Jane's Team: A High School Reverse Harem Romance

by Janie Marie

  It was hard to look at the cops, but she answered their questions and recounted everything she could remember, all the way to when Ryder and the others arrived, and the Damon player punching Dylan.

  “Will she have to do anything else?” Ryder asked.

  “We’ll need to photograph her, especially her mouth and if she has any bruising. You guys stopped him from getting her completely, so it’ll be up to a judge or prosecutor how the charges go. I’d say it’s a bad thing he didn’t do more to charge him, but he’s eighteen; he’ll be charged as an adult.”

  Jane closed her eyes, exhausted and ready to fall asleep now. She just wanted to curl up with Ryder, curl up with David and make sure he was okay—he was going to be so angry. Luc was going to be mad at her for running off, and Tercero had warned her about being kidnapped not even an hour ago.

  “All right,” Ryder told the cops. “But this is it for her tonight. She needs to get out of here.”

  “Let me just take some photos.”

  Jane felt so violated as they got close to her, finding dirt smudges around her lips and a piece of grass in her mouth. They bagged it, but knowing it was from the game and not Dylan, they’d just have to hope her saliva was present on Dylan’s gloves.

  “We can swab her now,” the cop said, pulling out a kit. “They may ask her to do another later, but this is good evidence, even better that you witnessed it.”

  “Yeah.” Ryder hugged her as he maneuvered her for the officer to get samples. “Just a little more, babe.”

  She bobbed her head, clutching his arm as the officers worked.

  “Will you be staying with your girlfriend tonight? She probably needs to have someone with her.”

  Ryder kissed the back of her head. “Yeah, she’ll have me.”

  The door was yanked open, and David stood there, his eyes wide with fear and rage. “What the fuck happened?”

  Ryder only scooted over, motioning for him to get in. “Nah, let him in but keep her parents out,” he said to the cop who had tried to pull David away.

  Jane sobbed as David tugged off his jersey and removed his shoulder pads so he could get in.

  “Baby, what the hell?” He darted his eyes between her and the cops.

  “Hurry the fuck up,” Ryder snapped at him.

  David glared at him, but he got in, pulling her to him even though she tried to cling to Ryder.

  “Babe, go with him; let me go talk to your parents.” Ryder kissed her head. “It’s David; he’s not going to let anyone get you. He’s not mad at you.”

  Heat engulfed her, and David pulled her completely onto his lap. “I’ve got you,” he whispered, kissing her forehead.

  She sobbed, clutching his sweaty tank. He was dirty and way too hot, but he smelled like home. “I’m sorry I ruined your moment.”

  Ryder leaned up behind her, kissing her shoulder. “Hey, I’m probably gonna blow our cover, babe.”

  David pressed his lips to her forehead again, and with Ryder still behind her, his hand sliding down her back as he murmured something to David, she quieted. Her erratic heartbeat slowed, and she sighed, completely content.

  “We’ll figure something out,” Ryder told David, and he kissed her shoulder again. “Look, she likes being between us.”

  “Uh, boys?” The cop cleared his throat.

  “Fuck, man,” Ryder said, leaning away. “We’re calming her down, and you gotta ruin shit.”

  A harsh laugh rushed out of her, and she sobbed while laughing as she turned her head toward Ryder. “You and your shits.”

  He grinned, leaning forward and kissing her full on the lips with David supporting her and sliding a hand under her shirt. “Fuck, yeah, I can do this,” he said against her mouth.

  David squeezed her. “Baby, let him go. Your mom is panicking.”

  Ryder snuck in another quick kiss. “Be back, babe. And don’t worry, your mom checks me out all the time. I’m gonna kill whatever impression Luc left on her.” He winked, moving back as he threw a glare at David. “Easy with our girl, Papi. She’s still drunk on me.”

  “Get the fuck out of here,” David said, burying his face against the other side of her neck that Ryder had been kissing.

  “Getting the fuck out,” Ryder said, slamming the door behind him.

