Page 21 of Hate the Game
“I think we hit her back. Hard. She tried to seduce us with that whole stupid act. I say we make her fall for us. Make ourselves look like such fucking saints it blows her whole world. Make her betray her asshole brothers and think we hung the fucking stars.” Jax surprised me with how vehement he sounded. He didn’t typically show his darker side but apparently Savannah had already gotten under our skin.
“Agreed.” Ryder stood up and cracked his neck. “I need to go work out. Let me know when you hammer out the details.”
We watched him leave and then Cass sighed. “I feel awful for upsetting you guys.”
“It’s fine. I’m glad you told us.” Jax gave her a quick hug. “I’m out, too. I have a meeting with Dad and a paper to write. I’m going to think about how to handle this.”
Cass sat down next to me and tried to wrap her arm around me but she was just too small. I smiled and held her against my side instead. “We owe you one, Cass. It would’ve been easy to fall for her bullshit.”
A few moments of silence passed before she looked up at me. “Did you?”
A wave of unease washed over me. There were times when I worried that Cass maybe still held onto some of those childhood feelings for me and I hated even thinking it. I knew she didn’t actually still carry a flame for me and I was thankful for it, but I did worry she sometimes thought she might. I considered her a good friend and that was all. “It wasn’t like I was in love. I barely knew her. I kissed her, though. I wanted more. There’s something about her. Now I know it’s all shit, though.”
“We won’t let her get away with it, Cole.” She grimaced. “Just keep your lips to yourself from now on. There’s no need to give her more ammo to use against the three of you.”
I stood up and rubbed my hands together. “You’re usually way smarter than me but I think I have to disagree with you this time, Cass. If I’m going to beat her at her own game I have to play. It’s time for Savannah Lane Ford to feel the full force of Cole West.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Remember that I tried.”
“Always. You’re the best, Cass.”
***Savannah***
Strutting across campus was getting harder and harder when all I wanted to do was run and hide so I didn’t chance seeing any of my across the hall neighbors. It’d been days since I’d seen any of them and that was kind of how I wanted to keep it. Even if it went against everything I needed to do. My last email from Marla had been downright insulting. She’d accused me of being too soft to take anyone down, much less The Apex Three.
I wasn’t too soft. I wasn’t. I was just studying my subjects slowly. I didn’t want to rush into it and ruin everything. That was all. It had nothing to do with my traitorous body liking the way The Apex Three looked, touched, and kissed. Not that I knew how Ryder kissed.
Which is kind of a sin.I swore out loud at the way my brain was even getting on the train to damnation. I needed to call my brothers and remind my body and mind of what The Apex Three had cost my family. I needed to remember what I was there for, no matter how pretty they smirked at me.
“You okay, Texas?” Trey, the Trojans’ kicker, fell into step beside me. “You were just cussing up a storm.”
I smiled up at him and rolled my eyes. “I’m fine. I was just arguing with myself. You know how it goes.”
Trey was from Georgia and had a southern accent I was jealous of. It was slow and sweet, like the thickest honey, and I loved hearing him use phrases that reminded me of home. “No, ma’am, I don’t. I typically like to agree with myself. Makes life easier.”
I bumped him with my shoulder and sighed. “Must be nice. Where are you headed?”
“I’m dying for a taco. There’s a food truck parked around the corner and it’s calling my name. Want to come?” He slung his arm around my shoulder and grinned. “Let me feed you. You know you want to.”
I laughed and pushed him away. “I wish I could. I’m busy, though. I’ve got to go to my room and lecture myself for a while before my next class.”
“Your loss.” He winked and then jogged off towards tacos.
I watched him go and admired just how carefree he really seemed to be in life. He jumped in the air and did a heel click as he passed a group of cheerleaders and it seemed so innocent and good-natured that it made me grin. When those same cheerleaders turned to look at me, my grin died almost instantly. Cole’s friend, Cass, was front and center, scowling at me.
I swallowed down a wave of insecurity and kept walking. I didn’t know what her issue with me was but it was clear she wasn’t keeping it to her self. The group of them moved together like they’d planned it; all their heads turned to me in sync and all their faces turned down at once. I felt like I was walking towards a school of angry fish. Just one of them I could’ve faced bravely, but all of them together made me want to tuck tail and run.
Too bad for them that I was a Texas girl, through and through, and I didn’t run. Even if I wanted to. Really badly.
Lifting my chin in a silent declaration of my fearlessness I continued towards them, a smile on my face. I met Cass’s angry gaze and lifted an eyebrow. I would’ve preferred she just say something if she had something to say.
One of the women behind her snorted and leaned over to the woman next to her. “Can you believe her?”
A chill went down my spine.
“I’m just saying. If you catch me dressing like a size four when I’m a size twelve, just kill me. Not that I’m anywhere near a size twelve. God.”
“I heard she’s already slept with half the football team. You’d better watch your man, Becca.”
