Page 151 of Red Zone

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We go a couple more rounds before one of the linebackers decides to throw some heat.

“Never have I ever hooked up with my coach’s daughter,” he says, looking right at me.

I swear under my breath and take a drink, ignoring the heat creeping up my neck.

Lyla blushes beside me. I can feel her stiffen, like she’s bracing for the whispers.

I glance at her and catch Madison staring at her, too, whispering something I can’t hear.

Whatever.

But then Logan’s voice cuts through the noise.

“Never have I ever had sex.”

My head snaps up, my jaw clenching as Logan smirks across the circle at Jaxon.

Motherfucker.

I watch Jaxon stiffen under Madison’s hands, his knuckles white around his drink, but he doesn’t move. Doesn’t drink.

Logan keeps pushing, his grin widening.

“I mean, you hadn’t a couple months ago,” he goads. “You’re really trying to say you’ve changed that fast?”

I see it then—the way Jaxon’s shoulders coil tight, his jaw locked, his knuckles ready to break something.

And then Logan goes too far.

“So, you fucked her,” he sneers. “Just to leave in a few months when you get drafted? What a gentleman.”

The air shifts.

Before I even think about it, I’m moving.

I lunge forward, shoving Logan so hard his drink sloshes all over him.

“You’re a real piece of shit, you know that?” I snap.

Logan stumbles back but laughs, holding his hands up. “What? Just making conversation.”

I step closer, my chest heaving, my fists curling at my sides.

“You know exactly what you’re doing, asshole,” I growl.

Logan shrugs. “What? Thought the golden boy could handle a little locker room talk.”

That’s when I swing.

Lyla’s hands grab my arm at the last second, yanking me back before I can actually connect.

“Jesus, Carter!” she hisses, pulling harder. “Not here. Not like this.”

“He deserves to get his ass kicked!” I snarl, still trying to get at him.

Lyla digs her fingers into my arm. “Not arguing that, just—not right now.”

Logan smirks, taking another sip of his drink like he’s already won. “Relax, Hayes. Not my fault the kid finally grew a pair.”

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