Hannah laughed. “Just wait until you fall in love, Rose. You’ll be singing a different tune.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, right. Never gonna happen. You know I have my rules.”
Now it was Hannah’s turn to roll her eyes. “If you think you can make rules around who and when you fall in love—”
“I can and I have.” My tone was pert and she laughed in response. “Besides, I have to show up tonight. I’ve got to teach Jax a lesson, remember?”
“I can’t believe you’re actually going to this thing when that guy—” River gave a growl as he smacked the steering wheel.
Hannah patted his arm, turning to tell me, “River wants to beat him up for you.”
His gaze met mine in the mirror. “Just say the word, Rose. He’s toast.”
I grinned, enjoying the mental image of a beaten and bloody Jax more than what was acceptable by society as a whole. Turned out I had a vicious streak I never even knew about.
“Thanks, but I’ve got my own punishment in mind. It involves crushing humiliation and a heavy dose of heartache.”
Hannah sighed up in the front seat. “For the record, I do not love this plan.”
She turned to face me again and her gaze was so earnest it was hard to keep a flippant smirk in place.
“Have you thought about being honest with him?” she said. “Giving him a piece of your mind?”
“No,” I said in all honesty. I hadn’t even given that a thought. “He doesn’t deserve honesty from me.”
“No,” Hannah said quietly. “I guess not.”
“Besides, I’ve already got his band lined up for the fair, and he and his buddies enlisted for a kissing booth.” I grinned even though I wasn’t really feeling it. “Who knows what more I can get out of him.”
Hannah didn’t laugh as I’d hoped. “I guess. I just…I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Me?” I scoffed. “Never.”
I saw the two of them exchange a look, but I ignored it. I needed to reserve my energy, anyway. It had been a long day already, and the thought of putting on a happy face for the party to come was making me feel weary. I pressed my fingers to my temple as if that may help the headache. “Everyone knows the best way to play a player is to beat him at his own game.”
“I just…I really don’t like this plan,” Hannah said.
“Do you have a better idea?” My voice was more peevish than intended. Ugh, it was this headache that was starting up. “Sorry,” I muttered. “But I really can’t think of another way to handle this.”
River straightened and I saw his eyes light up.
“Another way that doesn’t involve violence,” I added quickly.
His shoulders slumped in disappointment. It wasn’t like River was some macho tough guy—well, he sort of was, but he wasn’t always looking for a fight. He was just overprotective, that was all. It was sweet when he was all protective of Hannah, but he hadn’t yet gotten the memo that her best friend could take care of herself.
I’d been doing just that for as long as I could remember. The headache was starting to pound as we pulled up the long winding drive that led back into the woods.
Tim’s family’s lake house was the perfect spot for parties, and it was his claim to fame. Anyone who was anyone wanted to see and be seen at these parties.
And that’s why I was here, right?
Make an impression. Leave ’em wanting more.
Ugh, all my usual mantras made me want to curl up and nap.
I was about to open the car door when Hannah stopped me. “Just think about it, okay?”
I knew what she meant. We had friend ESP like that. She wanted me to be straightforward with Jax. She wanted me to put an end to this.
But where was the fun in that?
The pulsing music did nothing to help my headache.
Fun. That’s what I was here for.
I put my game face on, but I knew my friend well enough to know that she would probably not be having much fun tonight. “How about this?” I said as the three of us walked toward the sound of a booming bass. “I’ll think about being honest with Jax tonight if you promise to get out of here early.”
She glanced over in surprise. “But you need a ride home.”
“I’ll find a ride,” I said with a wave of my hand. “But you have a game in the morning.”
River nudged her arm on the other side. “She’s right. You do need to be on in the morning.”
Hannah pulled a face. “Okay, fine. I’ll leave early but you need to promise to call us for a ride if you can’t find a safe way home.”
I nodded. “Fair enough.”
I spotted Jax laughing it up with some of his buddies on the other side of the lawn. “There he is.” I grinned at my friends. “Wish me luck.”
I was just about to peel away from them when Hannah caught my arm and leaned in close so River wouldn’t hear. “You know the real way to play a player?”
I arched a brow as she echoed my own words. “Yeah. Beat ’em at their own game.”
She shook her head. “Don’t play along.” She bumped my hip with hers. “He can’t win if you don’t play.”
I looked up to the night sky with a groan. “I hate it when you’re all reasonable.”
She laughed. “You hate it when I’m right.”
I nodded. “And that.”
10
Jax
She was here.
My heart started thumping way too hard when I spotted her.
Of course she was here. She’d said she’d be here.
Ryan shot me a look from where he stood by the keg. His scowl spoke volumes and I was certain my smirk didn’t help his foul mood.
The fact that her eyes lit up when she spotted me?
Yeah, that didn’t make him look any happier.
“Here comes your girl,” one of Ryan’s buddies from the wrestling team said, making every guy around me laugh. Word had spread quickly amongst my friends
