linger, waiting to see what the boys have planned, no doubt. We played a rare Friday night game, so everyone’s extra hyped to get the afterparty rolling.
“’Sup, Rae.”
I turn to find Bass coming down the bleachers. He drops beside me and raises a brow.
“Watch out Bass, you keep popping up at these kinds of things, I’ll start thinking you actually enjoy it.”
He nods, spinning his lip ring with his tongue as he eyes me.
“What?”
Laughter fills the room and his gaze flicks over my shoulder.
“Nothing.” He stands, making his way down the bleachers. “See ya.”
I frown at his back. “Later.”
I spin back around right as the team starts to shuffle from the locker rooms, freshly showered and ready to get the night started.
Maddoc steps from the back, looking all dressed to make ‘em spread in simple jeans and a T-shirt. That hair perfectly mussed on top. Lazy but sexy. Fresh fade.
He glances my way, doing a double take when he meets my eyes.
The corner of his mouth lifts.
Yeah, he knows he looks good.
In the next second, his attention is captured by a cheerleader for the opposing team. She slides up – literally, slides her foot across the squeaky, freshly polished hardwood – planting her little body in front of him.
My eyes jump to his, following along as his trail over the wide curve of her hips and thick thighs in her short skirt. She’s packing way more sex appeal than I ever could.
He smirks and her pretty painted nails plant themselves on his shoulders so she can pull herself up to whisper in his fucking ear.
Acid fills my mouth when his arm wraps around her middle to hold her there and then they stumble back a half step, laughing as he rights them.
“I see things have escalated, huh?”
My eyes snap to Vienna’s a moment. “What are you talking about?”
She rolls her eyes. “Please. You’re two seconds from shredding a pair of pom poms.”
Both our attention turns back to the boys, all three plus a few extras now standing there with a pack of fucking sharks with pink lips circling, ready to attack their prey.
Maddoc’s arm leaves the girl right as his eyes hit mine only to dip back down and whisper in her ear this time.
Are we playing this game, big man?
“He yours, Rae?” Vienna asks.
Apparently not.
My brows snap together at the thought. I don’t answer.
“You his?”
His eyes narrow as if he can hear what we’re talking about and he takes a half step forward, but another brunette plants herself in front of him.
I look at her.
She doesn’t push, but instead asks, “Feel like getting out of here?”
I glance back at the boys, finding each one’s focus elsewhere and stand. “Let’s go.”
“Wait, really?” She smiles wide, then a light squeal leaves her. “Hell yes! Let’s bounce!”
I don’t turn around again as we exit the gym and make our way to the parking lot to catch up with her other people.
I spot Victoria among them right away.
She scowls, crossing her arms as she waits for me to grow closer.
I shrug. “It wasn’t personal, even though it probably felt like it.”
Her glare hardens a moment before she rolls her eyes. “Whatever. Wasn’t the first time a girl with a chip on her shoulder punched me in the face.”
My mouth turns into a grin and hers follows.
“Okay, so since we’re all good now, can we get outta here?”
The three of us pile in the rear of the Tahoe while a handful of other girls fill the middle seats and front.
“We’re going to hit my house, get sexed up and go dancing!” the driver announces before spinning to face me. “I’m Mello by the way.”
I wave, glancing to Vienna who nods lightly, meaning she’s cool.
Mello’s house is only a few blocks from the school, so we’re piling into her room – a pool house built a solid hundred yards away from the main house.
One of the girls starts pouring shots for us while Mello begins tossing random dresses onto the couch.
And just like that, the other girls, Victoria and Vienna included, start stripping and trying on things my mother would die for.
Me? Not so much.
“Here.”
I turn and take a plastic shot glass full of something from a redheaded girl.
“I’m Bre.”
“Rae.”
She giggles, pointing to the side of the cup, where she wrote my name in Sharpie. “I know.”
She doesn’t stand there long enough to see me frown, disappearing to pass shots to the rest of the girls.