Page 55 of Offside Attraction

“You’ve got this,” Tripp mutters under his breath.

“Easy,” Lance adds. “You’re good.”

I down my last cup, slam it onto the table, hands shaking just slightly as I flip it.

Please.

It tips.

Wobbles.

And falls on its side.

Fuck.

A second later, Hayes flips his cup—smooth, effortless—and it lands perfectly upright.

The room explodes.

Cheers. Whistles. Someone slaps him on the back.

Hayes doesn’t react to any of it.

He just looks at me.

That malicious smirk spreads slowly across his lips, dark eyes locked on mine like he’s already won more than just a stupid game.

And all I can think is—

What the fuck have I gotten myself into?

CHAPTER 12

“Areyoustillmadat me?” Harper asks, her full attention fixed on me as I ignore her, one hand gripping the steering wheel while the other rests on the windowsill.

“Look, I’m sorry,” she continues. “I know I shouldn’t have, but I just wanted to have fun. You’re a grown-up—you get to go to parties, and I don’t.”

“Are you making excuses for your behavior?” I ask, glancing at her briefly before returning my eyes to the road.

“No, it’s just…” She trails off, sighing as she stares down at her hands like they might offer her answers.

“You’re lucky I didn’t tell Mark.”

“Yeah, I know. And I’m grateful,” she says quickly. “I’m never sneaking out of the house in a short dress to party with seniors again.” She pouts, batting doe eyes at me.

We may not be related by blood, but I’m protective of Harper—and she knows it. I don’t let boys talk to her, and I sure as hell don’t let her talk to boys. I pretend not to care sometimes, give her the cold shoulder, act like an asshole, but the truth is simple: I care. A lot.

She’s sweet. Carefree. Kind to a fault. Trusting. Everything I’m not.

She’s the little sister I never had.

“Okay,” I say after a beat. “But you should never have sneaked out to party with Jenn.”

“Gwen,” Harper corrects instantly, shooting me a playful glare.

“What?”

“Her name’s Gwen. Not Jenn. Seriously, how is that hard?” She scoffs. “Gwen. Gweennnn.”