Page 61 of Bite Your Tongue

I mean, just glancing around this arena, I see countless gorgeous women; any of them would gladly go home with him tonight, even if they were here for the other team.

I can feel his gaze on me, so I turn toward Gemma.

“Gem,” I growl lightly, “look at me.”

Whipping her face toward mine, she peeks around out of the corner of her eye. “Why?” she whispers. “Is there something in my teeth?” Panic covers her face. “Oh my gosh, do I have a b—”

“No, no.” I shake my head. “Ryder is looking this way, and I want to avoid him for as long as possible.” When she starts to turn, I grab her wrist. “Are you crazy? Do not look at him!”

“But he’s looking up here, you said,” she hisses. “You can’t avoid him forever, Sails!”

“Not forever,” I gripe. “But maybe, like, five years?”

Gemma is often soft, whereas I’m the blunt one, so when she narrows her beautiful blue eyes and leans closer … I don’t expect her to say what she does.

“Do you think I wanted to live with your brother when you dumped me at his house? Not really, babe. He had literally ghosted me years before and taken off for college without even leaving me a lousy note. Yet you were all for me forgiving him enough so that I would stay with him.”

She pats my leg. “Maybe Ryder did do the unimaginable. Maybe he is the bad guy, and he deserves to have his dick cut off and put through a blender. Either way, I think you need to put on your big-girl pants and have a goddamn conversation.” She gives my leg one more pat before smiling. “Sound good?”

I stare blankly at my friend because I have never heard her be so sharp with me before.

Eventually, I sigh. “Fine.”

“Good girl,” she whispers. “Now, let’s go.”

With Gem beside me on the bench, I wring my hands nervously. The team hasn’t come out yet, but soon, they will. I promised Gemma I would at least hear Ryder out, so here I sit, ready to listen even though my first urge is going to be to punch him in the face and then run away.

“Here they come,” Gemma whispers, and I probably gulp so loud that she can actually hear it.

Slowly, I lift my eyes to the team. Gemma stands, and when Smith struts out, she rushes over and hugs him. Awkwardly, I push myself to my feet and head their way before Ryder comes out and I have to deal with my shit.

“Good job, bro,” I say once he releases my best friend. “I mean, you sort of all sucked, but”—I pat his arm—“you won, so yay!”

Staring at me with an amused look, his eyes narrow. “Ryder brought down the whole team. And do you know why? Because he’s in love with you, but you won’t talk to him. Now, he fucking sucks and almost cost us a win.”

“Smith,” Gemma hisses in warning. “Go easy on her, okay? You don’t even know what’s going on.”

His mouth hangs open at her. “Wait, you do?” He looks genuinely hurt. “That’s so not cool, Gem!”

Giving me a tight-lipped smile, Gemma pats his shoulder, and then her eyes dart behind him. When I follow her gaze, I take in the sight of Ryder strutting toward us in his suit. Hedoesn’t see us yet, which is good because it gives me a few seconds to recover and to wipe the drool from my mouth.

“Sorry, babe, but I’m sure your sister will fill you in later.” Gemma looks at me. “Isn’t that right, Sails?”

“Yeah, okay,” I huff out. “Just kill me now, would you?” I utter, realizing death sort of sounds better than telling my brother everything that’s happened lately. From a sex tape to betrayals … there is much to discuss.

As they walk off, Gemma looks over her shoulder and gives me an encouraging yet sympathetic smile and mouths,I love you.

I don’t mouth it back; I just roll my eyes at her for forcing me into the conversation I’m about to have.

When I swing my gaze back the other way, Ryder is staring at me. His brow furrows, and even though I think he’s happy to see me, he also looks pissed.

“Here goes nothing,” I whisper to myself and swallow back my nerves before taking a few steps to meet him in the middle. “Hi,” I say, tucking my hands into my jean pockets.

“Hey,” he mutters with a curt nod. “What are you doing here?”

“Well, Gemma made me come here and hear you out,” I answer truthfully. “Though, I have to be honest, I’m not sure what you could say to fix anything.”

“Fix what?” he snaps before looking around. When he takes in a few eyes on us, he turns away from me, jerking his head toward a hallway. “Follow me. I’m not doing whatever the fuck this is out here, in front of everyone.”

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