A Different Game: A Wrong Game Novel

by Matthews, Charlie M.

  “And Jake knows you’re leaving?” she challenged.

  I sighed. “No. He doesn’t need to know, either.”

  “If you’re friends, like you say you are, then surely it makes sense to tell him.”

  I frowned. Maybe she had a point. It wasn’t a big deal, and besides, it wasn’t like he’d try to convince me to stay. Football season was coming up anyway. From what I read in the papers and heard on the news, it seemed like he wouldn’t be playing for Winslow F.C. next season which meant he would be playing farther afield. Whenever I tried to ask him about it, he’d change the subject. I wondered if there were legal technicalities set in place which meant he couldn’t talk about any new contracts.

  “I bet if you told him your plans to leave he’d tell you the same thing I have.”

  I sighed. “Stop it, okay. I’ve already told you. There’s nothing left here for me. And even if there was, I want this. I deserve this.”

  “There’s nothing out there that you can’t have here, Mel. And you wanna know what I think?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Nope.” I closed my eyes, held in a breath and waited for what was to come. “I think you’re stupid.” My eyes flew open and my mouth practically hit the mattress. “Yeah, you heard me. I think you’re stupid. You think running away will solve all your problems? Well, it won’t. Running away won’t fix what’s going on in your life, Mel. Running away won’t make Shawn’s death any easier. And it won’t make people forget what you did to them. It’s easy to run away and pretend your life is perfect. It’s a lot harder to stick around and face everything head on. I know you. And I know you’re stronger than that.”

  I let her words sink in. She was wrong. I wasn’t running away from my life. I was trying for a better one. I shook my head. “I’m not running away. That’s not what I’m doing.”

  “That’s lie number two right there.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You. Lying to me.”

  “I never. I…”

  “The first lie was you trying to convince me that you were okay with just being friends with Jake. The second lie… that was you telling me that running away wasn’t what you were planning to do. You can lie to yourself, Mel. But you can’t lie to me.” Frankie shook her head and threw the covers back. I watched her leave the room and threw my head against the pillow with a groan.

  Maybe I was trying to run away from my problems. That didn’t mean that leaving was the wrong decision, though. I was still too young to be tied down to one place. I wanted an adventure, like Aubrie and I always insisted we’d have once we were old enough to travel alone. Winslow was a small town with not much going for it. If I wanted to make something of myself then I couldn’t do it here. I needed to branch out, spread my wings and soar my way into something meaningful. Something that would help me grow. Somewhere I could show off my talents and prove that I wasn’t just Jessica’s daughter, trying to follow in her footsteps. Frankie might have thought that I was running away, but I’d prove her wrong. I’d prove them all wrong.

  29

  It was Saturday night and I was currently making my way through the doors of Illusion—the shadiest nightclub in Winslow. Riley walked beside me, smoothing his black T-shirt over his puffed-out chest. “Remind me again how you managed to convince Brie to let you out.” I smirked, eyeing my mate curiously.

  Riley shrugged and looked unfazed. “We had a fight.”

  That didn’t surprise me in the slightest. Brie and Riley had a fiery relationship. If they weren’t arguing about something, they were screwing in the disabled toilets of whatever bar they were in.

  When we reached the other side of the club where the bar was, I cocked my head. “What happened this time?”

  Riley held two fingers up to the barman and pointed to the Peroni that was on tap. “We went out for dinner last night and bumped into an ex-girlfriend. The crazy bitch was convinced we were still fucking so she threw her drink at me and stormed off halfway through dinner.” He shook his head as he said the last part.

  “Damn.” I grinned.

  “Right? Seventy quid that meal cost me and I ended up wearing half of it.”

  I chucked my head back and laughed. And that was why I refused to get in any kind of relationship. All women were crazy as hell.

  The bartender slipped the pint glasses our way and I chucked him a twenty. “So, basically what you’re saying is that she doesn’t know you’re out.”

  Rye raised his brows. “Do you think I’d be here if she did?”

