Page 25 of West Bound

“If it had been any other guy who did what he did to our Red, you’d be a dead fucker. I guarantee. But because you’re Bishop’s brother from another mother, you’ve been spared.” Hayes reaches down and pulls a cowboy hat from I don’t know where, and situates it on his head before sitting back in his seat.

“I get that, but what did she say about me?” I ask again.

“Viv became a different person after that night. Our friends know that her change is all thanks to you. For better or worse. She went from a sweet, shy book nerd who secretly loved sports, to an outspoken, assertive woman who sucked in then spit out any man she wanted. She either used them for her own satisfaction then tossed them aside, or she ground out any poor sap who dared to threaten her place in the professional sports world. She has left a wake of bodies behind her. Many are still pining over our little vixen. ”

“Siren,” I mumble. “We were kids, Bish. You know how guys are. Especially athletes. She should, too. And I fucking apologized for my behavior. It was a long time ago and I would think that by now, she’d have let it go. But fuck no. That damn sexpot argued with me all night long.”

They chuckle and I proceed to give them a little rundown on what happened between us. In the dugout and on the field.

“Sounds like our girl,” Vaughan snorts from the backseat. “Red loves to argue for the sake of arguin’. She gave me a helluva time when I started pursuing Camille, again. The little thing literally threatened to spit roast my dick and serve it as an appetizer at my funeral if I hurt even a hair on Cami’s head. And I tell you what…I believe her.”

I can’t help but smile and get fucking turned on by that little spitfire.

“And you think she’ll be there tonight?” I ask the guys.

“Sure as fuck. Camille already told me that they were waiting for us and grabbed a table in the back.” Vaughan taps away on his phone as he speaks. “Told her we’re about five minutes out and she responded with a beer emoji and a question mark.”

Bishop and Hayes shout out their beer preference then look at me. I tell them I’ll have whatever they do, then Vaughan’s back to typing and smiling down at his phone.

“A word of advice,” Bishop says in a low, deep voice, while the other two have a separate conversation. “Don’t antagonize her. You’ll only make it worse for yourself. Just find someone else to hit on tonight, but let Viv be. Especially since it seems you two have already locked horns earlier tonight.”

I take a deep breath and nod in agreement. Whether or not I actually plan to live up to my agreement or not has yet to be determined.

“For fuck’s sake,” is the greeting I get from Vivian when we walk up to the table. “You couldn’t have left the trash at home, could ya Bishop?”

“Awe. I missed you, too, Peaches,” I say back to her with a wink.

Her nose scrunches up and her lips curl. “Peaches?”

“Yeah. ‘Cause your ass looks so juicy and plump. Like a Georgia peach. I just want to take a b–”

“Oookay. That’s enough of you two. To your corners,” Bishop booms over the music and chatter of the bar. “Viv, back to your seat. Nix, opposite end.” He nods his head in the opposite direction of Vivian and I reluctantly go.

Vaughan sits down across from me and throws his arm over a stunner. Camille, just like CeCe and Viv, has definitely grown up to be a drop-dead gorgeous woman. But I quickly avert my eyes so as not to be on the receiving end of Vaughan’s wrath.

I may be bigger than him, but one should never underestimate the power of a man who’s either jealous or scorned. And Vaughan looks like he’s seen a little of both.

“Camille. Nice to see you again,” I say politely and extend my hand across the table.

“Nice to see you, too, Phoenix. And welcome. Great game tonight. I only caught a little bit of it since I was having a girls day with Dagen.”

“Is Dagen your…?”

“She’s my daughter,” Vaughan says.

Oh shit. Now I remember. Vaughan cheated on Camille back in college and knocked up the chick.

“Oh. Nice. She with you for the summer?” I ask and immediately regret it when Vaughan’s look hardens.

Camille rests her hand over his that sits on the table now closed into a fist. “Dagen’s…mother,” she says with malice dripping from every letter. “Passed away a few years ago. It’s just her and Vaughan.”

“And you,” Vaughan says to her with a look in his eyes that I assume is love. I can’t say for sure since it’s not an emotion I’ve ever felt for a woman myself.

“Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” I apologize to Vaughan.

Bishop never told me that little tidbit of information.

“Don’t be,” he replies.

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