Page 31 of The Illicit Play

CHAPTER 10

GRADY

Trying to study when Blake Wilson keeps dancing in my brain is nearly impossible. Slamming back in my chair, I glare out the window. I left the curtain open, even though it’s dark out, and my room is now a fishbowl. I can’t even really see our neighbor’s house. Right now, I’m looking at a reflection of my grumpy-ass face.

With the rain trickling down the glass, I look like I’m fucking crying.

Shit! Why won’t she leave me alone?

I don’t want to be into this girl at all.

But I can’t stop thinking about that look of mild panic on her face before I intercepted the guy at the pharmacy. I didn’t see it at first, too caught up in the fact that he was yelling at her, but the more I think about it, the more I realize she was freaking out. Being yelled at by anyone is unnerving. I’m grateful I was there, especially since she didn’t do anything wrong.

A niggle stirs inside me that I don’t even understand.

Shifting in my seat, I lean back over my laptop and tryto focus, but there she goes again, her laughter flittering between my ears. Why did she think having a boyfriend was so damn hilarious?

Is she not into guys?

Her heated look when we checked each other out in the bathroom… nah, she’s into men. Or at least she’s into me.

We have a connection. There’s no denying it.

From what I can tell, it’s simply pure lust, because I don’t know this woman at all, so how can I possibly be romantically attracted to her, right?

I mean, I know what Wily’s told me. He adores his sister. They grew up close. I don’t really know what that’s like. Owen and I never really saw eye to eye, unless we were playing football, and then when our parents got divorced, the divide turned into the fucking Grand Canyon. Jamar and Luis are so much younger than me, and even though they’re great kids, I’m never gonna be super close to them.

But Blake and Wily… they’re like best buds.

Which is why you can never go out with her.

Closing my eyes, I cup the back of my head with a heavy sigh.

I should be grateful for this unspoken rule. It’ll no doubt keep me out of trouble.

Although, a fling with Blake might be exactly what you need right now. It’ll help you get over Teah, right?

I growl, sitting up straight and hating myself for thinking that. I’m not using Blake like some rebound therapy. Fuck that!

Standing up, I kick my chair back and head for thedoor. I need to get out of here and go for a run or have something to eat.

I don’t fucking know.

I just need to move.

Slapping my laptop shut, I stalk to my door, grabbing my jacket off the hook and throwing it on. This is stupid. I don’t even know where I’m going. Teah and Mac might be at Offside, so that’s a no-go.

I could go to the library. Study there for a bit. Might be a nice change of scenery.

But I’ll no doubt still carry Blake and her pretty face with me.

Damn, she’s so fucking beautiful. Her big blue eyes, delicate features, and that waterfall of blonde hair.

Waterfall of hair? Man, would you shut the fuck up!

Closing my eyes, I try to inhale some sanity before trotting down the stairs and bumping into Wily, who’s limping out of the living room with Satch tucked under his arm.

“You good, brother?” I move in to assist.