Love Game Ch. 01

Hello My Lovely Reader,

Please enjoy the first chapter of this story!

XOXO SkylerLuv

******

This is going to get dirty.

I spit on the muddy grass and see blood splat all over it.

Great.

"Watch your fucking back, number eight!" Trinity yells across the field and comes to my side.

"Fucking hell." I spit again and check for all my teeth.

Even though it's nighttime and the field lights aren't the best, I can see my blood painting each blade of grass with crimson.

"I forgot to warn you about her." She looks down the field, glaring at the girl from the opposing team.

While Trinity and I are close in height, just under six feet, number eight is a small thing. She has been dribbling circles around our defense as if it is all a game to her. Which, technically, is just a game. A soccer or fútbol game, to be specific, but she seems to be having fun just showing off. We play an adult league and even though most of us just do it for fun, some of us do like the competitive aspect. There are a few here and there who take it more seriously than others. And then there are those who know they're good and want to rub it in everyone's face.

I use the underside of my sweaty shirt to clean my mouth.

"I'm good." I keep my eyes open for the same girl in case she wants to jam her head against my face again.

Trinity nods and goes back out to her space.

She plays midfield. Unlike myself, she likes running around and trying to assist all positions at once. I play defense, which means I stay in my area and turn into a wall when the opposing team tries to sneak by to score a goal. We met in high school when I used to play left wing. That position has players that play on the edge of the field running up and down waiting for their moment to assist. She has only ever played midfield and will continue to do so until she decides to hang up her jersey. We played together during high school, varsity, for all four years. And because we loved the sport so much, we also played on opposing travel teams outside of school but remained friends all throughout the four years. It was during college that we got to play for the same team again and solidified the positions we play now.

Trinity loves running, I love defending.

We also love and respect each other as much as we do the game.

Going pro was a possibility for us once upon a time. I know Trinity's parents hoped she would take that passion for the sport and start making some actual money out of it. All that they invested throughout the years was expected to return a profit at some point. But then after we graduated, she met her wife, who is a doctor. Years later they have a six and a two-year-old. I personally never imagined her as a housewife. She is a mean machine on the field but when it comes to her babies, she is as cuddly as a teddy bear. Or a real bear if anyone ever messes with them and the claws need to come out.

Trinity is all fit, dark skin, long box braids. Her wife is light skinned with gorgeous curly hair but barely reaches Trinity's chest. They looked like best friends the first time I was introduced to her, Brandy. And they were friends for a while, until Trinity just had to go and fall and love. They're still each other's best friends, which I don't mind since they absolutely deserve each other.

That just leaves me on the sidelines.

Tall, tan, short brown hair.

I have always looked like a soccer player and nothing has changed much after graduating. The biggest change being that I only play on the weekends now. I give private lessons to snooty high school kids who aren't naturally gifted but since their parents are loaded with money, they can afford to learn the skills they weren't born with. If I was asked what my life would be like after college, I wouldn't have predicted this.

Yet, life has an interesting way of fucking up any plans one might have.

Just like number eight fucking up my game plan right now.

Rocky, or Roxanne, goes in to stop the evil gremlin when she decides to come back to our side of the field. She's a cocky little forward, aka person who scores, but there is also a nasty grin when she approaches a player. There is definitely a chip on her shoulder and she is out for blood in the game. I don't think I've ever played against her.

She pretends to think about her next move and waits until Rocky is close enough to yank on her copper red hair.

"That's bullshit!" I yell at the referee who missed the dirty play.

One of the other girls from the opposing team is distracting him with some sob story about her cleats falling apart. The ref looks my way and then back at number eight who shoots and scores. Rocky is on the floor, holding her scalp, tears coming out of her eyes.

"She just yanked on her hair!" I get close to him and point at the culprit.

She flips her blonde hair as she runs by with a smirk on her lips.

"Are you alright?" The ref goes down to check on Rocky.

"If you were doing your fucking job, you would have seen that she was assaulted by the same girl who has been throwing elbows and playing foul all game!" I help Rocky up and then glare at him. "She needs to be kicked out."

He puts both hands up and I see annoyance creep into his eyes. "I haven't seen any fouls-"

"Because you haven't been paying attention like a fucking idiot!" My anger has caught up to me and I see Trinity coming from the corner of my eye.

Same song, same dance. I lose my lid after trying to keep my cool and she comes in trying to smooth things out. Except this time, it's a little too late.

