As I waited for him to return the ball, I caught a glimpse of auburn hair out of the corner of my eye.
“Heads up,” Derek shouted.
Before I could react and take my focus away from the girl with snow-white skin, the football hit me in the side of the head. I stumbled backward, not feeling an ounce of pain. Instead, a sudden coldness blanketed me even though the hot sun bore down.
Nina, the girl who’d cheated on me, was there. The girl was supposed to be living in Florida. The same girl who’d sliced and diced my heart into a million fucking pieces sauntered down from the private beach access along the side of my house. She was dressed in a yellow halter top and bikini bottoms. Her hips swung, and her average-sized boobs bounced with every step. She had curves, but not as defined as Montana’s.
What the fuck? I was analyzing the difference between a girl I’d just met and my ex. Maybe that was a good sign. Good sign or not, a haze settled over my brain. I hadn’t seen Nina since the beginning of our summer vacation when she’d tried to apologize for cheating on me. I hadn’t accepted her apology and never would. I also hadn’t counted on her being at school this year. I remembered the day Austin told me Nina’s father had taken a job in Florida and that the whole family was moving. I’d thrown a party to celebrate the great news.
Nina said something to Elvira, while Montana listened intently. Talk about trouble. That was Nina’s middle name. The girl thought she owned the school. I’d been blind to all the bullying she’d done to other girls who’d dared to look at me. In my defense, no one had said a word to me about her antics, and I hadn’t witnessed any while I dated her. Sure, she’d snarled at girls if they flirted with me, but I’d done the same to guys who’d flirted with her.
“Dude.” Austin’s voice snapped me back to the present. “I thought she moved.”
I couldn’t form words. My jaw hung open. My tongue was dry, and my mind was racing with how the fuck my senior year had just taken a nosedive. She would want to get back together, and that was not happening.
“You can’t let her coax you into dating her again,” Austin said. “I know you had mad love feelings for her. But remember, she gutted you.”
Oh, I hadn’t forgotten. My mom had counseled me on how first love sucked the life out of a person but that time did heal the wounded heart. The hole in my heart from Nina cheating on me now had a large fucking steel wall erected around it.
Nina glided down the beach toward me as if she thought she was an angel. “Hey, baby.” Her whiny voice hadn’t grated on me when we dated, but at the moment, her high-pitched tone was cutting through my skin like a razor blade.
She went to put her arms around me, and I jumped back, holding up my hands. “I am not your baby.” And so the fun began.
Austin crossed his arms over his chest. “Get lost, Nina.”
She stuck her hands on her hips. “Kind of hard to do. My dad’s job offer fell through. So I’m back. Sorry I missed the festivities at school today. My parents had to reenroll me into school before I could attend. But I’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Where’s your Clemson boyfriend?” I asked.
“We broke up. So, Train, I was thinking that maybe we could start over.”
Austin snorted. I literally choked.
She inched closer to me. “I miss you. We had such a great time together. I want that again.”
I scanned the beach. Everyone was watching us. I shuffled back into the surf. “Nina, you’re smoking some heavy dope if you think we’re getting back together.”
She squinted her gray eyes. “But we had plans for our future.”
This time I got in her face. “Until you fucked them up. Stay out of my life. I don’t date cheaters. So go find someone else you can cheat on.”
Feigning a pout, she touched her heart. “That hurt. But you’ll take me back.” She stomped away, and by away, I mean she plunked her ass down on the blanket with Montana and Elvira.
“Breathe, man,” Austin said.
Derek and Lou ran up.
“What the fuck?” Derek asked. “She’s not here, is she? Please tell me she isn’t going to ruin our football season like she did last year?”
Yeah, Nina had gotten in my head one too many times during football season last year. If we had a fight right before a game, that fucked me up. It shouldn’t have. The anger in me should’ve grounded me to play the game, and I should have been able to take out my frustrations on the field.
“She’s not.” I was as sure as I was that water filled the ocean.
Derek slumped his massive shoulders. “Good. Now let’s throw the football.”
