Page 72 of Mad As Hell

Another shiver zipped across my skin, leaving goose bumps in its wake.

Ryan pulled out the empty seat next to him so I could sit down. Thankfully there was another open seat for Bex, between me and Ash.

“I’m going to grab some food,” Bex told me.

Ash gave her a tight smile and stood. “I’ll go with you.”

No need for me to go; I could see one of the staff coming toward me with a tray of something leafy and green.

I gritted my teeth as I sat down, keeping my eyes on the table even as my salad was set in front of me. I caught Ryan staring hard at my plate, but he shrugged it off as he turned to the teammate beside him and started talking about their upcoming game.

I knew him from the other times I’d sat at the table. Everyone called him Bubba, but I had no clue why. The massive defensive tackle had always been nice enough to me, but he seemed uncomfortable talking to me. Judging by the flush in his cheeks when he did stammer out a few words to me or Bex, I think it had less to do with my sister’s reputation and more about his unease talking to girls.

Trying to tune everything out, I lifted my fork and stabbed a slice of cucumber.

Linc joined in their conversation with a laugh. “I mean, you’re right, bro. The Homecoming game was epic.”

Homecoming.

I’d missed it. Which meant I’d missed the cheer routine I’d choreographed for the game, a collaboration between the academy and the university. I had felt honored that my coach had asked me to create it.

Bubba grinned back, clapping a hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “That’s because our boy was unstoppable.”

I glanced at Ryan.

“I had a lot of rage to take out,” he admitted, his gaze cutting to me for a second. The tight smile he gave me spoke volumes.

I nodded and took my time chewing my food so I wouldn’t have to speak. Instead, I shifted my gaze to wander around the room, which was when I saw Brylee and her entourage walk in like the dining hall was a freaking runway.

Brylee paused just inside the doorway, flicking back the silky curtain of her dark hair as she let her fans absorb the gift of her presence.

Barely muffling my snort, I reached for my water and took a drink.

Ryan’s head lifted and his eyes narrowed. “Showtime.”

Curious, I looked at him, but his eyes were on Brylee. In fact, with matching smirks, Court and Linc turned to watch from the other side of the table.

I looked around, and my eyes widened when I realized the table where Brylee and her friends usually sat had been replaced by a tiny table and chairs that looked like they were made for kindergartners.

Brylee seemed to notice the switch when her friends did, but while Hayley’s head tilted in confusion, Brylee’s expression turned murderous and shifted to… me.

Great. I set my fork down with a sigh.

The room dwindled into silence again as Brylee stomped toward me, her heels click-clacking across the floor with annoying resonance.

As she got closer, Ryan draped an arm across the back of my seat.

“This is childish,” Brylee spat, glaring at him as she stopped in front of Court and Linc. She sneered at them. “After she makes you all look like pussy-whipped losers, this is what you do?”

“Hey, Court,” Linc started loudly, ignoring the venomous snake at his feet as he turned to his friend.

Court’s head lolled to the side to look at Linc with a grunt.

“Do you think Brylee knew her boyfriend was a rapist?” Linc asked, his voice carrying across the room.

Court shrugged and seemed to consider it. “I mean, maybe? She definitely helped him set up Maddie for something she didn’t do. Pretty childish shit.”

Linc snapped his fingers. “Yes. Childish. That’s exactly the word I’d use, too.” He peered around Brylee intently to the children’s furniture that sat where her table had been.

---