Page 36 of Hung Up
“What?”
Kai approaches and steps up next to Stetson. “You think you have a fat ass?”
I glance back over my shoulder to look at the back pocket of my jeans, where I had FAT embroidered. Only, it’s not what everyone thinks. I mean, obviously, there’s an easy conjecture that anyone can make from this, but it’s actually for a certain reporter I can’t seem to get off my mind.
Faith Analise Thompson.
It just so happens that she has initials I can play off as a joke.
“Fatter than yours,” I say as I turn and start to make my way out of the locker room. “Maybe that’s why I stay on longer.”
“Yeah, okay,” Kai laughs as he trails behind me. “Need I remind you who is still sittin’ in first?”
I scoff as I push the door open. “Need I remind you that I’m coming for that buckle? You may be good, Casey, but I’m better.”
“And what might that be based on, Hayes?” It’s Stetson who asks as we emerge into the hallway.
“Wisdom.”
Both guys start laughing, their boisterous volume echoing off the cement walls and drawing attention to us. Rylie and Faith are a few doors down outside the media room for the night, and my attention immediately snags on Faith’s white boots. I can’t stop the smile from growing as we approach them, knowing that she not only accepted my gift but is wearing them.
Score one for Jesse.
“Ladies,” I greet, stopping a couple feet away as Kai and Stetson flank either side. Stetson immediately flashes Rylie a wink, and she rolls her eyes, but the corner of her mouth tilts up slightly.
“Boys,” Rylie retorts as Faith snorts softly. The sound causes my eyebrows to hitch.
Stetson crosses his arms over his chest. “Excuse me. We aren’t boys.”
“Not all of you,” she responds, turning her attention to Kai. “What were y’all laughing at?”
Kai grabs my shoulder and spins me around so the girls can see the back of my jeans. I’m staring at them over my shoulder, more specifically, I’m staring at Faith, waiting for them to realize what they really stand for. Rylie bursts out laughing immediately, but Faith is quiet. Her eyes widen slightly before finding my own, so I flash her a wink, which only causes the corners of her mouth to tilt downward.
“Hey, wait a minute,” Rylie says as her laughter quiets down. She turns to Faith. “Those are?—”
Faith slaps her shoulder before she can say more and turns her attention back to me. “You seem to think awful highly of yourself, Pretty Boy.”
“Maybe I do,” I retort, turning back around to face her. “I wonder who we have to blame for that.”
Perhaps the woman who has been screaming my name every weekend and makes me feel like I’m quite literally on top of the world.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Faith says to the other three. “I have a few more questions I need to ask Jesse before his ride, so I can wrap up this article.”
Rylie glances between the two of us with furrowed brows, Kai gives me a knowing smile, and Stetson just shrugs as he throws an arm around Rylie’s shoulders and leads them away. Once they’re out of earshot, Faith whips around to face me with narrowed eyes.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I tell her, crossing my arms in front of myself. “I’m just showcasing what I was told was a good feature of mine.”
Faith mimics my stature. “Don’t try to be funny right now, Hayes. You made me a promise.”
Huh, that’s a first.
“I know I did.” I let my arms fall away and risk taking a single step closer. “I’m not breaking it.”
“Are you kidding me?” she whisper-yells, glancing around us before turning her full attention back on me. “You’ve got my fucking initials sewn into your back pocket. I thought we were keeping this a secret.”
“Sweetheart,” I mumble, resting a hand on her shoulder, trying to ignore how her body tenses under my touch. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s just a joke about my bodacious bottom. Don’t read too much into it.”