  Jane tilted her head up at David, sighing as he smoothed her hair out of her face. “The plan is fucked.”

  “Baby, we’re all for fucking shit up, as long as it’s with you.” He pressed his lips to hers, stealing her breath.

  “Damn, kids have really changed since I went to school.”

  David stilled. She jerked back, turning to the two cops she’d forgotten about again.

  The one who had done all the questioning grinned. “You guys aren’t related, right? ‘Cause that would be weird.”

  Jane stared wide-eyed at the cops, certain she had one of those little sweat-drop things going on. “Uh . . .”

  Thirteen

  When Jane imagined Ryder talking to her parents, she never thought that would result in Kingston punching Luc, then Ryder immediately knocking Kingston out. But that’s exactly what she and David witnessed from the police cruiser.

  It had happened so fast. One moment Kingston was shaking Ryder’s hand, then he was glaring at him, then Luc said something, and then bam, bam.

  Now, she sat in the backseat of Kingston’s SUV, with David beside her as they headed to the hospital. David needed his hand checked out, and Kingston was to be examined because he wanted to press charges against Ryder.

  David slid his good hand into hers, squeezing it.

  She returned the gesture, smiling sadly up at him. Ryder hadn’t let it slip about things with David, but he had admitted to Kingston he was seeing her until she could make up her mind between him and Luc.

  “Fucking hoodlum,” Kingston muttered for the third time. “You’re not seeing those boys, Jane.”

  Her mother was driving, and she shot Jane a worried look but kept her mouth shut.

  “Dad,” David said, his tone full of respect but challenging, nonetheless.

  “Shut your mouth, boy,” Kingston growled. “I should beat your ass for letting your sister get passed around like this.”

  “He’s not my brother,” Jane blurted, her body shaking as she fought the urge to punch Kingston herself. “And they aren’t passing me around! I just can’t choose, and they’re being sweet by giving me time.”

  Kingston laughed mockingly. “You really have lost all sense, Jane. They are making a damn fool of you and using you, and your brother—because that’s what David is to you—let those bastard Godson boys turn you into their personal whore.”

  David’s body temperature skyrocketed, but he spoke calmly. Well, if calm was a low, deadly voice that didn’t sound at all like David—yeah, he sounded calm. “She’s not their whore, and she hasn’t let them do anything to her.”

  Just like David, Kingston’s tone changed into something that was unrecognizable as her stepfather’s normal loving but firm tone said, “You disappoint me, son. Eric would be ashamed of you. I’m ashamed of you.”

  Jane’s jaw dropped. Kingston never spoke of her father, and he certainly never said anything close to saying he was ashamed of David. Her dad wouldn’t think so either. “Mom,” was all she could say.

  Her mother only pressed her lips together, never turning to even look at Kingston or her.

  David, her beautiful David, was silent, his gaze cast down at his feet. Her heart clenched at the sight, and again, Jane wanted to lash out at Kingston. He was never cruel, never this harsh with David. It was all her fault.

  No one spoke for the remainder of the drive to the hospital, and Jane knew David was thinking everything through again. Every bad scenario he’d feared was probably consuming him, and she was going to lose him.

  Carefully, she intertwined their fingers, peeking at him as he stared down at their hands. It was unfair, and probably never going to work out now. David loved his dad,
and he always chose honor over himself. He’d never pick her, and she knew now she had to let him be honorable David who obeyed his father, who made his father proud.

  David looked at her, a range of emotions crossing his handsome face before he opened his mouth. “Dad, I lo—”

  “We’re here,” her mom declared loudly, slamming on the breaks.

  Jane’s heart thundered in her chest. He was about to say it. He was about to tell his dad he loved her. She couldn’t let him.

  “Jane, dear, go with David and help him get checked in. He might need you to fill out some paperwork for him. I’ll be there after I get Kingston situated.”

  She didn’t have to be told twice. Yanking the door open, she pulled on David’s arm. “Come on. I have to pee.”

  He stared at her then darted his eyes to his dad, hesitating.

