Page 80 of Resist Me

“Linc,” Kai said, cocking his head. “What’s up?”

“Just chillin’,” I replied casually.

“At our place. That’s… interesting.”

I glanced at West inconspicuously. He continued to ignore me.

“He was just giving me pointers about how to avoid getting my ribs fucked up next season,” he said casually.

“Get a better lineman,” Sen suggested with a smirk. “Pretty sure yours was letting you get fucked up.”

“It did seem that way, huh?” West looked at me pointedly.

With a shrug, I got down from the counter. “You have to earn the respect of your team. Being real is a start.”

He rolled his eyes. I turned to Kai, feeling entirely done with whatever shit West was on today.

“You going into the draft?” Sen asked.

I shook my head. “I’m getting my doctorate in music theory.”

“Seriously? That’s dope. We should do some more karaoke nights.”

Kai laughed and jabbed him in the ribs. “If we do, you have to join in.”

“I’d rather die.”

“Come on. Embarrassing yourself is half the fun.”

“We could do it right now,” Willow suggested. “Linc can blow us all away again.”

I might have agreed, but when I met West’s eyes, he quickly looked away. With a shake of my head, I pulled my keys out of my pocket.

“Actually, I’m not staying.”

“But you just got here,” she argued.

“It was just a stop along the way. I’m meeting up with someone.”

Finally, West gave me his full attention. “Someone?”

“Yup. I do have a life, you know.”

“Okay. I’ll text you about that thing on Friday.”

I hesitated at the door. “What thing?”

He met my eyes and it was evident how conflicted he was. “Practice.”

“You’re gonna willingly practice with Linc?” Kai scoffed.

“Shut up. I’m growing as a person.”

“No practice,” I said.

His brow furrowed. “Why not?”

“I changed my mind.”

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