Page 35 of Go Deep (A Bad Boy Sports Romance)
“I know what you’re doing, Cassidy.”
“What?”
“You’re sending a message to those chicks.”
“What? No I’m not.”
“Like hell you aren’t. I think you’re showing these bitches that you’re together, or something close to that.”
“God, not you too.”
“You want them to know you’re a part of his life and not just a one-night-stand waiting to happen. Admit it.”
“Christ, Miranda. You’re blowing this out of proportion.”
“Sure. But I’ve seen that look before. Not on you, but I’ve seen it. That’s the look that’s meant to tell people to keep their hands off your man, that you may be a cheerleader but you’ve got fight in you… that all these chicks want is a piece of meat and the bragging rights that comes along with it.”
“With what?”
“You know? So they can sit around one day holding it over their average husbands’ heads that they’d once slept with the star quarterback, and if they had just tried to make more of it than just a one-time thing, they would have been happily married with a beautiful family. These girls are the type who’ll spend the rest of their lives wishing they’d done it differently.”
“How… how did you getall thatfrom the way I looked on the football field?”
“Easy. I’m psychic…and by the way, it all makes sense now. Before all this, you were trying tonotdate him, probably because you knew how good you’d be together.”
“That’s just ludicrous,” I protested, although it was probably true.
“I know you too well, Cass.”
“Stop talking, Miranda.”
We watched as practice ended, and Miranda excused herself to go to some event or another. The groupies cheered as Slade walked over. I saw the shock that registered when he got closer. He hadn’t come over here for me, apparently.
“Hey, Cassidy,” he said flatly. “Did the squad practice outside or something?”
“No, I wanted to talk to you.”
“That’s nice. Well there. We just did. Thanks for that.”
Ouch. That kinda hurt. I guess I deserved that cold shoulder.
“Got a second?” I started, not wanting to say too much around the other girls.
He held out an arm, and two of the girls moved to him, one on each side. They were like little sex slaves who’d been perfectly trained to come when summoned by their master. It was unreal how willing they were, but it helped me to understand why Slade was the way he was. He was used to these girls being there and throwing themselves at him to be used and discarded. They didn’t care to keep him around anymore than he cared to keep them around. They just wanted to say they fucked Slade Clark. Well, I had fucked Slade Clark as well. I grew up with his cocky ass, and I was best friends with his brother. Or, I had been.
“What’s there to talk about?” Slade asked. “Everything’s fine with the project, right?”
“It is.” That wasn’t what I wanted to talk about, dammit, and he knew it.
“Good. Look, I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve got plans tonight.” He let the girls start dragging him off. “I’ll text you when I can meet with you again about the project,” he called back over his shoulder.
I stood and watched as he wandered away with the two girls on his arm. I wondered if he’d try to sleep with both of them at the same time. It was every boy’s dream. Hell, I even wondered what it would be like to share someone with another woman. I just never went through with trying it out, and probably never would.
I felt the eyes of the few remaining girls on me. They knew what had just happened. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that Slade had just blown me off after I’d been waiting to have the chance to talk to him.
Now I was seething. I narrowed my eyes at them and turned to leave.
