Page 33 of The Trophy

“Lake, I fucking mean it. That’s why I wanted you to know what’s happening with this insane dare. I didn’t want you to think that this was just a game. I know we haven’t known each other for a long time, but I’ve never liked anyone as much as I like you. You aren’t just beautiful, you’re funny and we have so much in common.”

I smile. “We do.”

Blaze continues. “After our first date, I would have wanted to see you again even if we didn’t have this crazy chemistry together. But after that night in LA…”

His voice fades away, his lips just a breath away from mine.

“That night was amazing,” I murmur.

“I can’t stop thinking about it, Lake. After that night, there’s no way I wouldn’t consider us together. There’s no one else I want to kiss. You’re the person I want to celebrate my victories with and the one I want by my side if I don’t take that W home. I think about you every second, you’re my girlfriend.”

His words cause my heart to skip a beat.

“What’s wrong, pretty girl?” he asks, seeing the conflict in my eyes. “Am I going too fast? If you don’t feel the same?—”

“I do,” I interrupt him. “I feel the same way about you, Blaze. And I want to be your girlfriend. But I feel the same way about Cash and Luca.”

He surprises me. “I know. And you know what? It’s fine. I told you, the team captain thing has nothing to do with how much I want you. If Cash and Luca are in the picture, even long term, then so be it.”

“What are you saying?” I hold my breath.

He can’t possibly mean what I hope he does. Right?

“I’m saying that if to have you, I have to share you with those two, I can learn to live with it. As long as you don’t like one of them more than you like me, that is. I’m competitive that way.”

His lips curl up in a teasing smirk and I can’t help but smile.

“That’s the problem, Blaze. I like all three of you and so far, just the idea of losing one of you is?—”

He crushes my lips with his, the kiss immediately hot as his hand curls around my waist.

I let Blaze’s tongue explore my mouth, reveling in the feeling of his strong, ripped body against mine.

“You’re not going to lose me, Lake,” he says against my lips. “But we need to get going or I’m gonna pass out. I’m starving.”

I giggle at his dramatic tone. “I see who’s the clear winner between your heart and your stomach. Are we going to Maria’s food truck?”

He shakes his head. “I’d love to, but your sister made us all promise to be at the house straight after the game. Apparently she’s making us dinner.”

I can’t suppress a snort. “Yeah, if you want to have all your taste buds obliterated by the most ridiculously hot chili on the planet, be my guest. Bay’s mouth is lined with asbestos or something, I swear.”

Blaze shrugs. “I can eat spicy food. It sounds like your sister cooks like my father. But if you don’t like her cooking, we can make a quick stop to pick you up something else.”

That’s one of the things that made me immediately like Blaze, he always takes care of others.

“I could definitely eat some chicken nuggets,” I admit.

He touches his lips to mine again, guiding me toward his bike. “Let’s go then. Maybe we can pick up some extra in case there are others who don’t like spicy food. Let me text Luca and Cash to let them know that we’ll be twenty minutes late.”

He sees the frown on my face at the mention of his teammates.

“Is something wrong?”

I explain about Cash’s text. “I hope he’s ok. He looked even more upset than me earlier. And this isn’t the first time he bails after making a plan,” I say, thinking about when he failed to call and all but disappeared after our first date.

Blaze stops with the spare helmet in his hands. “What did he say?”

I relay the message. “He was vague, he said something came up.”

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