“Okay, on my count. One… two… play.”
“You think they’ve got what it takes?” I asked my best friends, tipping the neck of my beer toward the table of younger Raiders. We’d finally called time on the drills when a storm rolled in and fat drops of rain had started to fall. In true captain spirit, Jase told everyone to head to Bell’s, adding that the drinks were on him.
“Kinnicky has the skill but I don’t know if he has the heart.” He stroked his jaw. “Mackey, though, now that kid is hungry for it.”
“He’s hungry for something all right,” Cam chuckled. “Check him out, trying his luck with Sara again.”
The regular waitress at Bell’s, Sara, was used to our banter: the cat calls and sexual innuendo. But Mackey was like a dog with a bone and no matter how many times she knocked him back, he got right back up and tried again.
“Hey, Jase, did you ever get in her panties? You can tell us.” Grady piped up, earning him a slap upside the head from Cam. “What?” he groaned. “It’s just a question.”
“I’m with Felicity now, fucker. Show some respect.”
“Jeez, it’s not like she’s here right now. I’m just shooting the shit.”
“Yeah, well don’t.” Jase grunted, leaning back in the booth.
“You’ve changed, man. And if that’s what it means to be pussy-whipped, count me out.”
“Nawww, Grady, you sound jealous,” I taunted.
“Jealous? Fuck that. The two of you are no fun now. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like Hailee and Felicity, I like them a lot; but shit, guys, there’s too much pussy in the ocean to be shacked up before we all go off to college.”
“You’ll see,” Jase said smoothly. “One day, when you’re least expecting it, some chick will come along and knock you on your ass.”
“Nah, it’s not my style. I prefer to hit it and quit it. Am I right or am I right, Bennet?”
“Yeah, is he right, Bennet?” Jason rose an amused brow.
Smug fucker.
“What’s that look for?” Grady caught on to the silent conversation happening between me and my best friend.
“Nothing. It is nothing, right, Ash?”
“Wait a minute.” Grady sat up straighter. “You hitting that sweet Latina ass?”
“Grady,” I warned, levelling him with a hard look.
“What? It’s all cool with me. She has a Rihanna look about her. You know from the Talk That Talk single cover.”
We all gawked at him and his eyes widened. “What? She’s hot and that song is dope.”
“Who are you right now?” Laughter rumbled in my chest, but it came out strangled. I didn’t like hearing Grady talk about Mya. Even if it was his attempt at a compliment.
“So are you?”
“Am I what?” I asked.
“Banging Mya.”
“Grady?”
“Yeah?” He grinned.
“Shut the fuck up.”
Before I make you.
Chapter Thirteen
Mya
“I thought you said it was going to be low key?” I yelled over the music to Shona, but she was too busy eye-fucking one of her brother’s friends to notice.
“Yo, Mya, get over here and show me how you work it.” Some guy I recognized from school crooked his finger at me, a lazy smirk plastered on his face.
“In your dreams, Diego. Don’t you know Mya is still J’s girl?”
I bristled. Shona’s head whipped round finally giving me her attention. “Oh, hell no, Kris, you did not just say what I think you said.”
“Shona,” I hissed, grabbing her hand. “Leave it, it doesn’t matter.”
“It matters,” she gave the guy some serious stink eye. He threw up his hands, mumbling an apology. “That’s right, homeboy, you’d better apologize to my girl.”
“You need me to kick his ass to the curb?” Jesse, Shona’s brother, appeared with his friend Leroy in tow.
“S’all good.” She barely looked at Jesse, giving Leroy the once over. “But you can get me and my girl a drink.”
“Shona, don’t be hitting on my friends.” He frowned, glancing at me with an expression that said ‘help a guy out’. I shrugged. We both knew there was no stopping Shona when she had her sights set on something, or someone.
“What can I get you, Mya?” Leroy asked.
“Just a soda pl—”
“She’ll have a proper drink, like me.”
“Shona, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I glanced around her house. Every inch of space was crammed with bodies and I couldn’t help but notice there wasn’t a single white person anywhere.
It wasn’t something I’d ever noticed before.
But that was before. When I’d lived for my best friend’s parties, When Fallowfield Heights still felt like home. When I didn’t feel the need to permanently watch over my shoulder for any signs of trouble.
“Hey,” Jesse’s hand landed on my shoulder, “You’re good here. Jermaine knows better than to come around causing trouble.”
“I know.” I gave him a tight smile. “I’m a’ight.”
“Good. So how is it livin’ out in the country? Shona says you’re at some fancy ass football school.”
“It isn’t exactly fancy, but they sure do love football.”
“They treating you right? Or do I gotta roll up on your new classmates and give them a little warning, Jesse Byrd style?”
Fighting a smile, I replied, “It’s mostly been okay.”
“Mostly?” His brow rose.
“I’m a four percenter.”
“Huh?” Confusion crinkled Jesse’s eyes but Leroy returned with our drinks, saving me an explanation. Taking a sip, I was relieved to find barely any trace of liquor. The last thing I needed was to end up drunk.
Just in case.
The opening beats to the latest Drake song blasted through the speakers causing Shona to shake her booty. “Dance with me.” She grabbed Leroy’s hand and all but dragged him into the middle of the room.
“Damn, she never listens.” Jesse shook his head in mild disgust.
“Has she ever?” I chuckled watching her grind up on Jesse’s friend. He’d looked bewildered at first, but it didn’t take long before his actions mirrored hers, his hands running up and down her body as they moved and popped to the sultry beat.
“She tell you about Jermaine getting kicked out of school?”
I nodded, pressing my lips together to stop myself from going there.
“He’s in deep with Diaz. Be careful, Mya.”
“I’m a big girl, Jesse.” My eyes slid to his. “I can take care of myself.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt it.” His eyes danced with amusement. “But you’re like family to me, always will be, and I’d hate to see you get hurt again.”
My breath caught in my throat. We’d never talked about what happened, but Jesse had been there when Shona found me. He’d driven us to the ER. Had almost lost it that night, wanting to go find Jermaine and beat the crap out of him for putting me in harm’s way. Between me and Shona, we’d managed to convince him not to do anything reckless. Jesse Byrd might have been six feet two of pure muscle and brawn, but he was no match for Diaz and his crew.