He blows his whistle and pulls out a red card. "You're not going to curse on my field."

"Now you want to kick someone out?" I shout over the girls from my team coming to my defense. "Where the fuck was that red flag three seconds ago?"

He's flooded with a sea of purple jerseys, some trying to reason with him and others trying to drag me off. I hear our coach yell my name from downfield and that stops some of my yelling. I should have slapped that little bitch when I had the chance. I look over and see her laughing behind her hand with her teammates.

Trinity takes my arm, knowing what I intend to do, redirecting me toward our bench.

Coach shakes his head when we finally reach him and presses a water bottle against my stomach. "We had this." He's seething but he's trying to keep it together.

He's a fit, older, bald guy that loves the sport as much as we do. He was close to making it as a pro himself and then had a debilitating injury that killed his dreams of ever playing for another team again. Isn't that how all the tragic stories surrounding coaches go? Unlike most other has-beens though, he is a man of means. A trust fund kid, now an adult, who can afford to coach a women's soccer team for the hell of it and make a little money when we actually do win. Not that he needs it. Any money made here is a drop in an Olympic-sized pool to him.

I see the passion in his eyes when we train twice a week and then play on the weekend. He is meticulous with his coaching style and treats us as if we were a professional team. I've often wondered why he wouldn't invest in an actual good team or interview to coach a pro team and then I remember his personality. He doesn't really like people. He tolerates us, when we do good at least, and then turns into a hot head when shit hits the fan.

A typical futbol aficionado.

It wouldn't do to have both of us kicked out of the field if he loses his temper right now.

"You saw what she did." I use the water to clean my mouth out.

More blood.

Awesome.

"Doesn't matter. She did what she wanted and as a bonus got you kicked out." He kicks the grass and then throws his thumb over his shoulder. "Get your shit and leave before it gets worse."

I follow his line of sight and look back on the field. Another red card goes up but I leave before I know who it is intended for.

******

The training gig was supposed to be temporary.

I was supposed to rack up some money to pay for student loans, find a lower-level team to play for, and work my way up. I was talented. Some big teams were interested but I sabotaged my opportunities much faster than it took me to build up my reputation as a good player. I think in the end, it came down to realizing that I wasn't the best, that someone else would always be better, and that my commitment to it was just not enough. Not like other girls in my school who took it very seriously and worked their whole lives to that point.

Those girls who stayed way later after practice and were the first ones in the gym in the morning. The ones who followed every piece of news related to the world of fútbol and how they would one day be in it. I love the sport. I enjoy it. Just not enough to make it my whole life. I prefer it at this level, where I just give the bare minimum. I also have no other choice when I'm already past my prime.

Some would say I could have paid off all my student loans if I had just joined a professional team after college but they say that based on the little information they have access to. As the years have passed and I've gained more and more high school athletes to train, I've been able to pay off my loans and make a decent life for myself. I also don't have the hassle of living my life under a limelight while trying to be normal. All in all, I'm comfortable where I'm at.

My mom's face flashes on the screen that was guiding me to my next destination. I press the green button to answer.

"Hi, mom!" I try not to let her hear anything different in my tone. My bottom lip is swollen and if she finds out, she'll worry.

Safe to say my mother wishes I chose to do something less aggressive over the weekend. Soccer isn't supposed to be a contact sport, not really. Not if you're actually good. But she doesn't get it. Or maybe I'm the one who doesn't get it since she was always the one who rushed me to the hospital when I got a concussion or broke a bone in my body.

"Mia, hello sweetheart!" Her cheery voice fills the car. "How are you doing this morning?"

It is absolutely normal for her to call me a few times a week, now that she's retired. Dad is a bit better about giving my phone line a break but I'm sure that's only because she updates him with every little bit of information she can get out of me.

"Good." I make a turn hoping that it's the right one. "Just heading to my next appointment for the day."

"Lovely," she whispers something over the phone then gets back to me. "Your father sends his love."

"Love you both!" I hope that is enough to end the call but then she continues talking.

She gives me an update on her garden, about how she is creating a book club, how dad is driving her a little insane even though he retired before she did so I'm sure it's the other way around but I don't mention that. They love each other deeply and no matter how much or how little they bicker, they can't live without the other.

"Mom, I gotta go." I say when she gives herself a moment to breathe. "I'll try and see you both for breakfast soon, okay?"

"Wonderful!" I imagine her bright smile and the wheels turning, trying to figure out what she'll cook up. "I can't wait, sweetheart!"

