Page 21 of Unwritten Rules
“You’re the only one playing,” I point out, tone sharp. “I told you last month where I stand.”
If we weren’t in a room full of people, I have no doubt she would stomp her foot on the ground like a child who just got their favourite toy taken away.
“What are you even doing here?” Khai asks, voice light.
“Some of the girls wanted to watch the game,” Zoe responds, her eyes locked on mine. “And I wanted to see Sin.”
“Well, you’ve seen him now, so you better run along.”
I can’t stop the grin forming on my face at Khai’s dismissal. I may not have listened to him when he warned me against getting involved with Zoe, but I appreciate his effort to keep her away from me now.
A red hue coats the curve of her olive-toned neck. She huffs out a breath, pinning me with her eyes. “This isn’t over, Sin.”
“I think it is, though.”
She groans and spins on her heels, storming out of the room. Multiple eyes track her movements, even the jade eyes in the corner of the room. I can only imagine what Tatum is thinking right now, but I don’t have the energy to explain myself, even if I wanted to.
“We should go,” I murmur, turning my body to face Khai. “Before I drown between the regret from my past and my most recent decision.”
Khai chuckles and shakes his head. “You’ve gotten yourself into a pickle, haven’t you?”
“Don’t I know it,” I grumble, folding my arms over my chest.
“All right, give me ten minutes.”
Ten minutes pass by at an agonisingly slow pace. Khai fucks around with getting out of his uniform and collecting his gym bag. He stands around talking with some of the staff and players while I pace by the entrance to the sheds, even more on edge than I was earlier.
Khai has always been Mr Popular in the team because of his friendly nature and ability to hold a conversation. But right now, I wish he would shut up so we can get the hell out of here.
A presence at my side stops my pacing, drawing my attention to the kid not much younger than me. If you can call a nineteen-year-old a kid. Jace has his gym bag slung over his shoulder, his dirty-blonde hair slick with water after showering after the game. Dressed in black jeans and a white long-sleeved button up, he looks ready to go to a fancy dinner.
“Going out tonight?” I ask, shoving my hands into the pocket of my jeans.
Jace shakes his head. “I’m heading over to my girlfriends house.”
“Dressed like that?”
A smirk curls up his lips. “Well, some of us like to dress up for our girls instead of stripping the moment we walk through the door.”
The jab at my complicated relationship with Zoe should annoy me, but I can’t deny he’s not wrong. Every guy on the team knows about Zoe, which doesn’t bother me in the slightest. With how much time we spend together each week training, travelling to games and flying interstate, the team is like an open book. It’s hard to keep secrets, so them finding out about Zoe was inevitable.
“You got me.” I clap him on the shoulder. “You did good out there, J.”
Jace’s lips thin, the corner of his mouth curling up. “Yeah, well, stepping up to halfback is no easy feat, especially when I’m filling your shoes.”
When I got injured two weeks ago, Jace was pulled from the reserve grade team to take on my position until I returned. While I was fucking pissed that I was going to be contained to the sidelines for six weeks, I was at least pleased knowing Jace was going to get some field time with the main squad. At first, I didn’t know how he would gel with the team, but to my surprise, he slipped into the role tonight with grace and took on the advice I gave him last night when he called.
I can see this kid going far as a halfback if he refines his skills.
“The Dolphins are a tough side, but you held your own out there,” I tell him. “Great job.”
The praise lights up his pale blue eyes. I don’t know if he was expecting me to offer the compliment after his first game as the starting halfback, but it is well-deserved after the win tonight.
“Can I expect to hear this every week?” he teases, pumping his eyebrows.
I roll my eyes. “Don’t get too ahead of yourself. If we start losing, I’ll have to come up with other ways to encourage you.”
Jace chuckles and claps me on the shoulder. “Noted.” He drops his eyes to my leg, rolling his lips. “You all good?”
