Page 67 of Play Dirty
My calves burn, the sun drilling into the back of my neck. My black jersey sticks to my skin, sweat dripping between my shoulder blades.
Still, I press forward as the Titans try to jam the midfield, but they are too slow and too fucking emotional. I beat number 8 to a loose ball and dump it wide to Wyatt, then cut across to receive the return. Quick touch, layoff, and recycle play.
That’s my rhythm. This is where I belong.
I look up again, and I see her. Shiloh, rising from her seat. Her hair is pulled into a loose ponytail through the back of the baseball cap. She’s not cheering, just watching. I nod, acknowledging her presence, so locked in the moment that I don’t notice the white jersey coming in hot.
I show off, of course, dropping my shoulder and spinning.
Too slow.
He slams into me mid-turn, knocking me off balance. My body hits the pitch with a sick thud, the wind punched from my lungs.
Then the sound of the whistle.
Costa Mar fans boo at the sound. I stay down, my palms flat against the grass, focusing on trying to expand my lungs. I try not to look at her again, because if I do, I’ll remember her mouth on mine. Her body beneath my hands. The way she cried against my skin and told me things with her tongue that she couldn’t with her words.
And I'll fucking break…
Right now I can’t do that… I need to play.
Shiloh
I look at Nico as he remains on the ground for a while before he rises to his feet. The final whistle blows, signaling the end of the game and the Sirens’ victory. The players don’t shake hands or even make their departure light. It’s a home game, so the crowd erupts in cheers and whistles.
The guys run up to each other and lift Thiago into the air. A tradition after scoring the win, but my eyes move back to Nico, who now leans into Zayden, holding the side of his ribs with a grimace on his face as he high-fives Thiago.
My phone buzzes in my hand.
Anonymous
There’s more secrets he keeps from you.
The ominous message sinks my heart and stomach into my ass. My hands tighten around it, tension rolling through my body. It’s been two days since the locker room, learning about his abuse and hiding from him and my dad. Learning that he felt the same way about me brought on a bittersweet feeling. Relief that he felt the same, and shame that we both, in a way, played June. And that’s what hurts the most.
Despite Tatiana's intel that June was cheating on Nico, I found it hard to believe. It just didn’t align with June. If only I could have kept her phone, that way I could find out who the mystery guy was. Maybe then, I could speak with him and ask him all the questions that haunt me every day. I look down at the screen. The words blend together before blurring.
So much has happened, and the semester just started… I look at the Titans as they all cross the field and head towards the exit. My eyes meet Greyson’s, Asher's best friend and the new captain. The look he gives me is enough to make my hair stand on end and a shiver crawl up my spine. His green eyes drill into me.
Whore.
Liar.
He held his accusatory gaze until he wasn't physically capable of retaining it. I didn’t like it; the feeling made me feel ill. I wrap my arms around myself, phone still in my hand, when Tati’s voice pulls me from the trance.
“Hey, I have to get something done for tomorrow's meeting.” She collects her bottle of water and umbrella before she rises to her feet.
I almost forgot. Tomorrow, we have girls' night like every Sunday back at the Delta Kappa house. A way to offer bonding and also gather information about the hunt. It’s mostly where the girls overshare about their experience, but I definitely won’t be sharing anything about Nico.
He’s mine.
No one will get to hear the delicious feeling of his touch, the way he smells like night breeze and weed. All masculine. All fucking mine.
“Okay, I’ll just hang out at the dorm. I want to try to pack up some of June’s things for her mom.”
Tati smiles, her eyes darting towards Wyatt a little too much. “Tati, is there something going on between you two?” I nudge my head towards Wyatt, realizing he’s standing by the tunnel and watching us like a hawk, before he turns on his heel and steps inside.
“We fucked.” She blurts out. “It was so good, I’m going for seconds.”
