Page 58 of Hate Game

My boys did a fine ass job with the setup. I sip my non-alcoholic lemonade and point at the strips of lights flanking the dirt path, the shop lights on all four corners of the garage’s cement pad, and banquet tables on the deck on the other side of the sliding glass door in the kitchen.

“Nice work pulling this party together on short notice.” Next to me, Seven sips his drink and peers at his girl over his red Solo cup. She is chatting it up with Rue in a spot where my plants were. I found them in Rue’s room.

She had placed my monstera, Sully, in front of her window, next to the other monstera. The primrose she bought for me from the grocery store is on the nightstand next to her bed. I named the plant with pink flowers Boo. My spider plant, Roz, is chilling on Rue’s dresser. Wazoski, an air plant inside a glass orb, is next to Boo.

“Rue helped. She convinced Mason to loan us the shop lights from the auto store. Not sure how she did it. Those buggers are pricey.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, bro. She and Leigh worked on the food.”

My gaze drifts to the kitchen counter lined with plates upon plates of food. There’s more on the banquet tables outside.

“They made all that?” When did they find the time?

Seven smirks. “Nah. Rue instructed Shay to tell the senior class that the price of entry to this shindig, or potluck, as she calls it, is drinks or food. Leigh passed on the message to our senior class. No one dares question their star quarterback’s request or my girl’s.”

Leigh says something to Rue that has her looking in my direction. Rue is gorgeous with her hair pulled back in a high ponytail that shows off her elegant profile, her big brown eyes, and full red lips. But why is she dressed in black from head to toe?

She’s wearing a black long-sleeve shirt that hugs her luscious body like a second skin, black cargo pants that show off her tight ass, and black combat boots that can do serious damage to someone’s face.

“You should talk to her.” Seven tips his chin in Rue’s direction.

“I tried, but she heads in the other direction.”

“You did something to piss her off, didn’t you? And now you’re regretting it?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you’re a numbnut where Rue is concerned.”

“She’s Red’s girl.”

“How do you figure?”

“Red hasn’t denied it.”

“And Rue?”

“She said they’re friends.”

“Then believe her.”

“That’s not how it works in my family.”

“Your family is crazy, bro.”

But family, nonetheless.

“If Red doesn’t deny Rue is his girl, then she is his girl no matter what she’s said.”

“So, it’s true. Once you Sterling guys sink your claws into a girl, it’s for life.”

“We have a long history of protecting what is ours.”

“Don’t mix up protection with possessiveness. No girl likes to be looked at as a possession.”

“Wise words. Did you learn this lesson the hard way?”

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