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“But they’re saying it was Jace?” Chris asks Damon.
“That’s what I heard. Probably trying to save face so he doesn’t look like a pussy.” Damon glances at me. “Your chick must have a brutal right hook. Dude’s fucking nose is broken.”
“First, she’s not my chick.” I run a hand over my mouth, then, “Shit. Forget the rest. Is it really broken?”
“If the gauze crammed in his nostrils and the twin bruises under his eyes are any indication, I’d say it is.” Damon smirks. “Dude looks like a fucking raccoon.”
“Jace, bro, you’ve only been here for a few weeks, and this girl is already causing you a shit-ton of trouble.” Chris eyes me warily.
I know why he’s saying it, what he’s getting at. That I should cut my losses and stay the hell away from her. Shit, he’s probably right, too. Maybe Ishouldstay away from her.
But for some reason, I can’t do that. And it’s not just because of Teagan. Now that I’ve had a little time to mull things over, I realize maybe there was more to our impromptu makeout session than I originally thought. Part of me wonders if maybe I’ve been denying what is becoming glaringly obvious since summer school started.
Maybe I’ve always had a thing for Brynn; It was just easy to ignore with her hatred and Teagan standing between us.
I exhale and shift my gaze to the ceiling.
When I say nothing, Chris tells Damon. “She’s fucking living with us now.”
“Come again?” Damon blinks, his gaze bouncing between us.
“It’s a long story that starts and ends with her crazy roommate and the housing department being worthless,” I say as we move to one of the benches where I start to prepare the bar for our upper body routine.
Damon takes the bench first, lying on his back and bracing his hands on the cold steel bar. “You sure she’s worth all the trouble?” he asks before he lowers it to his chest, then pushes it back up as he releases his breath. “From what I’ve heard, she can’t stand you.”
I shoot Chris a meaningful look, and he shrugs. “She might be hot, but from the little I’ve seen and what you’ve told me, she’s fucking feral with you.”
The muscle in my jaw flickers as the urge to put Chris in his place strikes me like an iron fist, but I shove it down. He’s not wrong, and I know he’s just looking out for me and going based off of what he’s seen. I can’t fault him for that.
“She’s my best friend’s sister,” I say. “They’re like family to me. I’ve known her for years, so yeah, I’m not gonna just turn my back on her. And she doesn’t really hate me,” I say, even though after the other night, I’m not sure how true that is. “It’s just . . . sort of a game we play.”
Was the kiss a game, too?
My mind wanders to everything Chris said and I decide he’s not wrong. So far, conditioning is going well, I’ve met some pretty cool people, and I’m managing my summer class. The only blip on the radar has been my preoccupation with keeping tabs on Brynn and the resulting drama. Which is precisely why kissing her the other night was one giant mistake. A mistake that can’t happen again.
Football is my focus. Classes. Casual flings and having a good time.
None of those things include Brynn.
I’m not this guy. I don’t do messy. I don’t go anywhere near chicks I already have some sort of emotional connection with, good, bad, or otherwise. So, what the hell am I doing?
CHAPTER 15
JACE
Ipause outside ofBradd’s when my phone rings, and glance down to see Teagan’s name flash across the screen. After my epiphany in the locker room earlier, I decided I’d better steer clear of the apartment. I need to get my head on straight and remember who I am. I’m JacefuckingTaggart. I can charm the pants off damn near any chick I set my sights on. When I want something, I get it. I’m a no-strings, low complications kind of guy, with zero struggle at finding female companionship when I want it. So, when I mentioned rounding up a few chicks and heading to the club, Chris and Damon were all in.
This is exactly what I need. Clearly, my dry streak is fucking with my head and once I get whatever the hell this is out of my system, I’ll be able to keep my hands off Brynn and life will return to normal.
“Shit,” I hiss under my breath.
“Problem?” Chris asks.
I shake my head, glancing from my phone to him. “No, but I should probably take this.”
“You want us to wait?”
“Nah, go ahead. I’ll be right there.”
