Page 125 of The Trade

He snickers, clearly pleased with my reaction. “Just ’cause you don’t like to share doesn’t mean Mills and I have to play by your rules.”

The red in my vision grows deeper. “I get that you two are pissed at me, but you really don’t want to cross this line.”

“Why?” Miller throws back, a smug smirk on his face. “Jade’s a grown girl. Feisty, too. I’m sure she can handle herself.”

An ominous calm descends over me. My voice drops dangerously low. “Say her name again and see what happens.”

His smirk widens, unfazed by my threat. “And what if I moan her name in bed?”

He’s baiting me, I know that. But I don’t give a shit. In one swift motion, I lunge at him, my fist connecting solidly with his jaw. A gratifying crunch rings out, music to my fucking ears.

Miller stumbles backward, the force of my punch taking him by surprise. McNair jumps in but is quickly met with a shove that sends him sprawling.

I look down at the pair, a smirk tugging at my lips. I spit next to them. “Now will you keep your fuckin’ mouths shut?”

Coach’s booming voice echoes across the field. “Offense! What the hell’s goin’ on over there?”

“Nothing, Coach,” I say as casually as I can manage. “We’re just screwing around.”

He barks back a warning. “You better get your shit together.”

“You got it, sir!”

McNair scrambles to his feet, pulling Miller up with him. Their glares could bore holes into my head, but I just chuckle at the sight of them. Miller cradles his swollen jaw, eyes filled with unadulterated hatred.

“Fucking pathetic,” I spit, my words as icy as the smile on my face. I turn my back on them and dive back into my training, channeling my anger into every move, every stride.

For now, this is the one and only place my focus lies. It has to be.

* * *

“Dude,what the hell was that earlier?” Cam barges in, his duffel bag making a soft thud as he tosses it onto the couch next to me. His eyes bore into mine, demanding an answer. “I saw you throw that punch at Miller.”

“He had it coming. McNair, too.” I offer no further explanation, my gaze dropping to the floor. “Those fuckers wouldn’t stop running their goddamn mouths.”

“What’s going on with you, man?” He sighs, crossing his arms over his chest as he steps closer. “You’ve been moping around the house for weeks, and now you’re starting fights on the field. Is this all just because Jade left?”

“You wouldn’t get it.”

“Well, then why don’t you explain it to me!” His voice is sharp, laced with frustration.

The words slip out before I can stop them. “I fucking loved her, okay?” I rake a hand through my hair, heart pounding. “But she clearly doesn’t love me back. So, now I’m just ... done. I have to be.”

“Fuck, are you really?”

“I think so,” I murmur, slinging one arm over the back of the couch and shutting my eyes. “Cam, she let me sleep with her, and then she left on the first flight out of here. Not even a word.”

“But didn’t she leave things open-ended?” His voice is gentle, hesitant.

My eyes fly open at that. “So, what?” Frustration surges again. “I’m supposed to continue to sit around waiting for her all summer? Wallow in self-pity and beat up my teammates in the process?”

“That’s what I’m saying,” he mutters. “Besides, you act like you only have two options here.”

“What else is there?”

He gives a short chuckle. “You could actually try to enjoy yourself,” he suggests. “Stop fucking thinking about Jade for two seconds and have some fun with your best friend.”

Despite myself, I snort a laugh. “You had to make this all about you, huh?”

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