“You did?” Jett spoke before I had a chance to. I felt him turn slightly toward me, and I knew my cheeks were on fire. “Why?”
“Don’t.” The plea was out before I could stop myself. Fingers tightened on my top, digging into my flesh.
“Don’t?”
“Girl, did you switch teams on us?” Dustin asked with a wide-eyed look as he clutched his chest in mock horror. His teammates laughed, and I was grateful for the attempt at easing the tension. But Dante didn’t laugh.
“She more than switched,” Gray said with a smirk as he took a swig of his beer. I felt Jett’s chuckle, and I looked over at Mia, who looked as helpless as I felt as I stood there caught in between the two larger-than-life egos. “We’ve allheardhow much she switched.”
Bastard.
“Your stats today, I’m sure you know,” I said suddenly to Dante before any other Santo could make a dig at my night with Jett. “Best player of the game, although Dustin definitely brought his A game. You’ll need to be quicker though next week, Slater; the Saints linebacker Brown was on fire today.” I turned my attention back to Dante. “And you? You better hope that pocket protects you. Woods is on point. He had four sacks today alone. Saints’ defense may just be enough to win it.”
Dante gave me a good-natured smile. “That your take? Saints going to take down the Lions?”
“Defense wins championships,” I answered blithely. “Offense can only take you so far.” Those fingers were going to leave a bruise on my back if he dug in any tighter.
“Offense takes it to the end zone,” Jett answered me before he spoke to Dustin. “Well, we shouldn’t hold you up on your search for . . . whoever.”
Dante held his stare and then turned his attention back to me. “Can we talk?”
“No.”
I blinked. With a small shake of my head as if to clear the fog, I looked up at Jett. “I believe he was talking to me.”
Jett glanced down at me, and I swallowed as his cold mask slipped, revealing his anger.Jaaaysus Lord.
“I was,” Dante said. “Talking to you, that is.”
“She’ll talk to you if you can tell me her name.” Mia stepped forward, and my jaw dropped open along with Dante’s. His lack of response only frustrated her more. “Seriously, dude, how many times has it been now?”
“Mia!” I protested as I looked at her with a clearwhat the fucklook.
Jett was grinning like he’d already received the Heisman Trophy. “Shh now,” he hushed me. “We’re all waiting, Spence. Impress us.”
Was my whole entire existence just for his entertainment?
Dante stood silent until it became uncomfortable for him, never mind me. He looked furious, and with a grunt, he spun on his heel and barged through the backyard to go inside, with his teammates following him.
Dustin looked at me in apology. “Sorry, Ava.” He sounded sincere, and I could only jerk my head once in a nod. “Red, don’t be a stranger,” he said to Mia with a wink, completely ignoring the fact that Alex had glued himself to Mia’s side. “See you on the field, guys.”
When they were in the house, Jett’s fingers loosened, and I wrenched myself free of his hold.
“So, how often do you hang out with the competition?” Jett asked me coldly.
“They’re not competition to me.”
“Is that right?” His tone was deceptively calm.
“That’s right,” I snapped back angrily.
“And that, my friends, is what we call motive.” Gray snorted. “We’re out.” Tapping Jett on the shoulder, he turned away.
Jett stood for a moment longer. His left hand stroked his chin before his fingers ran over his lips and down his chin as he considered me thoughtfully. “Pity.” He and Ash followed Gray.
“What did he mean?” Alex asked in the quiet that followed.
“It means nothing,” I answered softly. Nothing good anyway.
