Page 51 of Stealing for Keeps
Well, mostly fun. Neither Vaughn nor I can resist a challenge. It’s me and him, back and forth. I’ve learned his game. I’m ready for him to push his forearm against my chest and extend his body away from me. I’ve gotten quicker, and I love seeing the lines of frustration on his face.
When I glance over at the sideline, Claire has joined the crowd. She and Lacey stand off to the side. I’m not the only one who’s seen her. Vaughn stands taller and peels off his undershirt. I thought the guy was unflappable, but it’s clear he has at least one weakness: Claire.
Smiling to myself, I take off my shirt as well. We toss them to the sidelines.
“You want me to stop taking it easy on you now?” I ask.
“Bring it on.”
“I don’t want to embarrass you.”
“You fucking wish, Keller.”
The fire that is lit under him from my words and Claire’s presence is almost enough to make me wish I’d kept my mouth shut. But it’s so damn fun to go up against him like this. Scrapping and pushing and cheap shots. No holding back.
He tackles me off a pass, and our feet get tangled up, both of us going down. I elbow him, and he makes sure he pads his fall with my body. I glance over at Claire. Her gaze goes from me to Vaughn, which is how I realize he’s also staring at her.
“Do you need some water?” Sophie appears at my side as I stand.
I take the cup from her, drink half of it, and toss the rest over my head. Claire and I lock eyes again. Her gaze lowers like she’s tracking the drops from my face to my stomach. Her eyes on me feel like being struck by a lightning bolt.I toss her a wink when she finally lifts her gaze, but not before I notice the blush creeping into her face.
Her response is to turn and leave. The disappointment I feel is swift. I like it when she watches me. I like it when she’s around, period. Maybe I shouldn’t flirt with her, but I just can’t help it. I want her. There, I’ve admitted it. Now what the fuck do I do about it, knowing Vaughn will have the team turned against me in a flash if he finds out?
The game continues. People slowly lose interest, and eventually, the noise from the party starts to die down.
“Shit. It’s almost one. I gotta get home.” Hunter grabs his abandoned shirt and then walks over to me and outstretches a hand. “Nice game.”
“You too.” We slap hands.
“I should go too,” Vaughn says. He leans over to get his T-shirt, then wipes his forehead with it. He puts his nicer shirt on, leaving it open and his bare chest and stomach visible. Some of the girls who are still sitting around and watching giggle and ogle him, but he’s oblivious again now that Claire is gone. “Are you free tomorrow after practice?” he asks. “I thought we could work on some speed drills. If you still want.”
Even though things have been cool between us since the truce, he hasn’t offered to help me again. The pranks have stopped, and the guys don’t seem to have it out for me anymore, but I’m well aware that one nod from Vaughn, and I might be right back to looking over my shoulder.
“Yeah. That’d be cool.”
“I’ll text you.” He scans the side yard, giving the girls no more than a second of his attention before heading out the gate to the front.
I head back to the main yard. The party stragglers aregathered around the firepit, and a few couples are in the hot tub, but they’re making out, and people seem to be giving them a wide berth. I don’t blame them there.
I spot Rowan in a chair in front of the fire, so I start toward him. He has a familiar blond sitting next to him. Claire.
They’re sharing a chair. She’s perched on the very end, a cup of something that I’m guessing isn’t water in one hand. Her smile is wide, and her body language is loose. When they all start laughing, I can pick hers out even though she’s not the loudest.
She must feel my eyes on her, because she turns, and we stare at each other from across the yard. Her lips curve higher, and she has this sort of sassy, flirty shift in her that lets me know instantly that she’s not sober.
My thoughts are confirmed when I get closer, and she stands and stumbles toward me.
“Did you win?”
“Should have stuck around to find out,” I say.
She rolls her eyes. “Please. You have a big enough fan club without me.”
“Is that right?” I enjoy her fiery attitude more than I should.
“Yep. I just have to keep an ear to the ground at all times to know your location, outfit, and actions. The girls in this school are obsessed with you.”
“Not all of them,” I point out. Not the one I want to be, even though I know it wouldn’t matter.
