Page 41 of Stephan

I went over to my coach who didn’t evencomment about me being late and asked to be on the shirtless side,I figured if Jade was going to check out the guys she might as welllook at me too. I was twenty minutes late but I got into the gameright away. Enjoying myself, the forty minutes left of practiceflew by.

“Can I expect you to be at the gametomorrow?”

I hadn’t been to a game in weeks. I hadreally been letting my team down. I looked up to see Jade sittingwith her friends smiling and laughing. She needed to get out, weboth did. My dad was right, we couldn’t stop our lives when we wereattacked. We moved on—more cautious and alert—but we lived. “Yeah.I’ll be there tomorrow.” I gazed around at my teammates. “I’m sorryfor letting you down, but family comes first. I’m ready to be backin the game if you’re still willing to have me.”

They guys patted me on the back. “All good,man,” one said.

“Yeah, family comes first, bro,” anothersaid.

“Love to have you back.”

It went like this around the team. All ofthem welcoming me and forgiving me for letting them down.

The coach left and my brother came over tome. “So your woman is crafty. Even after you warned me I still gotsuckered in. She’s pure evil.”

I laughed because the serious look onDerick’s face as he gazed behind us at the seats was so convincingI didn’t think he was joking.

“Oh laugh it up. She’s probably up there withthe giggling hyenas thinking up some diabolical plan to drive youcrazy and bring all men to their knees.”

Rolling my eyes, I wrapped my arm around mybrother’s shoulder. “She better not bring any other man besides meto my knees. How about I go stop her diabolical plan? You game tocome with me?”

Derick shook me off. “Fuck you. Don’t comebitching to me when you have blue balls because she still won’tcome near you.”

“I’ll have you know I don’t sleep aloneanymore.” We walked toward the girls.

“Yeah, when did that happen?”

“The night of the shooting.”

Derick shrugged. “Don’t get too comfortable.Knowing you you’ll fuck it up somehow.”

“Fuck you.”

“Fuck you.”

“Really, guys, there is a lot of fuckinggoing on. What happened?” Cassie said and Jade snorted before shegiggled.

“Oh my, Cassie, that was so not right.” Thegirls broke down into a fit of giggles.

Picking Jade off the seat, I kissed her,mashing her lips to mine. She pushed at me. “Stephan, let me go,you’re covered in sweat.”

“Didn’t you want me wet?”

“Argh, that wasn’t me and wet with water notsweat.” I smiled because she turned to face her friends and leanedback on me. Jade wasn’t bothered by my sweat.

“Are you guys doing anything tonight while wehave a girls’ night?” Patricia asked.

Jade stiffened in my arms. This was the firstI’d heard of a girls’ night. I may not have known about it but Iknew Jade needed it. She’d have the guards with her and I had tolet her have a life. “I’m sure we can find something to do withoutyou girls.” Jade relaxed back against me.

“I say we have a game night. I haven’t kickedyour brother’s arse in a while, Cassie.”

Derick wiggled his eyebrows and Cassiegroaned.

“Hey, if I remember, it’s me who does thearse kicking,” Scott bantered back.

“Fine. I say games night for the boys so Ican show you all who the king is.” Derick was on a roll. “Mybrother needs his masculinity back. Jade holds his balls in jar. Doyou have permission to play tonight, bro?”

“Whoa burn,” Brad chuckled.

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