The Endgame Is You (Rixon Raiders #4) - L A Cotton Page 0,33

think it would be nice to hang out occasionally without Asher tagging along.”

“We hang out, Faith.” We hung out all the time with the rest of the people from our class.

“Forget I said anything.” She brushed me off, but her words lingered.

Before the summer, Faith had ended her relationship with her childhood sweetheart Max. She said they’d outgrown each other. I knew she’d embarked on a summer of self-discovery and sex with strangers, but I hadn’t expected her to come back so judgmental of my relationship with Asher.

Awkward silence followed us as we jogged under the leafy canopy of the oak and ash trees.

“I know things have been hard since you and Max—”

“Honestly?” She shrugged. “I feel like a new woman. I’d been with Max since junior year in high school and I hadn’t realized how suffocating our relationship was until I walked away.”

“I’m glad you’re in a better place, Faith, I am. But some of us are happy in our relationships.”

“Asher is a total babe, and he’s rich. Trust me, I get it.”

She got it?

My stomach sank. Is that what she thought? That I was with Asher for his money?

“I love Asher,” I said defiantly, annoyed at myself for even feeling the need to defend our relationship. “It has nothing to do with how wealthy his family is.”

“I know you do.” She shot me a weak smile. “But do you really think you’ll go the distance?” Faith picked up her pace and left me trailing behind…

Wondering what the fuck had just happened.

Asher

“You don’t have to come tonight, you know?” Mya said, making me frown.

“What? Why wouldn’t I want to come?”

“I know poetry isn’t your thing and I think some of the guys from our class are going to be there. You’ll probably be bored.”

I glanced over at her. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“What? No! I’m just giving you an out.” She shrugged as if it was nothing.

An out?

What the actual fuck?

“We always spend Sunday together,” I said.

“I know and I love it, I do.” Mya came toward me and I opened my legs, letting her slip between them. Linking her hands behind my neck, she gazed down at me. “I just didn’t want you to think you have to come.”

“Is everything okay?” My brows furrowed deeper. “You’re acting weird.”

“Everything’s fine.” Her lips pursed a little and I knew everything was not fucking fine.

“You want me to come, right?”

Shit. I sounded like a pussy. But we always spent Sunday’s together during the semester. It was our way of making time for each other when the weeks got busy and our schedules got hectic.

“Of course.” Mya brushed her lips over mine, but I intensified the kiss, sliding my tongue into her mouth and tangling it with hers.

“Keep kissing me like that and we’ll never make it out of here.”

“Now there’s an idea,” I chuckled.

“I can’t believe it’s junior year already.” She exhaled a small sigh.

“Believe it, baby.” I kissed her again.

“Okay, I’m going to finish getting ready and then we can head out.” Mya’s hand lingered on my shoulder and then she walked away, disappearing into the bathroom.

My cell phone vibrated, and I plucked it off the coffee table, scanning the text message.

Diego: A few of us are hanging out later, you should come.

Me: It’s Sunday. Got plans with Mya.

My teammates knew the deal.

Diego: You are so fucking pussy whipped...

Me: Never claimed to be anything else.

I smirked, running a hand over my jaw. The guys liked to bust my balls about Mya, about how serious I was about her. But I didn’t give a fuck. I loved her. And I’d almost lost her once... there was zero chance of me ever losing her again. I didn’t care that it was college, that it was supposed to be the time for partying and sowing your wild oats. Football wasn’t my life like it was for so many of my friends, like it was for Jason. I loved playing and I enjoyed the brotherhood and camaraderie, but it wasn’t the end goal for me. I had zero intention of going pro.

Diego: Well, you know where we’ll be if you change your mind.

Wasn’t going to happen but I appreciated him getting off my back about it.

The Hideout was crammed but Faith had reserved a table upfront for Mya and a couple of their other friends. It was an eclectic crowd. Preppy types with something to prove. The stoners, all high on weed, free love, and peace. The drama students all desperately