Page 126 of Well Played

Summer

I parkthe car and cut the engine, looking in my rearview mirror to the area where we meet up and play our spike ball games. I see a few people gathered there already. No doubt Nico is getting in every second of practice he can.

The loud sound of something banging and crashing against the front of my car makes me start, gasp for breath, and clutch my chest. A dark-haired, dark-eyed devil. Nico! Damn him!

“What the fuck!?” I yell, even though my windows are all the way up and he probably can’t hear me. He laughs as I get out and slam the car door behind me.

“Sorry,” he says, still smiling and looking anything but. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just came over so we could walk together.”

I don’t want to walk with him. I don’t want to talk to him, and the last thing I want to do is play with him. Since I’m here, and he’s already seen me, I’m stuck doing all of the above. If I don’t, I’ll look like the ass.

“Fine.”

“I really didn’t mean to scare you.” I give him a sideward glance. “But I have to admit watching you jump up and hit your head was kind of funny,” he says sheepishly. “Actually, it was very funny.”

All pretense of remorse is gone. His eyes crinkle, and his chest jiggles. Worst of all, he’s sexy as hell. As if his perfect smile and deep dimples aren’t enough.

“I didn’t hit my head.”

“Looked like you did,” he says, catching his breath and shortening his long strides so I can catch up.

“Do you practice being a dick, or does it come naturally?”

That ends his laughter. Niko doesn’t answer. Instead, he shakes his head and walks on with me in silence.

“Tossthe ball up and hit down on it,” I whisper to myself as I close my eyes and visualize scoring a point off my serve. I take a breath and go for it.

“Yeah!” Niko yells, patting me on the back as I stand there with my hand over my mouth. “That’s what I’m talking about!” Timmy tosses the ball back to me.

I did it! I served, and Kaitlyn missed! “That was my first service ace!” I look to Niko and wish his approval didn’t make me feel so good.

“Come on,” he encourages with a nod of his head. “You’ve got this.”

Confident, I try again, this time missing the net completely. I brace myself, waiting for his tirade.

“It’s okay, newbie.” He smiles, and one of his large hands grips my shoulder and shakes it playfully. “You’re getting there.”

We win our first league game by two points. Turns out Kaitlyn isn’t much better than me, and Timmy isn’t as good as Niko.

“Hey, Summer, want to join us for a few beers? Hang out for a bit?” Timmy asks after we bump fists.

“You should come.” Niko agrees. “Unless you need to get home.”

I don’t answer right away. Timmy and Kaitlyn seem cool, but even though Niko has been quasi-pleasant, I’m not sure I want to spend more time with him than I have to. He did give me an out. All I have to do is take it. I bet that’s what he’s counting on. That I’ll pass because he’s going. I’ll show him. I glance at Kaitlyn.

“Are you going?”

“Of course.”

“Okay,” I nod. “Sounds good.”

5

Nico

Why the fuckdid Tim invite Summer? And why did I encourage her to come? We tolerated each other. We won. We should’ve left it at that.

No matter what I do, that woman has a problem with it. I made sure to cheer her on and keep my comments positive tonight. For all the good it did. She still could crush ice cubes with her ass, that’s how uptight she is.

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