I stuff the hoodie over my head and slip his shades on, so I can comfortably enjoy Maddoc commanding the show.

Basketball is like a fast pace dance, one that Maddoc has perfected.

With each swift move of his feet, no matter if he cuts left or right or simply drops back, he makes every basket effortlessly – not a single brick shot. But he’s not trying to eat up all the playtime. He works as a captain should, makes sure the ball is sent where it needs to go, but like a magnet seeks its metal home, the ball finds its way back to the big man’s hands.

He runs down the court, and one of the guys comes up to block, so he spins and tosses the ball backward over his head. Captain runs out of nowhere to catch it and dunks the ball before anyone can even attempt to stop him.

“Ooh, dropping dimes, boy!” Royce laughs and the rest of the team shout out their excitement.

I don’t miss the way Maddoc slyly cuts his eyes to me as he looks down to wipe his hands on his shirt.

I laugh to myself.

I saw, big man.

They high five then continue. After a few minutes, they break up into smaller groups and start working position-based drills, so I close my eyes and pretend this is my life.

“Hey.”

Fuck.

I pull myself into a sitting position. “Hey.”

“So ... you’re still here.” Vienna eyes me.

I push the glasses on top of my head. “Still here.”

“You really staying with the guys?”

I ignore her question and she nods.

We sit and watch the guys together, turning to each other with grins when a few shirts come off.

“Hot damn. And I thought football made you ripped.”

“Right?” I look around, counting abs and comparing builds.

“Madman, let’s go!” Royce shouts and I pull my eyes from a fine specimen to look over. When I do, my stare meets a deep glare.

“Oh, girl...” Vienna teases through closed lips. “Somebody doesn’t like your eyes roaming.”

“Maybe if he took his off, they wouldn’t.” I pop a brow at Maddoc, even though he can’t hear me.

Vienna laughs at my side.

And then he does. His hands find the hem at the back of his neck and he pulls, and fuck me if that slight bend doesn’t set him up real fucking nice.

Sweat shines against his tanned skin, rolling over every curve of packed muscle. I have the sudden need to know how his body feels when covered in hard work like it is.

“Damn,” Vienna breathes in awe and I nod along, my eyes locked on his small dark patch at the edge of his shorts.

“Think he’d hook up with me?” she whispers, and I frown.

“I don’t know. Maybe.” It’s the truth. I turn to her. “Think I could kick your ass?”

“I don’t know.” She finally looks to me with a grin. “Maybe,” she mocks.

It’s a lie. We both know I could, which is why when she starts laughing, I do too. But when I turn back to gawk at big man some more and find him staring, yet again, I realize what just happened.

He knew Vienna would say something and I’d react.

He baited me, the conceited shithead, and it worked like a damn charm.

“So he’s off the books ... but what about the other two?”

I look to Royce, then Captain. With a sigh, I turn back to her. “Yeah,” I sigh, “They’re mine too. You want one? Earn him.”

She starts laughing good-heartedly, and I grin, leaning back on my elbows.

“All right, fellas,” the coach calls out. “Twenty suicides then you’re good to go. Tonight’s assignment: one hour of game film. As always, wear your jerseys to class tomorrow with pride.”

All the players call out “yes coach” then do as they’re told.

“I should go.” Vienna hitches her backpack over her shoulder. “It’s cool you’re still here. Wish I could knock the shit out of Victoria and stay.” She grins.

“Trust me,” I laugh. “It was the last thing I expected.”

“Look, if you find yourself between a rock and a hard place, needing to throw blows or something, find me. Don’t ruin what might be a good thing.”

“What makes you think I would?”

“That punch had nothing to do with Victoria. You self-sabotaged.” Her eyes bounce between mine before shifting the three heads our way. She looks back to me. “I do it too. It’s natural for girls like us.”

Girls like us.

Royce throws himself beside me and looks between me and Vienna.

Captain glances my way but drops his frown to his gym bag when he sees me looking and Maddoc glares over his water bottle.

“See you later, Rae.”

She turns and walks off but I call out, “Wait!”

Maddoc’s eyes flick between mine.

“We’ll take you home.”

The corner of his eyes tighten, but before he looks away, I spot the slight grin he tries to hide.

I step in front of him, slipping my hand in his gym pocket as he looks down his nose at me. I slowly pull out the keys he just stuffed inside.

“We’ll be in the car.”

I catch up to Vienna, ignoring the laughter behind me.

A few minutes of us bullshitting in the back seat pass before the three slide in, Royce, of course in the back with us.

“I think I should sit in the middle.”

“Stay where you’re at.” Maddoc glares in his mirror at his brother, who sits beside Vienna.

Vienna, who says not a word the entire drive – not even sure she breathes – and only waves when she gets out at the house.

Maddoc continues down the dirt road, parking right in front of the porch as we pull up.

Together, the four of us head inside.

“One of you mind doing dinner tonight?” Captain asks, already headed for the stairs.

“I got it.” Maddoc nods, then looks to us. “Lemme shower then I’ll start.”

Royce and I shrug, and I follow him into the kitchen, watching him wash his hands and start pulling out shit for Maddoc to cook with.

“What’s up with Captain?”

“What makes you think anything is?”

“He seems off.”

Royce turns to me with a scowl that quickly grows into a grin. “You’re starting to see through our masks, RaeRae. Careful, you might actually be forced to admit you like it.”

“Whatever.” I push off the counter and start walking away.

“Raven.”

I look back to Royce.

“Go ask him.” It’s almost a plea, like he knows what it is and thinks I can fix it.

Unsure why, I head upstairs and knock on Captain’s door.

He doesn’t say anything, so I walk inside anyway finding him sitting at the edge of his bed, looking out the window.

“What’s up, Raven?”

“How’d you know it was me?”

“You’re the only one who’d knock in this house.”

We both laugh lightly, but my chest feels tight at how hollow his is.

I move around the room and climb on to the bed, sitting against the headboard. “What’s wrong?”

He hesitates a minute before speaking. “If I ask you something, will you tell me the truth without needing to know why I need to know?”