Page 78 of Game On

Disbelief makes the color drain from my face, but Ryan doesn’t look like he’s joking. He’s not even being an ass like he used to be. He’s thin-lipped and staring at me with his gray eyes flecked in silver.

“When?”

“After the game. He told my mom he couldn’t believe those girls ruined the scout he got to show up for you.”

I shake my head again, but it’s not too unbelievable now. My dad’s been hating the way I’ve been treated on the court. I tell him I’m staying on the team. This is probably what he did to counteract it. I turn back toward Lake. “He didn’t get me the start.”

Lake just shrugs. “Your dad got you the scout. The scout got you the start. So, how do you figure he didn’t get you the start? Unlike you, I like to work for what I earn.”

“Fuck you. You know how hard I work. If you don’t, you’re blind or intentionally not paying attention.”

Alec moves forward. He cups my cheek. Lake just sighs, but Alec ignores him anyway. “You should probably just leave, baby.”

“No.”

“You weren’t invited,” Lake says. “Cling much?”

“I’m not leaving until I talk to your dumb ass, O’Brien. I’m not spending the rest of the basketball season like this. Championships is almost here. You’ve had your fun. You’ve gotten your bitches to tear me down. You made a crown out of my panties. Congratulations. I think everything you wanted to say has been said. You don’t like me. I don’t give a fuck.”

Lake’s face goes red. He comes toward me until I’m backed into a side table. His face is shaking. “It’s not done until they see you for the hack you are.”

“That’ll be pretty hard to do because it’ll never happen.”

Ryan pulls Lake away from me. “Come on. Stop this.”

Lake shoves him. “No. I’ve stood by. I’ve been the nice friend.”

Nice friend? Is he fucking insane?

“I’ve watched you four cream your pants over her, but I’m not standing by anymore. It’s her or me.”

All the air gets vacuumed from the room. “What?” He moves toward Lake, but Lake backs away with his hands up.

“Oh, come on,” I say to Lake. “Really? How fucking old are you? I’ve ignored you, you can fucking ignore me, too.”

He shakes his head. “You all just heard what I had to say before she came in. It’s not done. I’m serious. Don’t fucking test me. I want her gone.”

It’s so quiet in the house I can hear the hum of the refrigerator. I look to Sloan first who’s running his hands through his hair. Alec’s sat on the couch, his head in his hands. Hayes’ mask of fury hasn’t slipped since I stepped in.

“We’ve gone through this shit before, Ryan,” Lake keeps going. “No one’s worth coming between us. Or have you guys forgotten that?”

“Dude,” Sloan says, “we haven’t forgotten.”

“Yeah?” Lake asks. “I’ve had fun watching all this play out. Truly. Today was some funny shit, but I’m done with it now. I think it’s time for the Baller Skank to leave. Haven’t you guys had enough fun with her already?”

Hayes’ hands clench, and he moves forward, but Sloan pushes him back. No one else moves. No one says anything. As time goes on, I realize they’re not going to. Everyone was right. They’re not sticking up for me. I swallow the emotion clogging my throat. He’s going to fuck this up for me just like he’s fucked up everything else for me since that summer at camp. I get it now. I get he was the reason for that, too. Just like now, they’re taking his side.

I can’t let him do that without trying to stop it.

“Stop doing this,” I plead with him. The tension in the room changes. I don’t even care that it sounds like I’m begging. I am begging.

“You’re done, Dale.” He smirks. To be fair, he told me this would happen.

I turn toward Alec. “Alec…” My eyes beg him to make this stop. It’s so obvious to me what’s going on, but I can see the clear confusion in his eyes. He drops his head and looks at the floor. Hayes shifts from foot to foot, his gaze darting around the room. I move to Ryan. The only person who can put an end to this is Ryan now. They’ll listen to him. “You know how long I’ve had a crush on you. I heard what you said to me in the locker room that day. I know you don’t want this.”

Lake snickers. “Anyone else getting deja vu?”

My mind flashes to camp when Ryan broke up with me in front of everyone. It was all a big laugh. My gut twists at the similar feelings.

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