Page 10 of The Game We Played

I shrug. “If the fire fits.”

I am totally writing about this incident in the newspaper. And Benny will not be getting the blame. After all, I still owe my sisters for my eyebrows. They took six months to grow back!

And the smugglers love to read about the antics of the twins. Maybe the article will help sell more copies of the newspaper. Maybe it’ll help keep theGazettefrom closing.

Chapter 4

BREAKING: TEAMMATES QUESTION TANNER LONG’S MATURITY Sources confirm “He started it”

Tanner

Don’t forget our discussion.

Behave while you’re on Smuggler’s Hideaway.

No partying.

No girls.

No drinking.

I shove my phone in my pocket. I’m about done with Sam and all his warnings. My agent is acting as if what I did was wrong. It wasn’t wrong. Maybe – just maybe – I didn’t exercise the best judgment but wrong? Nah.

But what if the world doesn’t agree with me? What if Coach Knox can’t save my career thistime? What if…

I stop the runaway questions and force those thoughts out of my mind. Everything will be okay. I’ve gotten in trouble in the past and everything worked out. It will this time, too.

I paste a smile on my face before opening the door to the gym at theHideaway Haven Resort.Gage, Nolan, Brock, and I decided to stay here for a few weeks before the Seals’ training camp begins at a college on the Mainland. Corbin is on the island, too, but he found an apartment to rent because apparently we’re too ‘loud’ and ‘obnoxious’ to be around 24/7.

I thought we’d have a blast goofing off in the ocean and carousing the bars. Instead, Nolan drafted a schedule for us to follow to ensure we’re in shape at the start of training camp.

“Your entertainment has arrived!”

Nolan scowls at me. “You’re late.”

I roll my eyes. As the quarterback of the Seals, Nolan thinks he’s the boss of me. No one’s the boss of me. Not Coach Knox, not Nolan, definitely not my parents.

“Dude, chill out. It’s off-season.”

“Training camp starts in a few weeks,” Brock grumbles.

“Good morning, Mr. Grumpy. How did you sleep?”

I’m not joking about Brock being grumpy. The oversized fullback is always grumpy and always hungry. He’s also the biggest guy on the team, which – unfortunately – means there’s a limit to how much I can tease him. It’s a good thing I’m fast.

Brock glares at me. “Call me Mr. Grumpy one more time.”

Naturally, I oblige. “Mr. Grumpy.”

His nostrils flare as he stalks toward me. Nolan steps in front of him. “No fighting.”

“It’s not fighting if I knock him down with one hit.”

I bat my eyelashes and clutch my chest. “Why do you want to harm me? I’ve never harmed you before. I thought we were teammates and friends. You’re breaking my heart.”

Nolan sighs. “Knock it off, Tanner, before I let him hit you.”

“Why is everyone violent this morning?”