“Better be careful! There’s plenty more where that came from, DuPont!” I yell over the crowd’s cheers. “Don’t want to break your stick and prove to Delaney what a real hot head you can be.”
Tripp has no idea that I know of his past. He assumes I’m completely in the dark. I have it on good authority that he has a bit of a temper. I’m about to make him show his inability to keep his cool tonight.
The entire first half, we continue this charade of cat and mouse, and end the half with our team ahead two to one.
Coach pats me on the shoulder as we huddle on the sideline, preparing to switch goals and enter the second half.
“You trying to piss off one of their players, Davenport?” Coach Roberts asks. “Because if you are, it’s working. He’s sloppy as soon as his cleats land in front of you.”
“He’s out of shape. There’s no chance he’ll keep up with me.” I squirt water into my mouth, cooling off.
“That’s what I’m hoping for. Go out there and embarrass him. Show him you won’t be fucked with, Davenport, and get us this win.” Coach Roberts reaches his hand in the middle of the group. “On three, go Bulldogs. One. Two. Three.”
“Go Bulldogs!” the team shouts.
We disperse on the field, taking our positions. Once I’m in place, I point my stick at Tripp. He’s right over the line of scrimmage, bouncing on the balls of his feet to prepare for his move.
“See that girl up there?” I shift my head to where Delaney is sitting with Palmer and Marek. “Her lips will be happily wrapped around my dick in no time.”
The whistle blows, and I shift, spotting Tripp stuck in his position. His coach yells from the sidelines, bursting him from the restraints my words have him tangled in.
For the remainder of the game, we take turns threatening the other. It becomes a team sport, each of us talking shit to the other team. At some point, everyone is laughing, but Tripp and I have the same stone-cold, ready-for-blood look in our eyes.
By the end of the game, the score is five to two in our favor. Shaking hands is a time-honored tradition after games. Excited energy courses through me from the three goals I’ve scored tonight. The other team slaps our hands one by one without making eye contact as we adhere to the good sportsmanship ritual no one enjoys.
As the line grows shorter, Tripp grips my hand, holding me in place. “You can talk all the shit you want, but tonight, Laney will be in my bed.”
Before I can respond, he walks away, proud of himself.
What he doesn’t know is none of that matters. I’ve shared girls before. Another thing he’s unaware of is how patient I am.
I make a point to jog in front of him as I cross the field to the bleachers. Palmer comes down and hugs me, giggling as she complains about the sweat. Dixon and Marek nod their chins and congratulate me on the win.
Off to the side, Delaney tries to pretend she can’t see me. Her arms are crossed over her chest as if she’s trying to stop herself from moving, shuffling her feet to keep busy.
“What, no congratulations, Delaney?” I yell, hopping the railing when she doesn’t glance in my direction. Once I reach her, I duck, forcing her to look at me. “What, are you mad at me about something?”
“You kissed me.” Her hand touches her bottom lip. Is she imagining mine against hers? Does she feel anger and regret, or wonder?
“And that’s a problem, why?” I tip her chin up so I can see her eyes.
“Tripp.”
“I’ve never been afraid of sharing.” I grin, biting the tip of my tongue as she gawks at me. “Relax, Delaney. It’s not a big deal.”
“I’m not being passed around.”
“Well, that depends on how you look at it. You can think of it as being shuffled between us, used up for our sexual desires, or you can think of it as an opportunity.”
“An opportunity for what, huh, Breaker? Please explain how this goes in my favor.”
“Lord knows he won’t be able to sexually please you like I can, so there’s a start.” I hop up on the seat beside her, wrapping my arm around her waist to keep her from falling. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you haven’t thought about me since our last time.”
“I haven’t,” she insists. Her eyes cut away from mine, and she swallows harshly.
I run the tip of my finger over the front of her throat. Her entire body shudders when I grip the side of her head, lacing my fingers through her hair and drawing her closer to whisper in her ear. “Come on, honey. There’s no reason to lie.”
“You’re not playing fair, Breaker,” she whimpers.
“I never said I would. You don’t want fair. Fair doesn’t work for you. Like I said, you’ll figure that out, and I’m going to have so much fun showing you.” I jump down, running my hands from her waist to her hips and onto her thighs, painting a path into my memory. I catch the boys’ attention. “I’ll see you guys at the house.”
I jog straight for the locker room. A cool shower is what I need to calm my nerves after the excitement of the game and my run-ins with Delaney.
After a quick rinse, I toss my bag over my shoulder and head down the corridor, water droplets hitting my neck. My truck sits alone in the middle of the parking lot.
The adrenaline rush of our victory sends a shock of excitement through my body. I’ve never doubted our ability, but I’m man enough to admit when the competition is there. Tripp is a damn good athlete. I’m stronger.
I take the truck keys out of my bag and click
