much trouble. My body was reacting like a big hoe and I needed it to stop. He was the enemy, dammit.

His big hand rested on my waist, his finger teasing the sliver of skin that my camisole didn’t cover. “I thought it was time for our one on one.”

I had to clear my throat yet again. “Um. I… Sure. I can plan something. Like lunch at a restaurant. Or the library…”

“I have the day off tomorrow and I’m going to spend it at one of my favorite places. I thought you could come with me.” He leaned slightly closer so his chest just barely brushed against my back. “Wear something like this. Something that you can get dirty in.”

I didn’t even get a chance to say no before he was across the room, gripping my door. I spun around and caught him staring at my ass but saw no shame in his gaze once he’d been caught. “W-What time?”

“Early. Be ready by seven.” He looked at my chest once more and shook his head before leaving. He shut my door behind him thankfully because I couldn’t stand for a second more.

I fell into bed and covered my face with my hands.

I was in over my head. When Ryder looked at me with his intense eyes I forgot everything.

I became a traitor and wanted nothing more than to climb him like a damn tree.

It wasn’t good. I had to remember what I was doing.

I couldn’t forget the mission. They were assholes and they deserved to go down. I just needed to remember that.