Jace scoffs at Georgia, his tanned skin burning red as he looks down at her. She simply sticks out her tongue at him but doesn't try arguing.
Like clockwork, the hall begins to fill with grinning football players. The boys all cheering and greeting Blake and Jace as they exit the locker room out to the main hall of the stadium. Ryan and Tatum are amongst the last to leave. My brother’s grin is as bright as the sun as he approaches us but stops for a second as looks at me…wait—not me?
I follow my brother's gaze all the way to Denver?
His lips form a lopsided smile as he draws closer, walking straight past Georgia to the annoyed brunette beside me. Georgia’s mouth drops as she watches Ryan lay on his “charm” to our newest friend.
“I’m Ryan,” is all the man says, and I wonder if that usually works for him because he seems as confident as ever as he looks down at the unimpressed girl.
Denver looks up at Ryan, craning her neck back due to his height, and smirks. “I didn’t ask.”
He tilts his head at Denver as if she’s a puzzle that he wants to solve and it takes everything in me not to burst out laughing as Tatum claps a hand on his shoulder.
The boys look at each other, silently conversing with their eyes before stalking towards the exit with all of us in tow. I’m walking at the back of the group and sigh as Blake falls in step beside me, smiling deviously.
“You know we never finished our game of ten questions.” He chuckles, taking my tote bag from my shoulder and sliding it onto his with ease.
My belly heats at the action and I mentally fight it for being absurd. “Is this how you start a conversation, Boy Scout?” I ask peering up at him.
Blake boops my nose with a smile. I blink, confused at the action and he acts as if that didn’t just happen.
“Are you saying that you agree to play the game?”
“Oh, trust me, you don’t want to play any games with me.”
At my words, Blake halts all movement. He rolls out his neck before looking me over.
“How about we play a game, Princess?”
“I’m listening,” I say pausing just a few steps away from him.
“If you win more rounds of our games at the bar, I’ll leave you alone or do your bidding for a week. But, if I win…you have to grant me three wishes.” His grin is devious and enchanting as he focuses his attention on me, his eyes dancing with unspoken promises.
My stomach heats as all the possible things he could wish for swirl around in my mind.
“I’m not a genie, Creeper.”
“Then you can be a fae princess… Whatever you want. But, what do you say?” he asks, stepping closer.
“Deal.”
fourteen
Blake
Everyone and their momis at 88UP tonight—literally. I think I saw Morris Brown’s parents drinking beers with their kid when we walked in. I don’t know what we were thinking when we decided to fit not only the entire football team but the hockey and basketball teams inside the medium sized bar but we did.
The sports themed dive bar was so filled to the brim with hormonal college kids that I’d almost mistaken Jace for the president of the Theta Nu sorority. The punch I’d earned to the shoulder from him was indeed worth it.
“I can’t believe you brought your planner to the bar.” Jace laughs aloud as Cleo writes away in her small red book.
The girl rolls her eyes at him, giving him a vulgar gesture before focusing back on the planner.
I watch from across the cramped table as she spends an additional five minutes doing Lord knows what before leaning across the table, snatching it from her tiny cold fingers.
I can feel the sharp looks of Jace, Georgia, and maybe even Ryan, burning in the side of my head as I plop back down in my seat but my eyes remain trained on the brown skinned girl. Her jaw drops as she furrows her brows. Oh, I love that look. She looks like an angry poodle with her little pink bows and small nose. I’d booped it earlier just to get a reaction out of her and she didn’t disappoint with her small frown.
“We had a deal, Princess.” I smile at her as she sighs, rolling her eyes as realization dawns on her.