He was all about football. Sure, he had a girlfriend, Jan, who was a cheerleader, and they were inseparable, but we were starting our last high school season. So I had to get serious too. Not to mention, it was time to get physical and blow off some steam.
“Today is not your day, dude,” Austin said. “I’m here for you.”
“So are we,” Derek and Lou said at the same time.
I knew I could count on them. But what could I do with Nina? Nothing. I couldn’t kick her out of school. I couldn’t do much except avoid her like the plague, and if I knew Nina, she would do everything and anything to get my attention.
I found myself locking eyes with Montana. Her big blues sparkled over the rim of her sunglasses. Yes, that’s my ex you’re sitting next to. And watch out for her because she’s evil, I almost shouted. Instead, I released a breath. “Let’s gather more guys to play.”
Once we had a group of interested men, I said, “No tackles. Touch football.” The last thing I wanted to do was get hurt or have any of the guys on the team get hurt. Coach would have a hernia.
As soon as we split into two groups of five, Montana ran down to us. Suddenly, football became history as I tracked every curve on her before settling on her chest.
Thankfully, Austin nudged me out of my lustful stupor. “You sure you don’t want to lick that? She would take your mind off of Nina.”
Montana’s curvy body was taking my mind off of everything. I was dying to shape her hips, feel the silkiness of her skin, her wavy hair, and so much more.
She stuck each guy with a sexy look. “Why don’t we play the girls against the boys?”
Derek busted out laughing. “Baby doll, you can’t throw a football.” His drawl was heavy on the last word. “This game is for men.”
She lost the sparkle in her eyes as her nostrils flared. Then she held up one finger. “One, I’m not your baby doll and never will be.” She displayed two fingers. “In what world do you think a girl can’t throw a football?” She held up three fingers. “And three, are you afraid of a girl beating you at your own game?” She sneered.
Derek grinned, tossing Montana the football. She caught it with quick reflexes. “Then show us what you got.”
Montana waved over Elvira and, of all people, Nina. If I was going to keep my shit together and Nina was there to stay, then it was game on. Besides, I felt nothing for Nina except maybe anger.
Elvira nodded at Reagan and Derek’s girlfriend, Jan, who were sitting together on a blanket next to her. I thought about protesting but was suddenly interested to see how a friendly football game with girls would pan out, sans Nina. Then again, maybe I should speak up against the game. I didn’t want Nina near me or touching me. I wouldn’t mind Montana, though. But that wasn’t a good idea, either. I would get a boner if Montana even came close to me. Hell, I’d gotten one in the water when I laid eyes on her.
Nina, Elvira, Jan, and Reagan surrounded Montana.
“Are you gals up to a friendly football game?” Montana asked.
“We’re in,” the girls said.
Derek glared at his girl, Jan. “You cheer, not throw a football.”
“Aw.” Jan pouted. “Is my hunky man afraid of five girls?”
Derek waggled his eyebrows. “You’ll pay for this later.”
“If you two want to have sex, then find a secluded spot,�
� I said. “Otherwise, I’m getting a beer.” I’d planned to reduce my drinking, but with Nina back, all bets were off on that topic.
Montana twirled the football. “So, you guys pick five, and the rest have to sit this one out.”
Austin saluted her as he eyed Reagan. I quirked up one side of my mouth when Reagan blushed.
Austin picked the five guys, which consisted of me, him, Derek, Lou, and Bo, who was another teammate and husky like Lou.
The remaining five guys protested until one said, “It’s better to watch.”
“Touch football,” Montana said. “We’ll throw first. The end zone will be past that rock on the beach.” She pointed to a large stone about ten yards down. “And the other end zone will be past the volleyball net. Oh, and anyone who fondles boobs gets a kick in the groin.” She pinned me with a glare.
All the guys swung their attention to me. I had no recourse or answer. I was guilty. Regardless, this was going to be a long, long day. As brutal as football practice usually was, I had to say that this touch football game would top my list of brutal.
Chapter Five
MONTANA
I gathered the girls in a huddle. “Okay, I can throw a ball, but who’s good at catching?”