  “David,” her mother said almost pleadingly. “Go with Jane.”

  “Listen to your mother,” Kingston snapped, raising a hand to rub his jaw.

  It was on the tip of Jane’s tongue to ask him how it felt to get knocked out by Ryder, but she just wanted to get David away from his dad. “Come on, David,” she said, tugging his arm again.

  Slowly, David got out, his posture stiff as he gently pried her hand from his and walked ahead of her into the building.

  Her eyes stung with tears, but she shut the car door and followed him. Every step felt like she was heading toward her own destruction. As much as she wanted to fight, she didn’t want to cause David pain. Now she knew how he’d felt all this time. It sucked.

  A vibration of her phone in her back pocket thankfully distracted her enough to not break down, and she sighed in relief when it was Tercero calling. “Hey,” she greeted, still following David. For some reason, her mother had dropped them off at the West Wing of the hospital rather than the emergency, so it would take a while to get where they needed to be.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “No,” she told him with a pitiful laugh. When David looked over his shoulder at her, she smiled. “It’s Tercero checking on us.”

  “Just hang up before he sees you,” was all David said before continuing through the halls.

  “Jane?” Tercero called.

  “Sorry.” She slowed her steps but kept close enough to David that they didn’t get separated. “Things just aren’t going well.”

  “I wanted to go to you,” he murmured. “But I knew it would make the situation harder.”

  “Yeah, it would’ve.” She could only imagine the chaos that would have ensued if Kingston learned Tercero was also in the picture, and she had no doubt if Tercero came forward, David would have too. “I saw you, though. I know you were there if I needed you.”

  He sighed, and she wondered if that had been wrong to say, but he was talking again, “Have you made it to the hospital?”

  “Yeah,” she said as David came to a halt. He didn’t say anything; he just stared up at the ceiling, taking deep breaths before closing his eyes. “Did they take Ryder in?” she asked Tercero.

  “Yes.” He chuckled. “The cops were afraid to handcuff him, but he went along. Luc went to the station, but I don’t know if he’ll be able to get him out tonight.”

  “Oh.” She hadn’t even thought about Ryder having to stay the night in a jail cell. “He’s seventeen, though.”

  “I think Ryder would rather be in jail than juvie.” Tercero chuckled again, but he didn’t sound happy; it was to soothe her.

  Jane glanced at David, sighing because he was losing it. “I gotta go. Will you tell them to text me if he comes home?”

  “Of course,” he said in that gentle tone of his. “Focus on David and yourself. I’m here if you need me.”

  “Okay,” she said, ending the call before he made her cry from his sweetness. Right now, David was her priority. So, she walked closer, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his chest before she nuzzled her face there. “Hey, you’re not a disappointment, and my daddy would never be ashamed of you.”

  His arms came around her, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Don’t tell him, David,” she whispered, ready to cry. “You don’t have to pick me. I see now—you were right.”

  His voice was rough, but his touch gentle as he ran his fingers through her hair and tugged, tilting her face up. “Baby, I think I picked you when I was just a little boy playing outside, and I saw the prettiest girl moving in next door.” He smiled, still keeping her head in place as he added, “I was certain you were the girl for me the night you slept in my arms. And today I chose not to let you go as long as you’ll have me.” His thumb slid across her cheek as those blue eyes burned fiercely for her. “I love you. I’m not going to stop loving you.”

  She fought to not smile as she covered his hand with hers. Still, everything was against them. “But if you tell your dad, it’ll be you he takes a swing at.”

  He nodded, his thumb still stroking her cheek. His skin was hot, but no longer unbearable. It was like he’d figured out the perfect temperature for her. “Ryder and I have a plan . . . sort of.”

  “Plan?” She pulled his hand down as a few people came into view down the hall. It was only a couple of nurses, relieving her that it wasn’t Kingston and her mom. “You and Ryder?”

  David chuckled, wrapping one arm around her and kissing the top of her head. “Yeah.” He leaned away, taking her hand before leading her on. “I don’t know how it’s going to play out now, but we came to an agreement—if you’re okay with it.”