  “Good point.” I nodded and tucked the change in my back pocket. I followed Riley as he headed towards the far corner. Two booths sat a few feet from the rammed dance floor. We navigated our way through the sweaty bodies and slid into the only available booth. Riley shot a wink to a petite brunette who was with her friends in the occupied booth next to ours. The chick blushed, leaned into her friend and whispered something in her ear. Blondie next to her turned her cheek and eyed me up and down. She chucked me a look that I knew all too well before her friend sitting across from her caught her attention.

  I pressed the rim of the glass to my lips and drew in a mouthful of beer. “You gonna tap that or what?” Rye shouted, loud enough for the table next to us to hear. I shook my head. The guy was an idiot.

  The music gradually grew louder, and before I knew it, the club was completely packed to full capacity. A few girls we knew from college waved at us as they made their way onto the dance floor. Riley whistled. He was clearly checking out their arses. To be fair to him, they weren’t half bad. When they found a secluded spot on the dancefloor, Riley nudged my arm, causing my drink to slosh on the table. “Mate!” I frowned, using my finger to wipe the beer away from the bottom of the glass. “Watch it, would ya?”

  He didn’t even apologise, just continued watching the girls with hunger burning in his eyes. Riley groaned, his eyes briefly flashing to mine. “Fuck, look at the moves on Sadie.” I turned my head to get a better angle, and sure enough, there Sadie was, her hips rolling in slow circles as she kept in time to the music. She stuck her arse out as she leant forwards, her long blonde hair shielding her face. When I lowered my eyes, I could just make out the edge of her black lace underwear that sat above her arse cheeks. Fuck! I shook my head and looked to Riley who was adjusting his dick. He was just as turned on as I was.

  “Tell me you wouldn’t go there?” He groaned again, shifting uncomfortably.

  I shook my head. I wouldn’t lie to the kid. I was pretty certain that there wasn’t a single guy in this club who would say no to Sadie.

  “Look at her. Her arse is begging for a good pounding…” He trailed off. His teeth were biting down so hard on his lip, I was certain they would draw blood any minute.

  Half an hour and three drinks later, the tempo of the song changed. The girls looked to each other, shook their heads and made their way off the dance floor. I figured they’d had enough and were leaving, but then they stopped at our table, sweaty and flushed from the erotic display they’d just put on. It was clear they were looking for a good time.

  Sadie tucked her hair behind her ear and slipped into the empty space beside me. Her blue eyes flashed to mine as her hand came down to rest on my knee. “Hey, Jake.” She winked, a sultry grin spreading across her face.

  “Sadie,” I said, tipping my chin in acknowledgement.

  Sadie leaned in and pressed her mouth to my ear. “Do you mind if we come sit with you?” Her hand curled around my knee and squeezed.

  “Go for it.” I winked back and knocked back the rest of my beer.

  Riley slid out of the booth, making room for Tia and Layla to sit. “I’m going to the bar!” he yelled over the music. “Anyone want anything?” The girls all nodded their yeses.

  “I’ll give you a hand,” Tia called, sliding back out.

  Riley looked to me and raised his brows. I held up my empty glass and nodded, telling him without words that I needed a top up.
Then he left with Tia close to his side. I cocked my head to see which direction he went in but couldn’t find him through the mass of bodies. I wondered if he was actually going to the bar or taking her to the men’s room.

  I gazed down at Sadie’s hand which was now moving higher up my thigh. Her fingertips stroked my inner thigh as she curled into my side, her other hand coming to rest at my lower back, teasing the small patch of visible skin below my shirt. Her eyes met mine and I sucked in a breath as she began to stroke my dick through my jeans. The wicked glint in her eyes told me she knew what she was doing.

  “So, Jake?” Layla called over the music, pulling my attention away from Sadie. “Rumour has it you’re off to Southampton next season?”

  “Where’d ya hear that?” I laughed.

  Layla pulled the straw between her teeth and shrugged. “My dad said that although it hasn’t been officially announced yet, it’s only a matter of time before the cat’s outta the bag.”

  “First I’ve heard of it.” I frowned then shot her grin. “Even if it’s true, you know I can’t say,” I told her. It wasn’t a lie. Even if it was true—which it wasn't—I was sworn to secrecy until it was officially announced.

