Page 88 of Trick Shot

This man doesn’t need excuses. He already knows. Zed’s eyes cut back to me.

“Breakfast is ready,” he says, still pretending this is normal.

“Yeah. Just need to grab something.” I nod slowly.

He doesn’t look impressed.

“Better not let Dominic catch you grabbing the wrong things.”

The Florida heat is already creeping in, sticky and unforgiving, but the iced coffee in my hand makes it a little more bearable. The team is scattered across the patio, laughing and shouting while tossing a football.

I’m leaning against the outdoor bar, sipping my coffee, sunglasses on, watching the soft waves crash the shore.

That’s when my view gets blocked by a girl in a bright purple bikini—with too much implant and the kind of desperate energy I can smell from a hundred yards away.

“Good morning, handsome,” she says, pressing her shoulder against my arm.

“Missed you at the pool last night,” she adds, batting her lashes. “Tanner was fun though. Really fun.” She giggles. “But I’ve been wanting you.”

I take another slow sip of my coffee.

“Yeah?” I say casually. “And how was Tanner?”

“Energetic.” She grins like she’s winning.

“Great.” I set my glass down on the bar. “Then maybe stick with him”

“Come on, don’t be like that.” She tilts her head. “You’ve been avoiding us.”

Meaning:Why aren’t you performing your tricks anymore, circus monkey?

“Let me make this easy for you.” I look at her. “If you wanna party in my house and fuck the rookies, that’s your business.” I lean in closer, my tone sharpening. “But as for me… I’m just not interested.”

Her lips part, stunned.

“You’re nothing like people describe you,” she scoffs, her nose scrunching.

Yeah, sucks to think you have the right to someone’s body and get a reality check, right?

I turn away without answering, and that’s when I see Melody. She’s standing across the patio, eyes locked on me. Her gaze flicks to the girl, then back to me—cool, amused. A smirk plays on her lips before she turns and disappears into the house.

I stare down at my coffee, then leave it on the bar and follow her. Because nothing tastes as good as the look she just gave me.

I find her in the pantry, pretending to rummage through shelves like she wasn’t just watching me like a hawk from across the patio.

“Spying on me?” I murmur, stepping in behind her.

“Please.” She grins, not turning away. “You’re not that interesting.”

I crowd her a little closer. “No?”

She smiles, eyes dancing with amusement. “I was just thinking. If the girls are going to flirt with you while I’m around, I might just start flirting with your teammates.”

That gets my full attention.

“With who exactly?” I ask, voice low.

She lifts a shoulder, all fake innocence. “Maybe that rookie with the curls who keeps checking me out.”