Page 19 of Hate the Game

R: Who gave you the hickey?

S: What hickey?

R: Woman.

S: I don’t kiss and tell, soldier boy.

R: I couldn’t help noticing my roommate come home in a bitch of a mood the same night with what looked like the bluest of blue balls.

S: Don’t y’all pillow talk? Ask him. And Ryder?

R: You’re a pain in the ass.

R: What?

S: Was it the hickey that scared you away?

R: No. I just didn’t think you could handle one on one time with me.

“What the fuck is going on with Savannah?” Cole threw himself down on the couch across from me in the senior player lounge. We’d just finished practice and I’d finished showering before him and Jax. I was pretty sure it was because they both conditioned their hair. Bitches. Cole’s hair was still dripping wet and I watched water fly all over when he ran his hand through it.

Jax swore and sat up to punch Cole’s leg. “Dude. You’re shaking your hair out like a damn dog.”

I stretched my legs out in front of me and was glad no one sat next to me. I did my best to keep my face schooled and cleared my dry throat. “What about Savannah?”

S: Seriously? You’re talking to the Texas State Women’s Bull Riding Champion, six years running. I think I could handle you.

R: Bullshit. There’s no way.

S: Nope. Not even a little chance of that ever being true. The bull’s scare the shit out of me. I also think it’s mean to just jump on an animal’s back and ride it. Don’t let Texas know I feel that way, though.

“Are you…smiling?” Cole sat forward and studied my face. “Shit. You are smiling. What the fuck?”

I glared at him. “I’m not smiling.”

“You are!”

“Just get on with whatever you were saying, asshole.”

R: My lips are sealed. If you tell me who left that mark on your neck.

S: Fine. Tell Texas. They’d never trust a non-Texan, anyway.

“He’s talking to Savannah. A lot.” Cole had managed to get behind me without me noticing. “Flirting with Savannah. A lot.”

I swung my fist back at him and he barely jumped out of the way in time. “Fuck off. I’m not flirting. Even if I was, it’s not like I’d be the only one losing their shit over her. I saw that giant fucking hickey one of you left on her neck.”

Just as I’d expected, Jax suddenly couldn’t meet my eyes. He looked everywhere but at me until Cole swore and sat down heavily next to him. I watched them both and blew out a deep breath while shoving my phone in my pocket. I could tell we were about to have a conversation I’d need my full attention for.

“I didn’t leave a hickey. I kissed her, sure, but I left no marks.” Cole glared at Jax, not unlike how I was glaring at him.

Jax jerked his head up to glare back at Cole. “You kissed her?”

“Fuck yeah, I kissed her. She’s hot for me.”

I snorted. “Oh, yeah?”

“So we’re all kissing her. That’s…great.” Jax groaned and ran his hands through his hair . “What now?”