Reagan raised her hand. “I am. My family always plays a friendly game of football on Thanksgiving.”
Reagan, the mousy girl in computer class, wasn’t so mousy. She was downright gorgeous with her hazel eyes, long dark-blond hair, and smattering of freckles. Not to mention, her voice wasn’t so nails-on-chalkboard cringey.
“I’ll cover Train,” Nina said.
I bit my tongue as jealousy, hot and fast, coursed through me. I didn’t do jealous, although part of me wanted to coldcock Nina for what she’d done to Train. Elvira had quickly given me the 411. Nina had cheated on Train. Nina was supposed to be living in Florida, and the school year might suck with Nina’s return. I would’ve asked more questions, but Nina had parked her scrawny butt on our blanket even though she hadn’t been invited.
I didn’t want to sit and listen to Nina talk about how she and Train were getting back together and how she missed kissing him. Blah. Blah. Blah. I didn’t have any claim to the guy, and I didn’t want to get serious with anyone anyway, but Nina’s thin voice was definitely grating on my nerves. That was enough to spur me into action. So football it was.
“You’re back, huh?” Reagan asked Nina in a pithy tone.
I was beginning to like Reagan. She had some moxie that told me the two of us would get along great.
Nina flattened her lips. “Yeah, I am. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Stay away from Train.” Reagan’s voice had dropped a couple of degrees. “He doesn’t need your cheating ways. And go near Austin, and I’ll tear you a new one.” The snarl on Reagan’s face was priceless.
Elvira, who was sandwiched in between Reagan and Nina, swung one arm out in front of Reagan and the other out to block Nina. “No fights. Let’s just have fun.”
Aw, I wanted to see Reagan take down Nina. That would have been more fun than football.
“By the way, we haven’t met yet,” the brunette with the ponytail said to me. “I’m Jan. Reagan and I are cheerleaders. So what do you know about football?”
“I learned a couple tidbits from one of my mom’s boyfriends.” Joey had played for the Naval Academy. “All right. Elvira, you snap the ball to me. I’ll throw to Reagan. Then the rest of us block the guys.” And Nina, keep your filthy paws off of Train.
“Why don’t we distract them by flashing our butts?” Nina asked. “That way, Reagan has a clear line to score.”
I would bet that the boys would sink into the sand. I peeked around Nina. Train had a pained expression on his sweat-sheened face. I couldn’t say for sure why he looked pissed, but I would guess that Elvira was right. Nina’s return had thrown him for a loop. I was curious if Train still harbored feelings for the pretty auburn-haired girl. Then I tossed my curiosity aside. Their relationship was none of my business.
“Girl,” Jan said, “while I would like nothing more than to tease Derek, he would freak if I showed any of the other guys my butt.”
I wouldn’t doubt that, considering he’d all but berated her for wanting to throw a football. Regardless, I had to agree with her that any game should be played fairly, not by distracting a group of guys, plus the large crowd on the beach, with our private parts.
“Come on,” Austin shouted. “Today. The beer is getting warm.”
“We’re playing football, not stripping,” I said to the group.
Everyone nodded except Nina. She rolled her eyes, and I wanted to pluck out each of those murky gray eyeballs.
Instead, I clapped. “Let’s show them how to play this game.”
We got into position, facing off with the five boys. All of them were sweaty and built, all ready to play except Train. He was still sporting a vibe that said he did not want to be there. I couldn’t blame him. If Nikko, the boy who had broken my heart, was part of the gang I hung out with, I would be snarling, sneering, and protesting.
With the ball in hand, Elvira got in front of me then bent over at the waist and readied the ball. The other girls fanned out, each matching up with one guy. Nina and Train. Argh! Reagan and Austin. Jan and Derek. That left Elvira and me with Bo and Lou. Both boys had big guts, no necks, and scary looks on their faces. Surely, they wouldn’t tackle us since we were playing touch football.
“Hike!” I shouted.
