Page 33 of A Whole New Game

“Hey, Sis,” I hear him say just before he walks up and slings an arm over Carlee’s shoulders, crashing the double date. “What are you doing here?”

She shrugs him off. “Hanging out with friends.”

“Holy shit,” the slicked back hair guy’s jaw drops. “You’re Carter Jones.”

“I am.” Carter grins down at Carlee. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

Carlee’s eyes shoot daggers at her brother. “Carter, this is Henry and Ike.” She motions between her date and Morgan’s. “Henry and Ike, this is my brother, Carter.”

Carter holds out a hand. The two men shake it enthusiastically.

“It’s so dope to meet you,” Morgan’s date, Ike, says.

The other adds, “You’re having a hell of a season, man.”

“I am.” Carter’s grin widens. Then, he shrugs off his easygoing demeanor and puts on his overprotective, borderline-aggressive, asshole hat as he turns to Carlee’s date. “So, you’re on a date with my sister.”

“I guess so,” the prick laughs. “I had no idea. Best date ever.”

“Is it?” Carter cocks his head to the side. “Why?”

Here we go…

“Oh, uh.” Mr. Business Shirt shifts his stance. “Because I’m meeting one of my favorite football players.”

Morgan winces.

Carlee sighs.

My best friend lifts a brow. “Really? That’s why this is the best date? Are you implying my sister isn’t a catch?”

“That’s not what I meant.” I’ll give it to the guy, he’s got stones. Not many men would be able to face off with this version of Carter without shaking in their loafers.

“Knock it off, Carter,” Carlee commands. Morgan stands at her side in solidarity, but the corner of her lip quirks at Carter’s antics.

“What?” The imposing football player feigns ignorance. “I’m just trying to vet your latest boyfriend, baby sister. I want to make sure he’s good enough for you.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” she hisses. “And you know what you’re doing, so stop it.”

“Look, man,” Henry clears his throat, taking a step forward. “Is there a problem?”

“Yeah,” Carter’s eyes narrow when they focus back on the poor bastard. “And I’m looking at him.”

It takes everything I have not to laugh at Carter’s statement. This is over the top, even for him. I get that he wants to protect Carlee, but he’s a public figure now. He can’t go around and subtly threaten his sister’s dates like we did when we were kids. No matter how appealing the idea of keeping Carlee away from guys sounds to me…

The two men share a glance. “You know what?” Morgan’s date begins. “I think we better go. We had a nice time, ladies. We should do it again sometime.”

That’s it?

They aren’t even going to suggest the girls join them somewhere else?

They’re just going to ditch them in the middle of their date?

Fucking cowards.

There’s no way in hell I would walk away from a date with Carlee Jones, not even if I had her surly brother hovering over my shoulder the whole damn night.

After a halfhearted “see you later” and unbelievable “I’ll call you”, the men leave.

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