Page 18 of The Trouble with You (Rixon Raiders 1)

Moving around the body of the car, I crouched in front of the hood. My fingers trembled, my heart pounding against my ribcage, as I worked the sticker off the backing and positioned it front and center on the sleek black paintwork. Rubbing out any air pockets, I smoothed the Rixon East Eagles logo onto the hood, and then set to work on the spray paint.

“Hails,” Flick’s hushed voice carried on the breeze as I leaned over the hood to reach the windshield, spraying with as much accuracy as I could manage given the lack of light and my current lack of sobriety. “Hurry up.”

“Coming, I’m almost done.” Stepping back to survey my handiwork, I smiled to myself. Jason was going to kill me. If there was one thing he loved almost as much as football, it was this car. And when he realized… shit. It suddenly occurred to me I might not be the first suspect to pop into Jason’s mind.

The Raiders had a messy history with Rixon East High. A rivalry dating back decades. A rivalry that had only burned brighter since Jason became QB One for the Raiders. Crap. What if he thought someone from their team had done it? I could be the match lighting a long-simmering fuse. It was too late to worry now though. I had no way of removing the sticker or spray paint.

Scooping up all the evidence, I shoved it in my pockets, and checked the driveway again before ducking back into the shadows. But the sound of voices startled me, and I dashed back to Asher’s Jeep, crouching down behind it.

“You sure you’re good getting home?”

It was Cameron. Thank God. At least it wasn’t Jason; maybe I could still get out of this without being caught. The cars were parked in front of the double garage adjoining the house so if no one came around here, then I would be fine.

“Yeah,” a female voice said. “I’m a big girl, I

can take care of myself. It’s cute you care though.”

He gave a strained laugh and my stomach knotted. Cameron and a girl. It shouldn’t have surprised me. The words Raider and manwhore practically went hand-in-hand.

“Thanks,” he said. “For… you know.”

“It’s always a pleasure, Chase. I’d coming running any day of the week for that trick you do with your…” The soft purr of a car engine drowned out her words. Thank God, because I really didn’t want to hear all about Cameron’s amazing skills in the bedroom.

Shuffling to the other corner of the Jeep, I leaned up slightly to try to get a look at whoever Cameron was saying goodnight to. But all I caught was the flash of long dark hair before she climbed inside the Uber car.

Now was my chance, I had to get out of here. Crouching down again, I slipped out from behind the Jeep and ran. But right before I hit the tree line, the cannister fell out of my pocket, rolling to the floor with a loud clunk. I froze, my body paralyzed as I held my breath, waiting. Maybe Cameron had already gone inside, maybe he was—

“What the fuck?”

Shit.

Shit!

My pulse pounded against my skull as I tried to figure out my options. I could make a run for the trees and hope he didn’t give chase, or I could turn around and fess up. Either way, it wasn’t looking good for me. I’d hoped to be safely tucked up in bed when Jason discovered my latest handiwork.

Deciding to take my chances, I took one step, ready to dive for the trees, but footsteps crunched on the gravel behind me. “Who’s there? Thatcher, if that’s you, you’d better—”

I turned slowly, loosening the cord of my hood to reveal my face. Cameron’s mask of fury faltered for a second, his eyes widening. But they quickly narrowed dangerously as he stalked closer. “Sunshine? What the actual fuck?”

“Hmm, hey.” I gave him a wry smile.

He grabbed my arm and I wondered what the hell he was doing until he pulled me further into the shadows. “What the hell Cam—”

His head flicked up to the house where there was a CCTV camera. Crap. Why hadn’t I thought of that? Probably because you’re drunk on vodka mixer and high on adrenaline, idiot.

“Now,” his voice was cold. “Want to explain to me what the fuck you think you’re doing?”

“Hmm, about that… Well, I thought Jason’s car needed a little facelift?” It came out more of question than the sarcastic wisecrack I’d been shooting for.

Cameron blew out an exasperated breath and I’m sure I heard him whisper, “You’re not making this easy for me.” But I figured my ears were playing drunken tricks on me. “You couldn’t just walk away, could you?” His eyes pinned me to the spot.

But screw that.

And screw him.

“Then maybe you should rein your boy in.” I jabbed my finger at him. “I can take him messing with me. But not Flick. She’s not a part of this.”

He leaned in, curling his fingers around mine. “And you don’t think when he finds out you did this, he’ll come after you with everything he’s got? Think about it, Sunshine.”