Page 2 of Hate Game

“Is that a compliment?”

“Most definitely,” I say again.

His smile widens. I fork pieces of cut-up strawberries and cantaloupe into my mouth and glance sidelong at him.

The girls go wild for Winslow dressed in his signature low-hung jeans and color-of-the-day T-shirt, but boy, they are out of control when he’s dressed in his riding gear. I would be too if I were a groupie, which I’m not.

Winslow competes on the racing circuit. When I tagged along to one of his races, I almost puked in my mouth at how the girls fawned over him, though I admit Winslow is rather good-looking with his lankiness, piercing blue eyes, and light-blond hair. And do not get me started on how he makes my mouth water when he takes those tight turns and high jumps on the racetrack.

My three best friends are like brothers to me, and they are equally my favorite guys to hang out with, should anyone ask.

“Is Red picking us up in his Escalade? Or are we taking your truck?” I’m hoping we’ll be riding to tonight’s bonfire party in Red’s SUV. The big, black, hulking thing fits my two suitcases better than Winslow’s truck or Shay’s sports car.

“Red is getting us. Do you need help packing?” Winslow looks around the basement.

There is a living space: a dark bedroom without windows that gives me the heebie-jeebies, and a bathroom with a toilet, and a sink but no shower. I don’t mind that the bathroom doesn’t have a shower. I’m just grateful for a place to stay—or, more accurately, a place for my friends to hide me.

Their parents are unaware that I’m homeless. Otherwise, they’ll report it to the school. Though I’m eighteen, I won’t risk being sent away from the town I’ve grown up in.

“I only unpacked the frame.” I nod at the picture frame on the end table close to my elbow.

“You miss her, don’t you?”

My sister Riley. Inside the frame is a picture of us at her high school graduation. Her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Midnight Sterling, photobombed us. His head is between mine and Riley’s, and he’s glaring at the camera with one dark brow cocked. His cousin Dare snapped the shot.

Why did Midnight glare, other than to warn anyone who looked at the picture to stay away from his girl? He has his arms wrapped tight around Riley’s waist from behind. I gave him a hard time for ruining a wholesome picture of me and my big sis, but I’m glad he’s in her life.

He understands that Riley can be her own worst enemy, and it’s nice that she has friends who support her when her bad habits get her in trouble.

“Every day. It’s nice she’s close.”

Riley is finishing her senior year at Dumas University, an hour away.

“So, pray tell. What was your dream about? You were moaning and mumbling something about cars and trucks?”

“How do you know this? Isn’t your bedroom soundproof for when you bring the girls over for some something, something?”

Winslow’s bedroom is the one without windows, and that gives me the heebie-jeebies.

“Some something, something?” He laughs. “You’ve been hanging around us boys too damn much, Rue. You should spend more time baking with Leigh. She’ll get you back to talking like a girl again.”

“That won’t work. Seven is rubbing off on her. Guess what she said last week when we were baking these gourmet cupcakes with fancy toppings?”

Winslow rubs his hands together. “More, more, more.”

“Huh?”

“Make more. Those were the bomb.”

I smile. “I’ll put in a request.”

“Fuck, yeah.” He sticks out his fist. We fist-bump. “Hmm, guess what she said, yeah? No clue.” He shrugs. “That girl’s an enigma. It’s probably the reason Seven has a hard-on for her.”

I scrunch my face. “You’re so crass.”

“Hey, for some guys, it’s not just the chase. It’s the mystery behind why a girl is the way she is that we guys find hot as fuck.”

“Is that why you’re still single? You haven’t had to do the chasing, and a girl hasn’t interested you with whatever mysterious mumbo jumbo that makes her who she is?”

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