Page 111 of Unwritten Rules
Pulling a black graphic T-shirt over my head, I murmur, “Yeah? What’s that?”
“Zoe was telling her friends that she is the one who took the photo of you and Tate at the beach. She said she had a feeling you were seeing someone else, which would explain why you were blowing her off. And once she saw you on the beach… Anyway, she took the photo and sent it to Phil knowing it would end things between you both because she had heard from one of the guys on the team about hisno dating the playersrule.”
With my hoodie half pulled over my chest, my arms still as my breath hitches in my throat. Anger bubbles in my veins, seeping into my skin.
I fucking knew it.
Raya glances over her shoulder at my silence, and upon seeing me fully dressed, she spins to face me. “I have a feeling you knew she was behind the photo.”
I tug the rest of the material down and run a hand through my wet hair. “I had a feeling she did, yeah, but I had no evidence to prove it.” Exhaling a sharp breath, I gesture a hand in the space between us. “How did… how did she find us? At the beach, I mean.”
“From my understanding, she followed your car when you left the training centre.” Raya shrugs, shoulders tense. “I have no doubt she spoke to one of the guys on the team about you. And once she saw you guys, and put two and two together about the rule Phil laid down, she found herself in a perfect position to force you away from Tatum.”
“I can’t fucking believe this,” I bite out, shaking my head. “Why can’t she take the damn hint that I’m not interested?”
“Because in her deluded mind, you belong to her.” Raya states it is so plain and simple, like it’s a fact. “If she can’t have you, no one can.”
I’m already tethering on the edge of losing my shit, having steered clear from tipping over this past week by using every ounce of restraint I possess, but the bomb Raya just dropped is the last straw. Zoe is the reason why Tatum quit her job and walked away. She knew sending the photo to Phil would put an end to us, and I’m sure she did it with great pleasure and a smile on her fucking face.
If she thinks I’m going to magically fall back into her bed like nothing has happened, then she’s more deluded than I thought.
“I have to go,” I rasp out, reaching for my gym bag. I don’t bother zipping it up before slinging it over my shoulder. “Thank you for telling me about this.”
Raya’s eyes widen as she follows me out of the room, rushing to fall into step with me. My long stride makes it difficult for her to do so.
“Where are you going?” she demands breathlessly. “You better not do anything stupid, Sin.”
We step into the almost empty car park, save for a few cars belonging to the staff. My Audi clicks to life as we approach it. I don’t bother looking at Raya as I toss my bag into the back seat and reach for the driver’s door handle.
“Just something I should’ve done a long time ago.”
Raya watches helplessly as I get into my car, the engine roaring as I tear out of the parking lot. Hands tightening around the steering wheel, I lean back into the seat and exhale a sharp breath.
I hope I don’t regret what I’m about to do. But I know if I don’t do this, I’ll never forgive myself for staying silent.
The sharp rapon the door is enough to alert the whole street to my presence. Having people look out their windows at the ruckus isn’t enough to stop my insistent banging though. The muscles in my back tense as I straighten my spine, eyes locked on the polished wood.
Behind the door, hurried footsteps rush forward. Within seconds, I’m face to face with Zoe—honey eyes wide and confused. She’s in nothing but a thin white robe, leaving nothingto the imagination. But my eyes aren’t on her body, they’re locked on her face, a thunderous expression mirrored in her pupils.
“Sin,” Zoe chuckles nervously, eyes searching my face. Manicured fingers comb through the end of her shoulder-length hair while the other wraps firmly around her waist. “What are you doing here?”
“You took it a step too far.” I’m not beating around the bush or limiting my emotions to protect hers. “What you did last week…” I shove my hand through my hair, tugging at the roots. “It was beyond fucked, Zoe. You had no right to follow me and take photos without my consent. And then to go and send it to Phil knowing what would happen…”
“You left me with no choice,” she defends, voice rising an octave. “I told you that you would regret treating me the way you did, and now you’re seeing the fallout from those choices.” A smug grin slips onto her face. “I can’t believe it was the coach’s daughter you were shacking up with this whole time. I should’ve fucking known. It was so obvious with how you would look at her when you thought no one was watching. But I wasalwayswatching, Sin.”
“You’re psychotic,” I seethe.
“And you’re a fucking liar,” she spits in response.
Hands fisting at my sides, jaw ticking, I hold her gaze. “This is your final warning, Zoe. If you don’t stay the fuck away from me, I will make sure your ass is booted from the cheer squad.”
For the first time, the colour drains from her face.Checkmate.
Zoe jabs her finger into my chest, features twisting in anger as she spits, “You wouldn’t dare, Sin.”
A smirk tilts up my mouth, one that holds so much venom it could kill a grown man. “Fucking try me. If you so much as lookin my direction or speak my name, I will do what I can to get you off the team. It’s not a threat, Zoe, it’s a promise.”
Her lips form an O as her finger falls away from my chest. She swallows hard, contemplating her next move. Threatening to have her kicked from the team wasn’t something I had considered before the drive over here. But I needed something significant—something that holds a lot of meaning to her—to hold over her head. Cheerleading is all she ever talks about, next to fame and money. So what better way to get off her back than threaten to take away the one thing that brings her the most joy?
