Page 70 of Hate Game

Ilook in through the glass of the gym door. The kids were placed into two groups, and they were scrimmaging in a game of basketball.

Someone must have fouled Rue. She’s at the free-throw line. The first shot bounces off the rim. She tries again. Her next shot makes it in. D-bag with the broken nose rushes over, and with his meaty palms on her waist, he lifts her in the air with a wide grin on his face.

What the fuck? Did I walk through a time warp? What metaverse am I in that Rue and D-bag are friends? Rue must have felt me staring at her. With her hands on D-bag’s shoulders, she looks my way. She says something to D-bag. He sets her on her feet. Rue holds her palm to her ear and then glances at her palm.

I check for a message from her.

Rue: Sorry I missed your text earlier. No lunch. No work romance either

Rue: I work for your parents. We keep things professional

It wasn’t the message I expected after our talk in my GT-R about being one another’s first in every lifetime, but I can go along with her.

Me: Sure thing

We’ll be professional, but it won’t stop me from playing our hate game. I’ll play our game until Rue caves and admits how much she has hated me and will continue to hate me even when we go our separate ways at the end of the school year.

Rue: No need to pick me up

Me: I go where you go

Rue: Josh is dropping me off

Me: Josh?

Rue: You broke his nose. Gotta go. TTYL

What the hell is going on? What am I missing? Am I having a bad nightmare? Fuck’s sake, none of this makes sense. I stomp to my ride. Is this a message from above that I should stop overthinking and live in the moment?

Should I accept everything as is? No, I can’t do that. Trace says I’m overprotective to a T and that I should protect my girl. I can do that. But to do so, I go with my gut feeling to find out further:

What about Rue’s old living situation was unsafe? Did she live with Isaac after her uncle abandoned her? What made living with him unsafe, other than it’s a shady part of town? Did one of hisguyshurt Rue? If so, I’ll hunt the mother-effer down and pummel him until he’s a bloody mess beneath my shoes.

What kind of hold does Isaac have over my girl that he can “in a group message” demand she not step foot on his side of town?

Why is she chummy with the D-bag? Did Isaac have something to do with their newfound friendship?

Fuck, everything points to Isaac. That jerk owes me answers.

And Mason too.

Not to mention Shay and Winslow.

Yep, all the guys in Rue’s life owe me answers.

She is mine to protect.

Not Isaac’s.

Not Mason’s.

Not Shay’s or Winslow’s.

And most of all, she is not Red’s girl.

Not if I have a say in how Rue’s life goes down.

28

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