Page 48 of Foul Line

“Oh, we do,” Sloan says. “This isn’t for anyone but us, but you’re allowed to ask us questions, too.”

“So, you guys are going to be asking me all the questions, and I’ll only be able to ask you guys after. So, I have to answer every question while you guys only get every third. This is unfair.”

Sloan shrugs. “I guess we don’t have to play. But, it’s probably the only way you’re ever going to get information out of us.”

It’s tempting…

“I’ll start,” Sloan announces. He sits up on his bed, his hands clasped in front of him. His rain-soaked brown hair looks even darker as he looks slyly over at me. “Who did you miss the most when we weren’t talking?”

I shake my head. “You’re such a jerk. I’m not answering that.”

“Well, we know it wasn’t Lake,” Alec says.

I glance up at him, my brow furrowing. He laughs and then pulls my feet over his lap, his fingers passing up and down my lower legs.

“Ryan,” Hayes guesses.

I cock my head toward him. His lips are thin, and he’s said it with such finality that I know he thinks he’s right. Hell, he might even be right. The problem is, I haven’t even thought about it. When I tell them as much, Sloan says, “Well, you’ve thought about it now. Who is it?”

I press my lips closed. “Can’t we just watch the storm outside? That sounds like a better idea.”

“Why don’t we just not ask any questions where she has to pick,” Alec says. His fingertips lightly glide over my knee, sending a tingle up my spine.

“That actually sounds like a plan,” I tell them.

Sloan grabs a package of cookies out from underneath his bed. “Fine,” he grumbles. He takes a few for himself, then passes them to Hayes. All Hayes has to do is reach over from his bed. His impressive wingspan comes in handy then. He doesn’t even have to move to take a few out of the package. Sloan then offers them to us. I move to the other side of the room, but before I can pick from the package, Sloan’s hand shoots out and pulls me to him. I fall on the bed in a heap, practically face down in his chest. I push up and glare at him. His lips pull apart. “I know. You’re going to say something about how much of an asshole I am.” He leans up and whispers in my ear. “Just tell these guys you missed me the most, and I’ll give you another surprise tonight.”

My whole body heats, a need spiraling out from my core in delicious waves. I stagger back from him and back onto Alec’s bed without any cookies. Alec has to get up and grab some for us while Sloan just lays there with his hands behind his head like he just won the entire game and we haven’t even started playing for real yet.

After that though, the idea of the game just kind of fades. I breathe in a sigh of relief. I feel like they’re keeping too much from me right now, and as for me? I should be keeping things from them. I don’t want to break up their relationship with Lake, but at the same time, I need to look out for myself. I wonder if Jacquin actually has an idea that will work.

Soon, I can hear Sloan’s soft snores. I’m not surprised. We were up kind of late last night. After that, Alec pulls his legs out from underneath me and lays down next to me. He stays semi-upright with his hand cupping his head. “You can sleep if you want to,” he says.

Staring at Alec takes my breath away. His emerald eyes are just stunning, and there’s this fierce look in them right now that reminds me of the time outside the locker room. Alec was the first to give in to his feelings for me, and he took me right with him. “I’m okay,” I tell him.

We stare out the still open door as the storm rages on. The time for lunch comes and goes, and I don’t see anyone leaving their cabin. Maybe everyone is taking a much needed break. Tomorrow’s Saturday, but eventually, the intense workout sessions will catch up to everyone. It just so happens we had a break a day earlier than expected.

Alec looks toward Hayes’s bed. I follow his gaze. He whispers, “I think he’s out, too.”

“What was wrong with him yesterday?” I ask. I don’t need a game to figure things out. I want them to want to tell me things, not because a game is forcing them to.

“I think he scared himself with how mad he got.” Alec’s eyes cloud over. He also told us that right before the guy accidentally hit him, that he said something to Hayes about you having a nice rack.

“Oh.”

Alec finally looks down at me. “Hayes is one of those guys you really want on your side. And once he’s on your side, he’ll never leave it.”

“What about Lake then?”

Alec shifts uncomfortably. “I think he and Lake have come to a sort of conclusion about you.” He brings his hand up and cups my cheek. “I know you think it’s easy enough to just say that you and Lake can ignore one another, that we can hang out with you and him, and just have everything be the same.”

I wait for him to go on because, yeah, I really do think that.

His thumb traces my bottom lip. “The thing is, Hayes, Sloan, Ryan, and I want you to be an integral part of our lives. Not just one of those girls we passed around.”

He gives me an apologetic smile when my eyes narrow at him.

“Lake thinks you’ll ruin everything.”

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