Page 21 of The Trouble with You (Rixon Raiders 1)

“Well he’s got a fucking death wish, if it was.” Jason’s whole demeanor radiated anger. After he saw his car—and Hailee’s handiwork—I thought he was going to detonate. Asher acted quickly and shut down the party, sending everyone home, while we tried to clean up his car and calm him the fuck down. We’d gotten the sticker off without any damage, but the paint was going to need removing professionally.

“We can’t jump to any conclusions,” I said. “If we go after Thatcher and we’re wrong that could cost us—”

“Yeah, but come on, man,” Asher folded his hands behind his head. “Who else is dumb enough to do something like... Hailee.” His eyes lit up. “It could have been her.”

“Nah, man,” I said trying to act cool. “She’s up for a prank or two but criminal damage?”

Jason was quiet. Too fucking quiet. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, trying to figure out what was going on in that head of his.

“You checked the CCTV?” he asked Asher who nodded.

“Like I said before, my old man switched off the system before the summer when it started glitching. He still hasn’t gotten around to fixing it.”

Thank fuck.

Jase grunted, rubbing his jaw. “Nah, Hailee wouldn’t do it. She’s ballsy but she’s doesn’t have balls big enough to pull something like this. It had to be Thatcher.”

I didn’t know what to do. On the one hand, I could fess up and deliver Hailee right at his feet... or, I could withhold the truth and give him more ammunition to go after Thatcher.

Either way, it was a shit show waiting to happen.

But could I rat Hailee out knowing Jason would come after her with everything he had?

“Still,” I said making my decision. “Without evidence, you need to tread carefully. Finnigan is just itching for an excuse to come down hard on you. If he so much as gets a whiff of trouble with East he’s going to pounce.”

Jase sat back, considering my words. While Asher liked to stir trouble, I’d always been Jase’s voice of reason.

“Fuck, I want to destroy that piece of shit.”

“So, do it on the field, where it’ll hurt most.” Thatcher was much like Jason; hard-headed, arrogant, and devoted one-hundred-and-ten percent to the game. Losing to the Raiders would be almost as good as any retaliation Jase and Asher could dream up for him.

“Or we go across river and show that fucker what the Raiders are really about,” Asher said around a shit-eating grin.

I cut him with a hard look, but Jase surprised me when he said, “Nah, Chase is right. Although I’m ninety-five percent sure it was him or one of his guys, we can’t hit back. Not yet. Not with Finnigan breathing down our necks.”

Asher grumbled under his breath but didn’t argue. Jase’s word was final, it always was.

“Doesn’t mean I still don’t need to get Hailee back though.”

“Now we’re talking.” Asher rubbed his hands together, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Can we play with Felicity too?”

Jase’s expression hardened; only for a split-second, but I saw it.

Interesting.

“Nah, Hailee is right, this is between me and her.” Except he was all too happy to get us to do his dirty work now and again.

Asher shrugged. “Yeah, whatever, man.”

“I’m going to get another beer,” I said. “You guys want?”

They both nodded and I left them to it. I was right to lie to Jason. If he knew Hailee was the one behind what happened to his car... well, I didn’t want to think about what he would do. But I realized now he wasn’t ever going to give up this game of cat and mouse with her. And if he misdirected his anger at Thatcher toward her, things could still get ugly.

Unless Hailee was put in her place once and for all.

Monday rolled around and everyone was talking about the upcoming pep rally. It was always a big deal with the whole school showing up to support the Raiders and welcome this year’s Varsity team. Khloe had been blowing up Jase’s cell phone all day wanting to know when they could get together to plan our grand entrance. Eventually, she’d pinned him down during his free period, but I’d left him to face her alone, saying I needed to show up for class. He’d pointed out that I was already late, but I’d just grinned and got the hell out of there.

I hadn’t expected to walk straight into Hailee as I rounded the empty hall. “I need to talk to you.” She grabbed my arm and yanked me into the janitor’s closet.