Page 9 of Playmaker

“Who?” I ask, unable to drag my eyes away from the girl. Mark seems to have already laid claim on her, whoeversheis. He’s laughing at something she says, and although I can’t see her face, her body language seems to indicate she’s enjoying her time with him.

“Maddie,” Ethan says, pointing in the same direction I’m staring.

No.

No way in hell.

There’s no way that’s Maddie, but as soon as I get ready to tell Ethan he’s too stoned, she spins around. Maya joins them a second later, passing a drink to Maddie, and I seriously can’t comprehend what I’m seeing.

The girl who spent all her summer days with me and Ethan growing up looksnothinglike the girl in the red bodysuit across the room. I’m used to curly pigtails and missing front teeth. Sure, I’ve seen her over the years mature into the woman she is today, but never like this.

Her curly blond ringlets are straightened to perfection, and her makeup is heavier than normal, with eyeliner and red lipstick, but thatbodysuit. It cuts to the middle of her chest, outlining the breasts I’ve tried desperately to ignore for the past six years. I’ve never wanted to pull a piece of fabric apart as badly as I do now. Do the dirty images floating throughout my head make me a worthless sack of shit? Completely, but I can’t stop them.

She isn’t wearing a bra, so I can see her hardened nipples. What I wouldn’t give to shove her right against that wall and release those tits so I can lap over them with my tongue and—

Well, it’s nice to know my cock isn’t broken.

It’s suddenly giving a standing fuckingovationfor Maddie Davis.

And now isnotthe time for this when I’m standing next to her brother.

My knuckles grow white on my cup. “Are you going to stop her from talking to Mark, or . . . ?”

He shrugs. “Why? She’s a grown adult who can make her own decisions. I’m tired of babysitting her. Maddie knows right from wrong. Plus, it could be worse. Mark is a decent guy. If she wants to go for him then so be it.”

“And is the reason you’re telling her not to get lost because of thefriendshe brought with her?” Maya takes another sip of her drink, and despite how much she tries to hide it, her eyes slide to Ethan. She’s in a pair of high-waisted ripped jean shorts and a white tube top that showcases a glistening belly ring. Ethan’s mouth is practically watering at the sight.

“Partly,” he admits. “Fuck, I need another blunt. I’m going to find Jackson and see if he has one. Be back in a few.”

I don’t notice him leaving. How could I when Mark places a hand on Maddie’s waist and bends down to whisper into her ear? Granted, I don’t really know the guy. He was on the football team with us in high school, but we were never close.

Are his intentions good when it comes to her?

My eyes narrow as he dips his gaze to her breasts when she isn’t looking. Not that I have room to judge when I’ve been doing the same fucking thing since I laid eyes on her. I have no right to be protective. She isn’t mine, nor can sheeverbe mine. I ruined my chances when I pushed her away; and aside from that, there’s Ethan.

But even with the knowledge of how wrong it is, my legs still carry me across the room.

Maya eyes me skeptically before she shares a look with Maddie that I can’t decipher. “I’m going to get a refill,” she blurts, disappearing.

Maddie takes a slow sip of her drink, eyeing me over the rim. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same question.” My eyes flick to Mark, who raises his hand to fist bump me—the same hand he placed on her waist a few seconds ago. I fight the urge to ignore him and instead reciprocate the gesture.

“How’s it going, man?” he asks with a wide grin. “I haven’t seen you in years. Heard you’re doing big things in Pennsylvania. NFL bound, right?”

“Those are the rumors,” I reply, keeping my eyes locked on Maddie. “Can you give us a minute alone, Mark?”

He glances between us, sensing the tension. “Uh,sure. I’ll circle back in a few minutes.”

When it’s finally just the two of us in the corner of the room, I take my time studying her. Her glassy eyes and rosy cheeks tell me she’s had too much to drink. She rarely parties, so one or two drinks is more than enough for her.

Her pulse is thrumming rapidly against her throat, and it makes me wonder if it’s because of me, or Mark.

“If you came over to reprimand me, it isn’t going to work. I can talk to whoever I want.”

“I wasn’t going to reprimand you.”

“Then why did you come over here?” She hiccups, and fuck it’s cuter than it should be. I fight the smile threatening to appear when she wobbles in her heels and takes a step closer to me. She sticks a finger into my chest and says, “You don’t get to do this, Cam.”

---