  “Got it.” She winked in understanding.

  Sadie sighed beside me and I gazed down at her. She was looking back with that same hungry look in her eyes as she continued stroking my dick through my jeans. “Where’s Taylor?” Layla continued. “I haven’t seen him in forever.” She sighed.

  I shrugged. It was getting harder to speak while Sadie was sat beside me, gripping my cock. Her grip was getting tighter, her strokes firmer. My breathing spiked as I fought to keep control. It felt like a lifetime since I’d let a girl touch me that way. Mel had been the last girl to rile me up. I’d been using my right hand ever since. I couldn't deny how good it felt having someone else’s hand doing all the work.

  As Sadie palmed my dick and dug her fingernails into my back, I groaned. My eyes flicked to Layla, seemingly aware of what was happening, pushed up from the table and left. Sadie’s eyes lifted to Layla’s retreating back, then they found their way back to mine. I knew if she continued to tease my dick the way she was, I would lose control, so I gripped her left leg and hooked it over mine while I cupped her arse and squeezed.

  I smoothed my hand over her arse cheek and tugged at the lacy fabric that she had teased me with earlier. Sadie’s mouth moved to my neck and she sucked and nibbled at the skin there. I tipped her chin with my fingers and took her mouth in mine. She tasted like sweet strawberry and mint. When she parted her mouth, granting me access, I pushed my tongue inside of her. My grip on her arse tightened when her tongue met mine and I pressed her centre farther into me, giving her the friction she clearly needed. I let my fingers roam her smooth skin until they found their way to her inner thigh. She moaned against my mouth as I tugged at the fabric between her legs, pulled it to one side and pushed a finger inside of her. She was fucking wet already.

  When her fingers went to the button on my jeans, I gripped her wrist and pulled her onto my lap while my finger continued to stroke her pussy. Her mouth found mine again and her tongue tangled with my own while she ground against my hand, seeking more friction. I glanced across the room to make sure no one was looking. No one had noticed. They were either too busy dancing and drinking to notice what was happening, or too busy doing the same thing. Like I said, this place was shady as fuck.

  My eyes shifted to the bar in search of Riley. There was a clear enough pathway to where the bar was, so if he was there, I would see him.

  I couldn’t.

  Sadie held on to my arms, trembling when I pushed another finger inside and started fucking her with it. I palmed her tits with my free hand, causing her to arch and moan into me. I bit down on her bottom lip and tugged it into my mouth while she wiggled and writhed against me. I knew she was close. Her movements quickened as she clenched around me, crying out when her orgasm ripped through her. I pulled out of her, wiped my fingers across her underwear and lifted her back to her seat.

  Her lips were red and swollen from the kiss, and she had that sleepy, satisfied look on her face. My dick had fucked off somewhere, pissed it wasn’t getting anything. I’d have to sort myself out later. Sadie said something beside me but I hadn’t heard what it was, because my focus had shifted towards the other side of the room.

  30

  To make up for bailing on Frankie to spend the evening before with Jake, I’d agreed to go into town. I thought she’d meant to the pub, or maybe even that new cocktail bar that opened next door to the Salvation Army. Not Illusion—the only club in town that allowed anyone and everyone in. I’d only been there once and that was because Frankie had made out it was the place to be.

  Once we were through the door, I shook out of my leather jacket and headed straight to the first free table I saw. Frankie squealed, tucked her clutch bag under her arm and held out a hand. “I love this song. Come dance with me?” Her dark hair swished back and forth as she shook her head.

  “We’ve just got here. At least let me grab a drink first?” I whined. Fuck, it was hot.

  “Fine. Grab us some drinks. I’m gonna use the loo before anyone throws up in there.”

  I scrunched my nose up and headed towards the bar. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long to be served. “Two rum and Cokes!” I yelled over the music, earning a nod from bartender guy.

  “And a Peroni,” a voice called out from behind me.

  I spun around to find a very handsome, maybe even a little drunk, Jake.

