Page 14 of The Game You Play (Rixon Raiders 2)

“Fuck,” Asher breathed out.

“I second that,” I said, dropping my head back against the booth.

“You okay?” Cameron asked Hailee, tucking her closer into his side. I envied them. Their closeness, their love. The way he looked at her like she was everything he needed, and he’d do whatever it took to keep her. I wanted that.

God, did I want it.

So w

hy the hell did you have sex with Jason?

I ignored my inner critic, focusing on my best friend. “Maybe we should tell someone?”

“Tell who? Miss Hampstead? My mom? The principal?” She shook her head. “I can handle Lewis Thatcher.”

“You shouldn’t have to fucking handle him.” Cameron slammed his hand down on the table, making me and Hailee flinch. “Jason should never have…”

“What did he do that was so bad?” I asked.

Jason and Lewis Thatcher’s rivalry had grown with them from PeeWee through junior football camp. We’d all heard the stories of two of the best quarterbacks ever to come out of our district. The pranks and fights. But something had changed last year. The rivalry turned bitter. But no one knew the details, not even Hailee who lived with him.

“Nothing you need to worry your pretty little head over.” Asher grinned.

“You think I’m pretty? How sweet.” I shot back, my words dripping sarcasm. His expression fell and for a second I could have sworn he looked hurt, but then his smirk was plastered back in place as if it had never happened.

“You know Jase is going to want payba—”

“Not here,” Cameron said quietly, and something passed between them. Something they didn’t want me and Hailee knowing.

Dumb boys. I rolled my eyes.

“I don’t want you or Jason going after Thatcher.” Hailee grabbed his jaw, forcing him to look at her.

“We’re not, I promise.”

“Don’t lie to me, Cameron. I expect it off Jason, but not you.”

“What do you expect me to do? What he did to you—”

“Is done. Nothing you or Jason do is going to fix that. Let it go. I have.”

Cameron dipped his head, capturing her lips in a slow, bruising kiss. Asher cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. “Seriously, here?” he drawled, shooting me a bemused look.

“Sorry.” Hailee’s eyes slid to ours as she tried to break free from the kiss. But Cameron was stronger, planting big wet sloppy kisses all over her face.

“Aaaaand that’s me, gone. Come on, Fee, baby, you can kick my ass at air hockey.”

With a groan, I followed him out of the booth. Asher was the joker of the bunch: always smiling, always cracking a joke. With sandy blond hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a roguish smile, he was the epitome of the All-American boy next door. And somehow, I’d earned a spot in his life. Cameron constantly teased me about getting with Asher and sometimes, I did wonder what it would be like if I went there. I mean, he seemed interested, always teasing and flirting with me. But sadly, he wasn’t the guy who turned my head and made my heart beat that little bit faster. Deep down, Asher was good. His heart was pure.

Which sucked for me… because apparently I preferred bad boys with dark hearts.

Jason

“What the fuck happened?” I demanded the second Cam and Asher arrived at our regular spot in Bell’s, a local bar run by an ex-Raider and one of our biggest fans. My eyes flicked to Hailee who was quiet and a little pale at his side. I barely even acknowledged Felicity. I couldn’t risk her pulling that hypnotic voodoo crap on me, not here.

“Well?” I arched my brow, growing impatient.

“It was Thatcher. He showed up at The Alley.”