Page 38 of The Game You Play (Rixon Raiders 2)

“You’ve been?” I changed tack. “To the Hamptons, I mean? I always wanted to go, but my mom and dad prefer culture to the beach.” Quiet culture: museums and galleries and historical buildings.

“I went once. Didn’t think it was all that. That whole scene isn’t really my thing.” Mya snorted, pushing her unruly spiral curls from her face. She was beautiful: all caramel skin with dark features, and a slim but curvy frame. She reminded me of Amandla Stenberg.

I smiled to myself. Girls at Rixon fit into two categories: Plastic Barbie jersey chasers and the rest of us. One look at Mya and I knew she was like me and Hailee. Well, pre-Cameron and a certain star quarterback that would remain nameless.

“What?” Mya frowned at me as I studied her.

Slipping my arm through hers, I leaned in close. “Are you a football fan, Mya Hernandez?”

“I prefer basketball.”

My smile grew.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” She frowned.

“Oh nothing, but I think you and I are going to be great friends,” I declared, dragging her down the hall. “Welcome to Rixon High.”

“So this is the cafeteria,” I announced as Mya trailed behind me. She had insisted on doing her own thing at lunch, and I had insisted she come with me to meet Hailee. Apparently, my persistence outweighed hers.

“Aaand it looks just like my old cafeteria except without the drug dealing and fights.”

My head whipped around and I knew my mouth was hanging open like a fish.

“Joke,” Maya said. “I’m joking. Well about the drug dealing, mostly.”

“It was that bad?” I asked as we joined the line.

“Fallowfield High was a jungle. I’m lucky I escaped.”

“How did you?”

“Long story,” was all she said before turning her attention to the lunch items. “Same shit food though.”

“Oh, I don’t know. The tacos are usually good and Friday is spaghetti day.”

“Hmm, sounds delicious,” she replied droll

y.

“Just wait, you’ll see.”

“And who might this be?” Asher had impeccable timing. I’d hoped to get Mya situated before introducing her to anyone else. But from the way his gaze drifted down her body and back up, I knew Asher would need no introductions.

“Asher Bennet.” He held out his hand. “You must be the new girl.”

“This is Mya,” I said when she pursed her lips in defiance, staring at his hand like he had an infectious disease.

I was growing to like this girl more by the second.

Asher quickly recovered, running his fingers through his messy blond hair. “You like football, Mya?”

“It’s not usually my scene, no.”

“We’ll have to change that then because you just landed yourself in Rixon.”

“Am I supposed to know what that means?”

“You’ll see.” He winked at her before turning his attention to me. “Looking good, Fee, baby.” Then he strolled away as if it was nothing.