Page 103 of The Retaliation You Deliver

As I continue looking at him, thinking about our new reality, a thought hits me.

“What is it, Red?”

“I-I’m dating a football player.”

He throws his head back and laughs at my realization.

“You’re doing more than dating him, baby. You’re his. For good. No take backs.”

“That’s good because I don’t want any.”

“Come on, I’ve had enough of sharing you with others.”

“Greedy,” I mutter as he releases me.

“Baby, you’ve got no idea.”

We walk back to Leon’s car hand in hand, both of us smiling like idiots.

“My place or yours.”

“Uh…” I think for a moment, although there really is only one answer. “Yours.”

“You sure? It’s full of sweaty, rude football players.”

“I’m sure I can handle it. I’ve tamed the worst of them.”

“Whipped and proud, baby.”

“Wanna stop at yours and pick up some stuff?”

“Yeah, sounds good. Just… just promise me something.”

“Shoot.”

“If Nate is there, please don’t hit him.”

“You’ve got my word. But in my defense, he wants something that belongs to me.”

“He doesn’t. And even if he did, you don’t need to worry, I’ve only got eyes for one guy, and he’s not a basketball player.”

“Fair enough. Can you do something for me then?” I look at him, waiting for him to make whatever weird demand he’s thinking about. “Don’t ever wear his jersey again. The only guy’s name and number you’ll have on your back from now on is mine, Red.”

“Big words for someone who hasn’t given me his jersey yet.”

“Gonna be like that is it?”

“Sure is, Dunn. You wanna own it, you gotta put your name on it.”

“Fair enough.”

17

Leon

“You’ve got thirty minutes to pack your shit,” I tell Macie the second I pull up in the parking lot behind her building.

“You’re not coming up?” she asks, her brows pinching in concern.