Page 26 of Offside Attraction

Something inside mesnaps.

My jaw clenches. My fist curls tight at my side, every instinct screaming to swing—to break something.

I don’t.

Because if I hit him now, I lose my chance at this team.

And if Hayes’s goal was to get under my skin?

Congratulations.

He’s succeeding.

I force myself to breathe.

Deep. Slow.

Make the team first.

Then deal with him.

Hayes steps closer.

This time, there’s barely any space between us.

I can feel it—the attention. Everyone around us has gone still, waiting. Watching. Placing bets on whether one of us is about to throw a punch.

Not today.

“So what?” Hayes says lowly, his voice sharp and humorless. “You couldn’t get enough of me, so you decided to join the team?”

He lets out a short, dark laugh.

“Couldn’t get me out of your head? You just had to force your way back into my life. My school. And now my fucking team.” His eyes narrow. “How pathetic is that? It was never going to happen, Dakota. Not then. Not now.”

I chuckle.

Slow. Deliberate.

I let my gaze drag over him, down his chest, over his shoulders, and back up to his face—just to get under his skin. Because I know it will.

“Maybe you should pull your head out of your ass before convincing yourself I want you,” I say calmly. “Or should I remind you who crossed that line first?”

That finally does it.

The smirk slips.

“And don’t lie to yourself and say you did it just to mess with me,” I continue, my voice dropping. “You didn’t look confused that night. You didn’t look forced either. In fact, I think you enjoyed it.”

His jaw tightens.

I tilt my head, eyes flicking briefly to his lips before meeting his gaze again. “Funny how you remember everything else—but not that part.”

I don’tknowfor sure how much that kiss affected him back then. I never did.

Now I have my answer.

His jaw tightens. Muscles jump along his cheek as he clenches and unclenches his fists, the memory clearly hitting harder than he wants to admit.