"Send my love to dad!"

I hang up and pull into another cookie cutter mansion that pretends to be different than the other ones nearby but they all look the same.

Cold and lifeless.

It isn't fair to judge all of the parents I work for. Some are actually present in their children's lives and they love to receive updates on their progress. Others like to pawn them off on me for an hour or two while they slave away on their phone or behind a computer. They don't realize that their kids won't remember how much money was thrown at them during this time in their lives if they're not there to watch them play at the end of the day.

I remember my own parents at my soccer games. I sadly smile as I gather my things. They made do with what we had and have made me feel supported every step of the way. I wish it could be that way for some of the kids I train.

Unfortunately, I don't get paid for wishful thinking.

******

My lungs are burning.

Fuck do they burn.

I look down to make sure my practice jersey isn't going up in flames. It's hot as balls this afternoon and Coach isn't taking it easy on us. We lost our game over the weekend. Big fucking whoop. But he's pissed off because we should have won had two of us not been kicked out in the beginning of the second half. I'm given extra laps to run around the field with Yas since she started bad mouthing the ref too and got kicked out shortly after I did.

Red card mystery solved.

"If you girls think I want to coach a group of mediocre soccer players, you are fucking mistaken!" He's chewing his gum hard, spit dripping from his bottom lip, his face is red. "I don't do this for the money. Hell, I don't even do this for the wins."

Trinity and I look at each other and pass a knowing look between us.

"I do this because I believe that each of you has something to offer and can be great if you just got out of your own goddamn way!" He throws his clipboard on the ground.

Gunner, his assistant coach, leans down to pick it up. He's a younger guy, who probably gets paid good money to assist. I know he had a successful college career in the west coast and then moved here because his wife got a promotion. Like Coach, he has a love for the game and has somehow managed to work with Coach's temperament enough to renew his contract for the past three years. He is also really liked by all of us. A much more reasonable and calmer alternative to the tyrant he stands behind.

"Do you want me to treat you the way other teams get treated?" Coach blows his whistle and we all get back down on the floor to do another set of pushups. "Only meet up on game day and say fuck practice?"

No, that would be terrible.

He may be a hard ass but he knows what he's doing. He does treat us differently. Other teams do practice throughout the week but a lot of them don't. They just hope their players workout in their own time and then meet up for the weekend ready to play. Some teams are made up of stragglers. Random girls who pick up a game or two when they need extra cash. They barely know how the team plays but they get paid to be a body when a team doesn't have enough players.

We don't get paid to practice. We only get paid a little bit to play games and then whatever we win. If we even win. All of us come to practice because we like what we do. We like our team and we love having an hour, sometimes two of practice where we don't have to worry about the real world out there. For a short time in our afternoons, we come together as a team and work to make something great. The dedication to show up should reflect that we want to be better but Coach is past seeing reason right now.

"Two of you can't even play for the next two games because of those damn red cards. Maybe I should clear out the whole roster and start all over again!"

This time Trinity and I avoid looking at each other. I don't know if we would either laugh or start freaking out about finding another team that will take us both. We have a good reputation but I've heard the girls on other teams sometimes don't even get paid and they're okay with that. I like the extra income on the weekends and don't want to risk losing it. While Trinity may not need the money, she sure as hell loves the break she gets from being a mom.

"Practice is over, go home and go back to your bland lives. Maybe then you'll realize it is worth giving a fuck when you're here. When you're somewhere that you have control of your actions and the outcomes." He motions for Gunner to follow him.

We sit around in silence and wait until he's speeding off in his car before blowing out a breath.

"I've never seen him so angry." Someone in the back whispers.

"He's overreacting." Someone else grumbles.

"He sounded disappointed." Rocky wipes her forehead. "It was supposed to be an easy game." She shoots me a fleeting look.

I roll my eyes. "I'm sorry I cost us the game." I'm not afraid to take responsibility for the shit that I ruin. "I'll try to control my anger better next time."

"It wasn't her fault." Trinity comes to my defense. "She was sticking up for you, Rocky."

"I know!" She puts her hands up. "I was just saying that Coach is probably disappointed that we didn't win."

"Whatever!" Cynthia, our captain stands. "Last game was a shitshow but it's done. What we need to do now is learn from those mistakes and get ready for the upcoming game. We're not kids anymore, no need to pass the blame."

I nod.

"That means you two get the weekend off." She points at me and Yas.

"I can still come and watch as a fan." I stand when the rest of the girls start to pack their things.

