Page 49 of Unwritten Rules
Raya bumps her shoulder against Tatum, who smiles in return. “Yeah, she’s pretty. And totally off-limits, Sin. In more ways than one.” The tone of her voice is neutral, but I’m no fool who can’t read between the lines. My hands flex around the cup again, the brief good mood slipping from my bones.
I’ve known Raya since she joined the Wolves’ cheerleading squad two years ago. From the moment she walked through the door on the first day of practice, Zoe swept in like a wrecking ball and took the girl under her wing. Zoe did everything she could to drag Raya into her clique of mean girls, and I could see Raya was resisting, but knowing she had no other choice—it was either join them or be on the outs—she gave in. Whenever we got the chance to talk, Raya expressed disinterest in being Zoe’s friend,but we both knew how persuasive Zoe could be. I don’t know why she confided in me, but I didn’t question it.
Raya has been there from the start of my fucked-up relationship with Zoe—if you could even call it that. So her warning just now comes from a place of knowing what Zoe is like. For the best interest of myself, the team and Tatum, I need to keep my distance.
I despise the fact that Zoe thinks she has any say in what I do. I’ve made it clear to her on multiple occasions that I’m no longer interested, and still she’s trying to pull claim over me behind my back. And while I understand Raya is trying to look out for me, I can fight my own battles.
“Raya…” Tatum starts, but I cut her off, not wanting to go down this road when I’m not nearly drunk enough to deal with it.
“It’s fine, Ray. I hear you.”
Khai returns to the table with a tray of shot glasses filled with a mysterious pink liquid. He sets down two in front of each of us before taking his seat, a shit-eating grin split across his features.
I eye the shot glasses. “What the fuck is this?”
“A wet pussy shot,” Khai answers, fingers already reaching for the one in front of him. “And don’t even think about bitching out now.”
“Well, a free shot is a free shot.” Raya lifts one of the glasses to her lips. “Bottoms up!”
Khai and Raya down a shot each. But my focus is on Tatum, who is watching me, big eyes blinking slowly.
I offer her a shrug and reach for a glass, knowing that if I don’t drink this, Khai will force it down my throat, and that’s not something the public needs to see. “You don’t have to drink it if you don’t want to.”
Tatum lifts one of the glasses, inspecting the bright liquid. “I’ve never had one of these before. It looks… interesting.”
“It’s fucking delicious!” Khai cheers before tipping his head back with the second glass pressed between his lips. A gasp of relief slips from his mouth as he slams the glass down on the table. “Damn, that’s the best wet pussy I’ve ever had.”
“Oh, I’m sure it is,” Raya muses, mouth tilted in a smirk. I snort a laugh and consume one of the shots. The liquid seeps into my veins, and warmth rushes to my head, easing the ache beginning to form at my temples. Loud music and the tension in my shoulders is not a good combination, but the alcohol makes it bearable.
Tatum exhales a sharp breath and drinks one of the two shots. She grimaces as she swallows, desperately trying not to show a reaction to the strong alcohol. I smirk, watching as she reaches for the other one and consumes it.
“Drink up, Sin,” Khai says, shoving my last shot into my hand. “The night is young, so buckle yourself in for a good one.”
Khai dropsinto the seat beside me, sweat pouring down his temples. Out of breath, he reaches for the beer he left on the table before joining Raya and Tatum on the dance floor thirty minutes ago. “The Anthem” by Good Charlotte thumps in the back of my mind, rattling my bones, and I find myself bopping my head along with the beat of the song.
My gaze tracks Tatum where she hovers at the edge of the dance floor, dancing with Raya. Her hands fly into the air and her features light up with a smile, followed by laughter I can’t hear over the music. I wish I could. It’s become one of my favourite sounds.
“I don’t know how they do it,” Khai wheezes, and sucks in a deep breath. “Like shit, I thought playing rugby was hard.”
I snort a laugh. “You’re acting like dancing is the hardest thing ever.”
“I’d like to see you try, Sin. Trust me, my calves are on fucking fire and my hips ache.”
“You mustn’t be working hard enough on the field then if you’re fucked after thirty minutes of dancing.”
Khai blows out an irritated breath. “You’re just a hater, I get it. I’d like to see you try keeping up with those girls.”
“Not a chance,” I say with a shrug. “Over my dead body will you ever catch me dancing in a club.”
Raya wraps her arms around Tatum’s neck, their body swaying to the beat—carefree and effortless. My eyes linger on Tatum, taking in every curve that makes me want to lose my mind. She has no idea what she’s doing to me. How much she affects me. But it doesn’t change the fact I can’t have her.
“God, you’re like a lost puppy waiting for its owner to come back from war.”
I snap my attention to my best friend, who is hiding his smile behind the rim of the beer glass. “What?”
Khai sets the glass down, his eyes locking with mine. “You’re so obvious it’s almost painful to witness.”
“I’m not following…”
