Page 37 of Hate the Game (Playing Dirty #1)

***Cole***

Savannah Lane Ford was a fucking enigma that was going to break my brain.

After grabbing candy and Corn Nuts from a gas station she’d talked my head off during the drive, in between shoving candy in my mouth.

Knowing her family history and how much money she came from I expected her to take one look at my neighborhood and have the same reaction most wealthy people had when they saw it.

It hadn’t gotten a face lift in a while.

It was beautiful to me but I’d looked up the house she’d grown up in.

Either with horror or pity, I expected Savannah to blanch at the idea of getting out of the truck.

She was out of the truck before me, a giant smile on her face when she saw a group of young kids playing in the street. “Think they’d let us join? They’re small. I’m sure we could beat them at any game they picked. We could bet them for all their candy.”

I stared at her without speaking but she didn’t notice my silence because she’d spotted the taco truck.

Without a glance back at me she made a beeline for it.

It was almost comical to watch the way people reacted to her when she hurried past. I wasn’t the only one around who didn’t know what to make of her.

“Come on, Cole! I’m ordering. What do you want?” Savannah was bouncing again. She looked at me over her shoulder and the image seared itself into my brain. Seeing her smiling while standing at the taco truck my childhood best friend’s dad owned was more impactful than I ever would’ve thought.

I’d brought her to my home turf planning on her being one of those rich people who pitied me. I’d planned on using it to fuck with her article. I’d never imagined she’d run to embrace it fully or what that would make me feel. Fuck.

She turned around again and practically growled at me. “Cole, I am seconds from telling this nice man that we’re not eating together. Hurry up.”

Antonio leaned down to look out of the truck window. “Cole? How the hell’d you get this pretty little thing to go anywhere with you?”

I went up to the window and fist bumped him. “She asked me out.”

Savannah elbowed me. “Barely. Hi! I’m Savannah. You know Cole? Tell me any and all embarrassing stories you know.”

While grinning at me Antonio reached out and held Savannah’s hand. “Hi, Savannah. I’m Antonio. I’ll tell you everything I know about this guy if you marry my son. That accent and those adorable cheeks? My grandbabies would be amazing.”

Savannah responded without an ounce of discomfort. “How old is he and is he as handsome as you? I’m still considering my options so I have to take everything into account. Does he have a vehicle and can he get me places faster than this guy did?”

I shoved my hands in my pockets to keep from grabbing at her like a desperate loser. I couldn’t help it, though. Seeing her tease Antonio was fucking with me. I wanted to smack AJ for his dad even kidding about him being with Savannah. It was crazy.

“Antonio Junior is Cole’s age. He’s a handsome boy and he owns a nice car. He has good credit, too. That’s important, you know?”

Savannah sighed and pouted. “Damn. I don’t go for Juniors. There’s only room for one person to have daddy issues in my relationships and I’ve got that down already.”

Watching Antonio throw his head back and laugh was another gut-punch. She wasn’t supposed to be so fucking likeable. Yet, there she was, charming the shit out of one of the men who’d been a father figure in my life. It was effortless, too.

“I like her, mijo.” He looked back at Savannah. “I like you. You eat free today. Just promise you’ll get this guy to come back more often.”

She looked back at me and smiled as she gently bumped me with her hip. “As long as he promises to feed me. Do you know that he wanted to drive from campus while I was starving and not get me road snacks? I would’ve been inside your truck, licking the floor by now if he hadn’t agreed to stop.”

“The horror!” Antonio thrust a taco out at her. “Eat this while you wait for the rest. I’ll treat you right, bonita. Don’t worry.”

“Heaven is real.” Savannah stared at the taco as she wandered away. “Thank you so much! You’re the best!”

I shot Antonio a look. “I’m going to tell Marie you flirt with the customers.”

He grinned. “Ah, mijo. Marie knows who she married. She also knows I’m all bark and no bite. That woman owns me. Seems like something you might be starting to understand.”

I scowled at him. “No. That’s not what this is.”

He nodded behind me. “Then you won’t mind that AJ just showed up and found your girl.”

Sure enough, Savannah was leaning against my truck, the taco shoved halfway in her mouth, doing her best to smile at AJ. I swore and tossed one more glare at Antonio before I hurried over to stop AJ from drooling all over Savannah.

“I’ve never seen you around here, babe. You lost?” AJ was already doing his best. He was leaning against my truck with his hand next to Savannah’s head, so he was towering over her. “Even if you are, consider yourself found now. I’m AJ. What’s your name, pretty?”

Savannah swallowed and nearly choked as she started laughing. “I’ve heard about you, AJ. Your dad told me all about your nice car and good credit. I’m not lost, though. Cole brought me. He’ll be taking me, too.”

My shoe scuffed the ground as my body stuttered.

I knew what she meant but the idea of taking her was too vivid an image in my head.

My mouth watered and I suddenly turned into a dog ready to protect his yard.

I made myself known and slid in next to Savannah.

Thank God she didn’t object when I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her so she was leaning against my front.

“Damn. Dad’s been hunting for a girl for me again?” Moving back, he nodded at me and after a few seconds we both laughed and did our handshake. “Cole, man. The famous footballer returns. What are you doing here?”

Savannah slapped my hands away but leaned up and kissed me before hurrying away. “Our food!”

AJ watched her go and I saw his eyes going to her ass, the same as mine. When I punched his arm he grunted and threw his hands up. “What do you want me to do, man? She’s stacked. Is that what college girls at USC look like?”

I followed Savannah’s swaying ass with my eyes, enjoying the way her dress always left me holding my breath, wondering if that would be the moment it flew up and showed me those cheeks. It never did but it didn’t stop me from hoping. “Not most of them. She’s-”

“Special? Fucking gorgeous? Built like a goddamn dream?” AJ blocked me from hitting him again and laughed. “If you think I’m your issue, you’re not paying attention man. Look at that.”

I looked back at Savannah and swore when I saw a few of the local guys I knew from back in the day approaching her.

The gangs in East LA were getting smaller and smaller, thanks to men like Antonio, but they still existed and everyone knew those two assholes were runners.

I was already moving when they said something to her.

Instead of shying away from them or looking for me to help her, she put her hands on her hips and pointed at them. “You kiss your momma with that mouth?”