She shakes her head. "It's best to take a beat to think about the last game."

"You saw that player going around and hitting everyone." I lower my voice so it doesn't look like I'm trying to pick a fight. "The ref was oblivious to everything."

"I had it under control." She switches out of her cleats. "I was planning on reporting her to the league but then two of our players got expelled off the field. Kind of hard to point fingers when we're the ones who got reprimanded."

I huff and nod. "I'm really sorry."

She shakes her head. "Again, we're not kids. Shit happens. Just try to remember that next time you feel like telling a ref off."

"Yeah, I will."

It isn't the first time I've let my anger get the better of me during a game. Sometimes Coach even encourages it because I play with a little bit more hunger. It doesn't help when I get kicked off and leave my team one player short though. I should have known Cynthia already had it covered. She has proven to be a good leader since she joined us this season. I just hope she can see that I'm worth being part of the team. Worth putting up with.

******

It's hard to stay away from the playing field Saturday but I manage.

Cynthia spoke to the coach and they both agreed that neither I nor Yas should show up at all since we both are suspended for two games. Yas didn't seem to care much, mumbling that she will be fine with taking the weekend off. The team is set to play two games Saturday and get to rest on Sunday since there is no game. I, on the other hand, regret not getting to play. My feet are itching to get on some grass and dribble a ball.

I wait until after the second game to call Trinity on Saturday.

"How was it?" I lean back on my couch.

"We lost both games."

Fuck.

"Fuck." She voices my thoughts. "Coach is going to tear us a new one during practice." She sounds exhausted.

Maybe I should let her be for tonight. She has probably had a long day and wants to spend it with her wife and kids. She actually has people waiting for her to take her mind off the field.

"It's my fault." I groan. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"Absolutely not." She sounds annoyed. "You were sticking up for your teammate."

"You think he'll kick me off?" I sit up a little straighter.

She scoffs. "Not after today's fuck ups. Deona couldn't stop a five-year-old in cleats."

That makes me feel marginally better. "You got any plans tonight?"

She hums and then answers. "I could actually go for a cold beer."

I stand, ready to put some jeans on. "Will Brandy tag along?"

"She is actually getting the house ready since her parents are coming into town this week."

"Oh, the in-laws." I stop short. "Maybe we should hold off on the beers?"

"Nah, I don't plan on staying out super late. A beer should be fine. I'll text you once I get a hold of her."

That sounds like a plan to me. I change into a graphic tee and jeans. I leave my hair down and flip it to one side. It's still a bit damp from my shower earlier and I don't want it to curl at the ends by putting it up in a short ponytail. It barely touches my cheeks now, if it curls, it'll come down to my temples and I'll be forced to put it up anyway. I grab my keys and text Trinity the name of one of the spots we used to frequently visit. It has been a while since she's been able to get some time off after practice so this should be a perfect distraction for us both.

***

The second beer arrives at my table before Trinity does.

I sip on it, trying to pace myself but also enjoying the cool taste of it. The bar is packed tonight with a lot of sports fans tuning into some football game. I should have thought of that before choosing this specific spot. There are other restaurants that don't get this crowded and don't have people yelling at the top of their lungs. I don't care too much about it but I know Trinity will get annoyed.

She slips in through the front door and spots me after scanning the place. She pushes her way over to me and scowls at the people behind her.

"I didn't remember football season was back." She hugs me and then takes a seat across from me. "I highly doubt they'll have a decent soccer game on right now."

I wave the waitress down and motion for two more beers. "Yeah, that's my bad. I'll try to pick a better place next time."

"Whenever that may be." She puts her braids up and fans herself. "There was no point in me showering after my game, I guess." She's wearing a plain white t-shirt with dark blue jeans and sneakers. I doubt she went home after the game to change. The locker room is my best bet.

"What did Brandy say about you grabbing a beer?" I almost have to yell over the noise in the background.

She wrinkles her nose. "Probably wasn't the best time but she understood. We haven't seen each other off the field in ages."

"Thanks for coming," I wait until the waitress brings Trinity a beer before holding mine up for us to cheer. "To ending the weekend on a high."

She lifts her beer and clinks it to mine. "I'll cheers to that."

A big chunk of our time is spent on her replaying both games of the day. The first one wasn't so bad. The other team won because they got a penalty when one of our girls pushed them too aggressively and, of course, they scored. Their coach talked a lot of shit for someone who barely won, according to Trinity. The second game was a bit rough. The other team managed to score three goals and we didn't score any. I can only imagine the veins popping out of Coach's neck by the end of it.

