“I don’t know how you drink that shit,” Aaron scoffed, grabbing a shandy-type lager. Zade grabbed a twelve-pack of Sam Adams and we were heading to the cash register when Carter Bolt and Felix Ramirez walked in.
“My dudes!” Carter exclaimed. “Is this good timing or what?”
“Depends on if you’re talking about us, or you,” I said, getting the middle finger from him. I loved messing with the guy and he didn’t care one bit. “You off to drink alone and watch chick-flicks?”
“Don’t hate us because you ain’t us, TJ. You’re the old man on the team. I can run circles around you,” he replied, Felix chuckling next to him. Felix was a walk-on this summer, a year younger than us and real quiet. He was the fastest kid on the summer team and would be a huge asset in right field. I gave him a nod and he returned it with the same focused face he often wore.
Carter pointed to our beer and looked at Zade. “Zwillows, you guys heading to a party?”
“Eh, not a party. Just a birthday thing for Aaron’s sister.”
“Dude, your sister…” He pretended to faint before hitting Felix’s shoulder. “You should’ve seen her. She’s an angel.”
“Do you want to die?” Aaron asked.
“For her, yes.”
I laughed, but only because he was so goofy and nonthreatening. But my laugh fell when Zade threw his arm around Carter’s shoulders and invited them to join us for the games.
“It’ll be fun, plus having eight players would be better,” Zade added. Carter looked like he’d struck gold and Felix even smiled.
“Thanks, Z, I’d love to hang out and meet more people.”
Zade’s being the fucking captain our team needs.I hated how he was great at it, such a natural leader with his charisma and positive outlook. But the role fit him and my struggle was less than Aaron’s. He gritted his teeth and nudged Zade’s shoulder, giving Carter a warning I thought about giving myself. “Don’t ogle my sister.”
An hour later, Aaron’s warning worked for Carter, but it didnotwork on Felix. The transfer chose to sit right next to our birthday girl and found every reason to talk to her. He talked more in that hour than I had heard the past three weeks.Fuck.
We were divided into two groups of four for rounds of speed, each person playing another for points, and the last change had me playing against Greta. Maybe it was my annoyance at Felix flirting with Kenzie, or the fact that Gretausedto have a crush on me but had ended up with Aaron, or the sheer problem of my competitiveness. I loved winning and she was aterribleloser.
She narrowed her eyes at me, her brown irises turning darker, and whispered, “You’re dead.”
“Okay, G. We’ll see.”
She dealt the cards and we were off, finding the right numbers to place on each other. I was fast, but she was faster. We battled card for card, my forehead sweating when she had one more card in her hand, but the number seven appeared, the one I needed. I threw it onto the pile, ending the game and beating her. “Fuck, yeah!”
“Fuck you, Tanner Johnson!” She shoved the stack of cards at me and stormed off in a pout. I loved it, but my laugh caught in my throat when I saw Felix walking Kenzie to the kitchen, a smile playing on her lips.
“Dude, I haven’t seen Greta this pissed in a while. It’s hilarious,” Aaron said, hitting me in the shoulder with a fist bump. He saw my line of sight and almost growled at Felix’s retreating back. “If I cause a scene, Greta will yell at me and we leave for a tournament in two days. I can’t get kicked out of her bedroom.”
“It’s your sister,” I said through gritted teeth, hoping my voice didn’t give me away.
“Fuck it. Felix’s a good dude and she can do whatever the hell she wants. As long as I don’t hear—no, you know what? I can’t. Felix! Get over here. Let’s talk about your defense today.” Aaron walked into the kitchen and came back with Felix, an annoyed expression on both their faces. This was my cue. I went into the kitchen and smiled when Kenzie’s ass met me. She was bent over into the fridge, her tight jeans showcasing curves that were perfect.
I leaned against the wall, the nook we were in completely cut off from the living room. An unknown feeling ran through me, almost like competition, like when a younger guy on the team made an incredible catch, causing me to make a better one. I closed the distance between us and waited for her to notice me.
I didn’t like waiting.
“Kenzie.”
“Oh, hey,” she said, breathless, and spun around to face me. Her blush came back full force and she adjusted her glasses before meeting my eyes. “You want another beer?”
“No. I wanted to remind you I still have a couple presents for you, when we get back. You’re owed orgasms.”
“I haven’t forgotten, but thank you for the reminder.” She pursed her lips with a little smugness and moved so she could shut the fridge. I took another step, our chests less than an inch apart, and cupped her chin in my hand. “What are you—oh.”
I bent lower, connecting our mouths with more aggression than I intended. She tasted like beer and lust and I sucked her tongue into my mouth. It was over too quickly, and my entire body was on fire from one kiss. She stared at me with her large green eyes filled with warmth and curiosity, all for me. It was…intense, for a stolen kiss fueled by jealousy.
That’s what I feel, jealous. Jealous of Felix. What the fuck?
