Page 12 of Playing Dirty

Phoenix snorts. “Uh, I clearly remember you making out with Camden at a party sophomore year, so I don’t think you can say that as a definite.”

I’m about to dismiss his comment as fiction when I realize…shit, he’s right. I’d completely forgotten about that night—or can barely remember it, rather. And the pieces managing to stick ended up locked in a mental vault and buried beneath three feet of cement.

Though, now that we’ve brought them back to the surface, I do remember it being kinda hot.

“One, I was drunk as hell, so there’s no way it can count as anything.And two, from the little I remember of the encounter, he was the one who kissedme.”

A dubious look crosses my roommate’s face, and he shakes his head. “Hate to break it to you, T, but it still counts. And you were definitely into it, which would explain all the foreplay-like banter you’ve been exchanging ever since.”

I roll my eyes at the insinuation, because it’s fucking wrong. “Don’t get it twisted. Just because you love dick doesn’t mean everyone around you does too.” I pause before adding, “And it’s not foreplay, it’s him being an imbecile and me being fed up with his shit.”

“And da-nile isn’t just a river in Egypt, my friend,” Phoenix shoots back immediately.

Except it can’t be denial if what he’s saying isn’t true.

Wyatt, oblivious to the sidebar about Camden, makes a little humming sound in the back of his throat before rerouting us to the original topic. “I mean, I’d consider myself straight, but I’m secure enough to admit Madden is a good-looking dude.”

Okay, sure. Objectively speaking, Madden is an attractive guy. He’s catnip for anyone who’s into the dark-haired, brooding, inked-up bad-boy type. And I guess Cam is too, in his own boy-next-door-meets-court-jester way. But that doesn’t mean I’m actuallyattractedto them.

God, this is giving me a headache.

“Why are we talking about this, exactly?” I groan. My head slumps back against the couch cushion, and I rub my temples. “I have to spend an entire week trapped with the guy over winter break. Sharing a hotel room, no less. I don’t need to listen to you both yammer on about how attractive he is.”

Lord knows the week is going to be painful enough as it is. No need to make shiteven weirder.

With my mind fixated on dread, I don’t immediately notice the way Phoenix and Wyatt perk up at the information I’ve dropped in their laps. It’s not until Phoenix holds his hand up, drawing my attention back down from where it was focused on the ceiling, that I realize they’re both staring at me in abject horror.

“Wait, what did you just say?” Wyatt asks, his gaze locked intently on me.

Phoenix leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees, and slowly nods. “Yeah, rewind for us. What do you mean you’re gonna be trapped with your sexy stepbrother for a week?”

I’m going to kill him.

“My father and his lovely bride had the completely insane idea to force us on a ‘family bonding’ trip over break. So we’re going skiing up in Vermont.”

My gaze flicks between my teammates, unsure why this information is of any importance or relevance to them. But Wyatt and Phoenix share a look—one where the two of them seem to be having some kind of silent conversation—only for a lightbulb to go off in both of them at the exact same time.

“Oh, hell yes,” Wyatt says while Phoenix chuckles, a giant grin spreading over both their faces.

Unfortunately for me, I seem to miss what could possibly be so great about this horrible excuse for a family vacation, and I glare at the two of them.

“Why do the two of you seem excited about my suffering in misery?”

“Because, T, this is exactly what we needed.”

Yeah, still not following.

Wyatt motions toward me while he elaborates. “You’re gonna be sleeping under the same roof as the Blackmore captain—spending an entire week with him. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to get some intel on where their pennant is.”

My gaze darts between the two of them again, and I swear to God, they may have lost their damn minds more than my dad and Carla. Because there’s no way they’re thinking about the Penny Play right now. Not after I just told them I’m being sentenced to purgatory.

Then again, asourteam captain, I’m sure it’s something Wyatt’s been thinking about quite a bit. Especially with him needing to hide our pennant in the next couple weeks.

Phoenix taps his hand against his thigh before pointing at me. “This is brilliant, actually. Madden is the one who has to hide it, so there’s a chance he’ll be the only one who knows where it is.”

“Ah, only if he’s smart,” Wyatt amends ruefully. “Technically, the captain could tell anyone he wants, but why risk anyone being extorted for intel? That can’t happen if no one else knows.”

I roll my eyes. “You guys are playing way too muchCall of Dutyif you’re really suggesting I turn this ridiculous vacation into an even more ridiculous Black Ops mission.”