Page 45 of The Game We Played

I want to show her I can be gentle. Although, I’m not entirely sure it’s possible when it comes to her. We touch and passion explodes. Gentle is the last thing on my mind. My cock perks up. It wants to be invited to this party.

“Come on.” I grasp her hand. “I want you to meet my friends.”

“Your friends I’ve met atBootleggernumerous times?”

My friends have followed me to the bar more than once. They claim they’re making certain Alaia doesn’t take advantage of the situation. They’re a bunch of snoopy liars.

“We’ll refer to this as the official meeting.”

She tugs on my hand. “We don’t have to do this. Your friends know this isn’t real.”

My jaw clenches at the reminder of how our relationship is fake. It’s a good thing I have an excuse. “My PR team is here today. We’re putting on a show.”

I guide her across the field to the benches where my friends are loitering around.

I point to the running back. “This is Gage.”

“The man obsessed with my friend, Addy.”

He smiles. “Guilty.”

“Nolan is our quarterback.”

“I’ve heard you’re good at touchdowns.” She winks at him.

“And this is Brock. He’s a fullback.”

“I’ve met your son, Jace. He’s a great kid.”

Brock grunts in response.

“Brock’s other name is Mr. Grumpy.” He glares at me but I motion to Corbin. “And, finally, Corbin. You might remember him from the crab day.”

“Crab day?” Nolan asks. “What the hell is crab day? And why wasn’t I invited?”

Alaia groans. “It’s the day Floyd jumped out of his truck to check the tailgate was closed but forgot the truck was in gear. Causing the truck to roll forward, hit a telephone pole, and spill live crabs all over the boardwalk.”

Nolan blinks at her. “There were live crabs all over the boardwalk?”

She licks her lips. “And they were delicious.”

“Bloodthirsty.” Brock nods. “I approve.”

Alaia snorts. “You approve because I serve you beer when you’re supposed to be dieting.”

I laugh. “She got you.”

“Tanner Long,” Belinda shouts and I groan.

“What’s wrong?” Alaia asks.

“Belinda wants me to be mic’d up during today’s practice.”

“And why is this a problem?”

“Because practice is serious business. She’s turning my work into a publicity stunt.”

Alaia squeezes my hand. “I’m not an expert, but isn’t it normal to get mic’d up sometimes to create content for the social media team?”