Page 206 of Their Cruel Play
I breathe a sigh of relief as we pass by Sidney’s and Zach’s table. Sidney leans against Zach like he’s her one and only. How much of it is an act? Does she actually want him as much as she wanted Luke? Has she finally given up on Luke?
She narrows her eyes, and even though she’s still smiling there’s hate there. Yeah, she’s not over Luke. Or maybe just not over the fact I have him.
Eli pulls out the chair next to Jack for me, and we both sit down.
“How’d it go?” Luke asks Eli but looks at me.
“The usual. They’ll look into it. McGrath will probably add the pic to his spank bank.” Eli’s hand rests on my back.
I can’t help the look of disgust that crosses my face at the thought of the principal using that image to get off. Jack slides his hand over my jeans-covered thigh and squeezes.
“I can delete it from his personal computer tonight, sweetheart.” Jack’s eyes sparkle with his smile.
I kiss him. “Thank you.”
He squeezes my thigh and leaves his hand there. Caden passes me a lunch tray.
“Thank you. I’m starving.” I grin and pick up my fork.
“Tonight, you and MacKenzie will ride to the game with Coach Turner.” Jack watches me stuff a forkful of pasta into my mouth. “You’re going to be runners for the team.”
“Okay?” I’m not sure what that will entail. “What does a runner do?”
“You’ll deliver messages to the quarterback or whoever the coach needs you to deliver information to.” Jack takes a bite of his sandwich.
My gaze jerks to Luke’s and he smirks. Yeah, that could cause problems. Luke all hot and sweaty, leaning in close so I can tell him what the coach wants him to do.
I focus on my lunch. It’s the only way the guys trust I’ll get there in one piece so that’s the way it will be.
“Eli?” Penny and Natalie stand behind us a little away, wringing their hands.
He arches an eyebrow and gestures for them to come closer. For a second, it feels like the entire cafeteria holds its breath, waiting to see what’s going to happen.
Then the noise fills back in and makes it impossible to hear what the girls are saying to Eli. If they’re supposed to be turncoats, how is this helpful? Shouldn’t they have found a place in private to talk to him?
My gaze lands on Nico, who’s watching the girls with Eli before he realizes he has my attention. His face clears and he smiles. “Good?”
I force a smile and nod. I don’t know if I’m good though. All these moving pieces are kind of hard to keep juggling. They don’t trust these girls to get me to the game tonight, but they’re trusting them to get information for us.
Eli nods, and the girls move away. When Penny waves at me, I wave back with a friendly smile. I don’t know who to trust anymore. I trust Kenz, but the guys don’t.
The guys have my trust because we’re doing this thing where we trust each other. But there’s this little niggle of doubt still deep inside that was instilled from years of watching them. They prove that doubt wrong every day though.
Every night I spend in their arms. Every kiss. Every touch. Things are shifting between us, and I’m afraid this won’t be something I can walk away from unscarred.
I clear my throat and draw Eli’s attention. His eyes meet mine.
“What did the girls want?”
Eli leans in and brushes the hair away from my ear. Tingles ripple from his touch.
“Just a check in, kitten.” His lips brush my ear with every word. “They’re going to the party tonight. We need eyes and ears.”
I swallow down the blooming heat inside me. “Do you trust them?”
Because they want something. Everyone wants something.
“No, kitten.” He kisses my cheekbone beside my ear. “But I have other priorities tonight. Want to play a game later?”
