Page 24 of Play The Game

“You’re my sister; you’re supposed to be on my side!” Ash hisses back at her, pissy at her supposed betrayal.

Avery giggles and shakes her head at him like he’s simple. It’s nice to see it directed somewhere other than at me. “We’ve discussed this. It’s a Battle Royale for my affections. Lips is in the lead; massively, by the way, the rest of you should really start putting some effort in. Morrison is next and, you and Harley are joint losers.”

“What the fuck has Morrison done to get ahead?”

Avery smirks at him and I decide that death is preferable to this conversation. “You keep arguing with me over Lips, and Harley keeps shoving his tongue down her throat in my presence. Morrison at least attempts some form of discretion.”

Whether he’s sulking about her answer, or he notices how much I do not want to be listening to this argument, he lets it drop and I get enough of a reprieve to scrape my brain back together. My peace doesn’t last long, though. The news of my three-way relationship hits the dining hall before we do.

Blaise is slouched over, held up only by the wall, and Harley is frowning down at his phone as we arrive. He glances up and does a quick once over of me before sneering at Ash. “A public claiming, really? Like she doesn’t already have enough on her fucking plate.”

Ash’s eyes grow glacial and I groan. “I’ve just removed things from her plate. Now there isn’t a guy at this school that will touch her, because I will personally beat the life out of them.”

Shivering, I pull away from him before he can give me shit for reacting like he’s given me flowers or some other shit normal girls like.

Blaise takes his chance and pushes off the wall to tuck me under his arm instead. “Whatever, it’s done now. Can we eat so this day can start? I already need it to fucking end.”

We move into the dining hall without waiting for their answers, Blaise rubbing his cheek on the top of my head as he yawns like a damn cat.

Every eye turns to watch us.

I tense and only Blaise’s arm around me stops me from pulling away from him. Avery steps up to my side and slips her arm into mine, glaring around the room until the other students avert their gaze.

“Just ignore them, Star,” Blaise mumbles and that snaps me out of my awkward nervousness. I give him my best impression of Avery’s icy glare.

“What the hell kind of nickname is that?” Avery mocks, and Blaise’s eyes fucking twinkle. I think about thumbing them the fuck out.

“It’s an inside joke; you wouldn’t get it.” He smirks and grabs a tray to fill.

Once we’re seated and digging into our breakfasts, Harley’s eyes flick to the door, and he groans. I glance over my shoulder to find Ms. Vivienne sauntering in. Blaise snickers under his breath and I jab him in the ribs.

“She offered to write up a personal recommendation letter to three different scholarship programs for me if I join her gifted students study group,” Harley says, watching her warily.

“She offered that to you and not Lips? She beats you in every class, except choir where she’s beating Morrison,” Ash, very helpfully, but also very dickishly, supplies.

Harley doesn’t take the bait, he just raises a brow and says, “I’m aware of that, but the Mounty doesn’t have a dick, so I don’t think she’s the slut’s type.”

Before I have the chance to react, Avery holds up a palm. “I think I should warn you all. Lips has declared the word slut off-limits. If you like your fingernails where they are, I’d choose a new word.”

They all look at me, and I shrug. “Pliers hurt like a bitch.”

Harley’s smirk is a dangerous thing, and my chest squeezes at the sight of it. “Is that how you’re going to make her bleed over my honor, Mounty?”

Scoffing, I throw a napkin at his smug face. “What honor? You should take her up on it.”

Avery cuts me a sharp look, and I shrug. “We have nothing on her. Best-case scenario she tries to touch him, and after he breaks her fucking hand, we own her. Worst-case scenario, he has an in for scholarships.”

I’m not happy about it, but I’m also not going to be possessive and pathetic about this. I trust him; I wouldn’t have told him I was the Wolf if I didn’t. Besides, she’s a desperate, attention-seeking cougar. What do we have to be worried about?

Avery looks impressed. “Ruthless. I love it.”

Harley’s eyes narrow, the smug smirk gone. “You’re not worried about me?”

Brows raised, I send him a look. “Why should I be? It’s not like you’re going to give in and fuck her. Plus, if she gets handsy, I’m confident you’ll be able to figure it out. Just don’t accept any drinks from the bitch.”

Blaise roars with laughter over the face Harley pulls, but Avery steers the conversation in a safer direction.

SEVEN