Page 114 of Endgame

“The none of your fucking business kind,” I shot back with a smirk, thanking Jesus the guys hadn’t heard about Molly’s party tonight.

“He doesn’t have plans, Reebo,” Mase said loudly, butting in on our conversation. He walked over to the bench and sank down next to Daryl, who was unusually quiet tonight. “We just kicked Jefferson’s ass. Wehaveto celebrate.” Leaning forward, Mase raised a brow at me. “Are you so fucking hung up on your sister that you can’t come out and enjoy yourself with the team?”

I didn’t reply to that.

His stupid fucking comment didn’t deserve a response.

Besides, I knew what Mase was doing; he was trying to get a reaction out of me.

Not tonight.

“She’s not his sister,” Reebo shot back dryly. “Quit trying to get a rise out of him, Mase.”

“She’s as good as,” Mase teased. “Her momma’s married to Gabe. Makes them related.”

“You know what else is gonna be related?” I warned, jerking to my feet. “My foot and your ass if you don’t shut the hell up.”

“Relax, Dude,” Mase shot back with a grin, holding his hands up in retreat. “I aint judging you. Go right ahead and bang your stepsister. Hell, I would too if you hadn’t cock blocked me.”

“Don’t,” Daryl hissed. Jumping to his feet, he caught ahold of me just I was about to lunge for Mason. “Get the hell out of here, Mase,” he ordered, struggling to hold onto me. “Now, asshole.”

“Aye-aye, captain.” Mason saluted us both with hand against his forehead before sauntering out of the dressing rooms, singing his own improvised version of Bloodhound Gang’sThe Ballad of Chasey Lainat the top of his lungs – switching the name Chasey Lain to Mercy James.

Asshole.

“I’m gonna kill him,” I snarled.

“Can someone remind me why we’re friends with that douche nozzle?” Bear chimed in, joining in the conversation for the first time. “Mase is such a fucking asshole.”

“Yep,” Daryl added. “Boy is living proof that there are times in life when a woman needs to swallow.”

“Nah, he’s alright,” Reebo defended with a chuckle. “He’s just...”

“Mase?” Bear offered dryly.

“Yeah,” Reebo said with a sigh. “He’s just Mase.”

Mercedes

I SKIPPED THE GAME and went straight over to Molly’s house instead. After my run in with Britt, I wasn’t feeling particularlypeppy,and watching that skank shake her ass in front of Rourke was just about the last thing I wanted to see.

Thankfully, Molly wasn’t too difficult to sway. Of course, I had to assure her that Daryl would be making an appearance at her party tonight with Rourke. She believed me because she had heard the rumor going around the school about us. Yeah, our little class skipping hook up had spread like wildfire around the halls of the Academy.

“Are you sure your dad’s cool with this?” I asked, looking around at the forty plus kids from our grade piled into her house, drinking and dancing to their hearts content.

“Absolutely,” Molly replied. “Besides, he’s away on business for at least another two weeks. Here, help me with this, will you?”

“I can try?” I offered, taking ahold of one side of the keg. “But I warn you now, the strongest muscle in my body is my tongue.”

That comment won me a laugh from Molly. “I’m so freaking happy you moved here,” she said as we attempted and failed to drag the keg of beer in through the back door of her house. “I’ve missed this.”

“Missed what?” I grunted, trying unsuccessfully to get the keg over the lip of the door. “Aiding and abetting minors in the consumption of alcohol? Yeah, I’d miss that, too.”

“Having a friend,” she surprised me by saying. “One that doesn’t look at me with pity and discomfort.”

My heart jerked in my chest. Is that how it was for her? “Molls.”

“I’m okay, I promise,” she assured me with a bright smile. “And I don’t want pity. Just answers.”

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