Elvira flipped the ball to me. I shuffled back a few steps while Bo was trying to get around Elvira. Lou, on the other hand, was coming at me like a rocket. Reagan had her hands up in the distance with Austin on her tail. I launched the ball at Reagan a split second before Lou’s very large hands were on my waist. I stumbled backward, praying Lou wouldn’t fall on top of me. I got my wish only because his arm went around me as he pulled me to him.
I let out a breath as our bodies mashed together. “Thank you for not falling on top of me.”
He grinned, showing his dimples. “That was some throw. Wow.”
Whistles peppered the ocean air. I shrugged out of Lou’s hold to examine the field. Reagan had the ball and was running with Austin on her tail.
The crowd cheered and clapped as Reagan held her arms in the air, jumping up and down.
“Touchdown,” Jan yelled. Then she stuck out her tongue at Derek.
He grabbed her by the hips and hauled her into the water.
“Hey,” she protested. “We’re playing football.”
“No, you’re not,” Derek said. “You and I are going for a swim.”
Jan giggled as he carried her into the water.
Then, just like that, Nina followed suit, trying to pull Train into the water. He yanked his hand out of hers faster than lightning and stomped back to his blanket.
“Yikes,” I said as I watched Train.
Lou followed my line of sight. “Yikes is right. Now that his ex is back, it’s going to be a long year and even longer football season.” Then he jogged along the shore toward Elvira.
I didn’t move. The tension between Train and Nina was as thick as the humid air, and I wasn’t even close to Nina or Train. He dipped into his cooler, pulled out a beer, flipped the top, and guzzled the contents. Then he crushed the can. Elvira and Lou were right. The school year would be long and sucky.
Elvira ran up to me. “That was awesome. Your mom’s boyfriend must’ve been good.”
“He was the quarterback for the Naval Academy.”
As if Train heard me over the hum of the waves lapping at the shore, he whipped his head in my direction, glaring as though he had daggers shooting out of his sea-green eyes. Well, damn. Maybe I upset the sexy Southern boy along with Nina. After all, I had suggested that the girls play. That only served to drive Nina directly to him.
“Let’s go swimming,” Elvira said.
“You go ahead.” I dug my feet into the hot sand, oohing and aahing as I scurried ove
r to Train. Once on the blanket, my burning feet thanked me.
I’d planned on apologizing to him until my stomach did one of those wild somersaults that got even wilder when he sized me up in a slow and languid fashion. Oh hell, if I didn’t run now, it would be Nikko all over again. Not that Nikko looked like Train. Actually, there were no similarities between them except what they did to my stomach. Where Train was six feet, Nikko was five ten at most. Train’s messy brown hair didn’t compare to the blond curls that Nikko had. Neither did the color of the eyes. I didn’t have a particular physical trait that I was drawn to when it came to boys. Well, maybe eyes. Nikko’s were stark blue, but so full of want and need and pain. With the exception of the color, Train had that same want, need, and pain in his eyes—more so now than when I’d met him in computer class.
I mentally shook off Nikko and Train as the sound of the waves rolling along the shore drew me back to the bubble of hell that I was trapped in as I stood with Train so close to me.
His nostrils flared. “Did you hear me?”
“Come again.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t repeat myself, but for you, it’s important.” His tone was deep and serious.
Again, my stomach was riding some massive wave. I wanted to say something, but my tongue seemed to be glued to the roof of my mouth, while my eyes traveled over his delicious chest all the way down to the line of hair that disappeared into his swim trunks. At that moment, all I could think about was one of my mom’s detailed descriptions in her book titled My Heart to Take.
Train waved his hand again. “Forget it. You’re not worth it.” Then he grabbed his surfboard, or more like yanked the long board into his hands, and jogged into the water.
That went well.
Nina emerged from the water like some water goddess. She pushed out her small breasts when Train brushed past her. He didn’t get far. She wrapped her fingers around his arm. If he was talking, I couldn’t hear a thing. I moved over to my blanket, grabbed my sunglasses, and sat down.
Elvira said something to Nina and Train before she returned to our blanket, squeezing water out of her chin-length hair.
Breaking Rules Page 4