  Already, her mind was on Ryder being stuck in a jail cell and never seeing him again, but no way could she pass up hearing their plan. Honestly, she had no idea how she was going to do things, so if they were getting along and willing to come up with something, she’d consider it. “Well?”

  He cringed a bit but said confidently, “He dates you publicly while you figure out, privately, if you prefer me.”

  Jane stumbled, but David kept her upright, stopping before he rounded the corner.

  “You can say no,” he said softly. “We just thought keeping things with us private would be best—while you figure it out. That way . . .” he trailed off.

  She knew what he was getting at. “That way if I don’t choose you, no one will judge me.”

  A sad smile she’d never seen on his face before appeared. “I see you really like him. Just because you’re it for me doesn’t mean I’m it for you. I don’t want to see you hurt because I’m not what you want, and I don’t want Luc manipulating you. I know Ryder feels strongly for you; I’ll leave it to him to tell you how much, so if I had to watch you walk away from me—I’d be okay if it was him. I just still want a chance.”

  She didn’t know what to tell him. She did like Ryder—a lot—but she still loved David. Then there was Tercero. Gosh, that boy did something to her, and Luc had definitely risen to a level she never thought she’d put him on. “God, I’m the worst girl to put up with. I’m really sorry I’m so difficult.”

  “I will never put up with you,” he said, a sexy smile back in place. “And you can give me your worst, Jane. I promise from now on I’ll still give you my best.”

  A stupid, dreamy smile was surely on her face. “Wow.”

  David laughed softly, leaning down and giving her a soft kiss. “I haven’t stunned you in a while,” he murmured, teasing her with an even lighter kiss. “Let’s go so I don’t lose any chances to see you all drunk on me.”

  “I’m not drunk.” She shoved him, her warm lips still stretched into a dopey grin.

  “You’re tipsy.” He peeked around the corner. “Fuck, they beat us. We got lost, okay?”

  She nodded, her heart sinking because he was letting go of her.

  “Just a bit longer, baby.” He caressed her lips. “I don’t want you to get Ryder and me ripped from you in one night.” He searched her face, then added, “I know you’ll have Tercero, but I really want a chance, and I want to see you happy with all of us.”

  “I w
as gonna say something about you two putting him last.” She watched him, waiting to see how he’d react.

  He smirked. “I’m alpha, Jane. Throw Luc, Savaş, and Archer in if you want—I’ll still be the one you come home to.”

  “Duh, we live together.” She made sure her wristband was hidden just as a smack on her ass made her yelp. Jane stared at him with wide eyes. “David.”

  “Jane,” he said seriously. She knew he was teasing her, but he crowded her, making her back bump the wall as he towered over her. “Ryder says your lips are his—I say this ass is mine. I’ll claim your heart, too.”

  “Y’all are just carving me up now?” She beamed up at him. “I’m getting some freaky images of you sleeping with my lower half and telling Ryder he can have my head or something.”

  “Gross.” The playful David she remembered was back. “I was thinking more when you’re between us, your ass is against me, and you can let him stare at your lips as you tell him how good I make you feel.”

  And naughty David was joining the party.

  “God, you’re worse than Ryder.” She pressed against his chest, almost moaning at the feel of his muscles.

  “Just your David,” he said, moving away from her and walking around the corner. “I’ll behave now.”

  Jane sighed, stretching out on the firm sofa against the window. Kingston was being kept overnight for observation, and David hadn’t returned from getting stitches. His hand, thankfully, wasn’t broken, but he needed stitches.

  She would’ve preferred to be with David, but her mom had insisted on her staying with Kingston. They were both ignoring each other, which was fine by Jane. If he said anything negative, she was going to tell him she’d seen Ryder punch other guys harder than that.

  “Jane?” Kingston’s calm but stern voice felt like a jolt of electricity, and she could barely meet his eyes where he lay in the hospital bed. “If you continue seeing either of those boys, you will be grounded until you move out.”