Page 3 of Brutal Days

“And now you’re remembering that you asked me out last year.” She tsked. “You crashed and burned again.”

“That never happens. You must either swing for the other team, or you’re afraid.”

“Sorry to bruise your fragile ego.” She stuck out her lower lip in a pouty face. “Back to the article. This wasn’t your best practice. You fumbled a ball, missing a chance for a touchdown. Do you prefer the hashtag dumb jock or butterfingers?”

What the fuck is this chick’s problem?I couldn’t figure her out. “If you print something that makes me look bad, I promise you’ll regret it.”

She made a face then stepped around me and descended the bleachers before walking off the field. I followed her progress, eyes narrowed. I would find out what her issue was. It wasn’t an option. The chick intrigued me too much.

“That didn’t look like it went well,” Shane said, his helmet tucked under his arm.

Phoenix’s dangled from his fingertips as he came to stand on the other side of me. We stood watching as Skylar walked away. I fought the urge to follow, tempted by the sway of her hips.

“Who is she?” Shane asked.

“She’s nobody, and if she prints something shitty about me, I’ll make sure she pays for it too.”

CHAPTER THREE

SKYLAR

#OntheProwl

Gia was on a mission, which meant I was too. We were on the prowl to catch a guy who could hit all four of her goals. That wouldn’t be difficult with her outfit of a silky dusky-blue cami that I swore was a nightshirt from Victoria’s Secret paired with shorts so short I could see Gia’s religion when she bent down. And she wore heels. Not me. I wore my standard I-don’t-give-a-fuck outfit of ripped jeans and a flannel tied over a tight white tee.

We stood by the pool in the twins’ backyard, a White Claw in Gia’s hand and water in mine. She hadn’t been kidding about how easy it was to slip in among the crowd. And I hadn’t shared the tidbit of how I’d been invited. It was her thing, her checklist, and I only came to support her and help her get it started.

The smell of hamburgers and hot dogs wafted through the air. Music and laughter escalated in waves, but I would prefer to hear the actual waves. Gia fed off the revelry, but I wanted to escape. Time to get it over with. I scanned the crowd for possibilities.

Tim Stone stood by the coolers, and I nudged Gia. “What about Tim? He’s on the debate team and actually nice.”

“No.” She took a sip then rearranged her thick curls to fall over her shoulder.

“Jeff Anderson? He’s cute and in my journalism class.”

She rolled her eyes, refusing to comment.

Fine.“Sam Lewison. He’s popular and involved in student council.”

“Absolutely not.” She grabbed my arm and looked at me with an intensity that drove home how important her plan was to her. “I need a prom king, a guy who already has the senior class in his pocket so I can slide into girlfriend space and be adored as his queen.”

“That sounds like a nightmare.”

She huffed. “It is to you, but to me… it’s everything. I want this, Sky.”

The unfamiliar ground left me desperately wanting to go home. The press of bodies made my skin itch, and way too many jocks and cheerleaders ambled about. It wasn’t my scene, and I hated the people there. I had gone to the academy in the first place for its stellar writing program and because Gia was there.

I turned toward the gate, wondering if she would miss me if I bolted to the beach. “This is silly.” I stepped in the direction of salvation.

“Sky, come on,” Gia pleaded and latched onto my arm, holding me in place. “Please stay and help.”

Everything in me stilled. I couldn’t have moved if I’d wanted to. Tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome just walked into the party through the gate where I had been plotting my escape. Damon Savage. I had talked a big game with him earlier, but the truth was, he affected me too much. For Christ’s sake, he looked like he’d stepped out of a magazine.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Gia nodding. “Oh, yeah. That’s him.”

Sheer panic raced through my blood, and I whirled to face her. “No. You can’t be serious.”

“The name Savage is apt for those boys.” Gia licked her lips.

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