  “Are you stalking me again?” I teased. I couldn’t hide how happy I was that he was there. I wished I hadn't have given Frankie a hard time now.

  “Would you freak out if I said yes?” he asked, his tone playful.

  “Nah,” I said flippantly. “Happens all the time.”

  The bartender came back, handed the three drinks over, and took the note from my hand. “What are you doing here?’ I said, holding his drink out.

  Jake took the beer from my hand, took a swig and shrugged. “Riley had an argument with Aubrie. Think he’s trying to rebel against her.”

  I snorted. “Well, good luck with that one. I wouldn’t wanna be him when she finds out.”

  “You and me both,” Jake agreed, and set the glass down on the bar. “So, what brings you out tonight?”

  “Ah, making up for blowing Frankie off last night. She likes to torture me,” I said, rolling my eyes playfully.

  “You blew her off last night? Sorry. If I’d have known…” He frowned, trailing off.

  “Don’t worry…” I shrugged. “You saved me a hangover from hell this morning, so I should be thanking you for that. Anyway, where is Riley?” I frowned, looking behind him.

  “Your guess is as good as mine.”

  I nodded, unsure what to say. Riley was an arse. We’d had a thing a couple of years back and I’d done everything in my power to avoid him ever since. Aubrie was convinced I’d done it on purpose to get back at her. The truth was, I hadn’t even known they were an item. We were both pretty wasted, and I was so mad at Taylor for blowing me off for some other girl that I wanted to get back at him. Not that I achieved very much. He didn’t care that I’d slept with one of his closest friends. He only cared that I was no longer forcing myself on him and that I was someone else’s problem. Yeah, I guess you could say I was pretty desperate to get his attention. Fucking Riley while Brie was with him only added to the hatred she already felt for me. In a way, I felt sorry for her. Riley couldn’t keep it in his pants if he tried. And unfortunately for Aubrie, it was just a matter of time before he screwed someone else.

  I pulled the straw between my teeth and glanced up at Jake. He was eyeing me over the pint glass that hovered at his mouth. “What?” I grinned.

  “Nothing,” he said, shaking his head.

  I frowned just as Riley appeared out of nowhere with Tia pressed against him. Figures, I thought to myself.

  “Mate, we’re
heading to Jinx. You coming?” he asked Jake. He had that glassy look in his eyes that said he was already wasted. I wondered how Jake felt about him being with another girl, but when I looked back at him, he didn’t seem at all fazed.

  “Hey, Mel,” Sadie sang as she came up behind Jake. Layla was trailing behind her, looking furious.

  “Hey, Sadie,” I sang back sarcastically, waving my fingers at her.

  She turned her attention to Jake, tugging at his shirt until he focused on her. He was still staring back at me until Sadie waved her purse in his face to grab his attention. “Did Rye tell you we’re headed to Jinx? You’re coming, right?” she asked, her face filled with hope.

  “Yeah, go ahead. I’m just finishing my beer,” he told her. She seemed to be pleased with his answer and followed Layla, Tia, and Riley towards the exit. Now I understood why Layla looked so annoyed. Being the third wheel sucked arse.

  I tried to appear as though I was looking for Frankie, cocking my head to look beyond Jake as I sipped my drink.

  Jake downed the rest of his drink, set the empty glass on the bar and lowered his mouth to my ear. I could smell his aftershave and tried not to appear affected by the way it filled my lungs, making me dizzy.

  “You look beautiful tonight, by the way,” he said, his breath tickling the sensitive spot behind my ear.

  I swallowed and watched him follow his friends.

  I was still burning holes into the back of his head when Frankie reappeared. “When are you going to tell him?” she asked.

  “Huh?” I forced my eyes away from Jake. Was she still talking about the conversation we’d had this morning? If she was, she seriously needed to stop. I would tell him when I was ready. And if I didn't, so what? It was my business. No one else’s.

  “That you’re in love with him?” she deadpanned.

  I had just taken a sip of my drink when it came back up, spluttering all over Frankie.

  “You’re crazy,” I coughed out, swallowing the remaining liquid in my mouth.