After I ask all of my questions and get most of the answers, Trinity moves the topic back to her family. Brandy has been working long hours since the hospital has been short staffed. I know that's been rough on both of them. Their oldest, Tristen, just started school last week. I look down at the picture of him on his first day and fawn over him.

"He was so ready to be around kids his age." She takes another sip of her beer. "I was crying like a baby, meanwhile he was skipping into his classroom like he didn't have a care in the world."

"That's because he doesn't." I look over, trying to find our waitress for another round, when I see a cutie walking toward the bar.

She is short with gorgeous dark skin. Her thick hair is pushed back by a shiny and plastic, red headband that matches her white and red polka dot dress. The dress itself is modest and honestly a little out of place in this crowd, which is probably why it caught my attention. There is a girl next to her, definitely younger but they have the same facial structure. The younger girl has on some jeans and a hoodie, more in theme with those in football jerseys.

She must feel me staring because she meets my eyes and just as quickly looks away.

"Who are you trying to scare?" Trinity turns around and then looks back at me with a surprised look on her face. "I know her!"

I frown. "The younger girl?"

"No," she takes out her phone and then flips through some pictures. Sure enough, a picture of the girl in the polka dot dress appears in front of me. She's next to Tristen, smiling at the camera like she does that all the time.

"She's Tristen's teacher!"

I look back up and catch her staring at me this time. She looks away again first and wraps an arm around her lower belly. It is obvious that she doesn't want to be here. On a quiet night she would probably find a quiet table and a large menu to hide behind. Right now, there is no hiding. I'm intrigued by her skittish demeanor and what brings her here in the first place.

"Miss Rudd!" Trinity waves a hand over her head until she catches the nervous teacher's attention. She then waves her and her friend over.

This will be interesting.

The two women head our way when the teacher motions over to our table. The younger girl looks grateful to have a place to sit.

"Please join us!" Trinity scoots her drink over and pats the spot next to her at a high top stool.

The younger girl sits first and then motions for her quiet companion to sit next to me. She briefly meets my eyes and then looks back to the front entrance. Ready to bolt, I'm sure.

"What are you two drinking?" I motion to the waitress once more.

"Long Island for me!" The younger girl holds her hand out for me to shake. "My name is Harper." She shakes Trinity's hand as well and then points to the woman next to me. "This is my sister, Miss Rudd." She gives her a playful smile.

Her sister chuckles under her breath and then shakes my hand. "I'm Jade."

"Hi, Jade," I try not to devour her tiny figure, not so tiny curves, in that dress and clear my throat. "I'm Mia."

I can't help it. She is all woman. I mean every inch of her looks soft, kissable even. Her hips and thighs have enough meat on them that I want to dig my fingers in and feast on what is between them. Anyone else would be intimidated by her curves and what I'm sure is a phenomenal ass but I'm practically salivating at the thought of it.

Oh, shit. This is taking a turn.

As if she can read my thoughts, her eyes widen when they meet mine. She practically snatches her hand from mine, slightly panicked, and then gives a small wave to Trinity. "Thank you for saving us from all of that." She motions to the crowded bar area.

The waitress finally arrives at our table and takes their drink order. Miss Rudd tries to order some water but her sister scratches that and orders her a Long Island as well. Their dynamic is somewhere along the line of best friends, sisters, and goody-two-shoes and bad influence duo. Except it is the younger sister who seems to have the last say between them.

Harper dominates most of the conversation, asking how Trinity knows her sister, how old Tristen is, and where Trinity's wife is at the moment. She talks about how she's in her last year of college and is planning on moving into the city once she secures a job. Then she turns the spotlight on me, asking me how I know Trinity and if I have a family and what I do for a living.

"Easy, Harp." Her rigid sister kicks her under the table. "This isn't 21 questions."

"It's okay." I smirk at her younger sister. "Is it my turn to ask questions?"

"You may," Harper leans her chin against her palm.

I turn to her sister. "Miss Rudd," she bristles at the name calling. "How long have you been teaching?"

"This is my third year." She doesn't meet my eyes, looking at the two across from us instead.

"How do you like it?"

"I like it a lot." Her smile is quick and then evaporates.

"Is there a Mister Rudd?"

Her jaw drops and she looks at me. That is more like it.

Eyes on me, baby.

"Not that it's any of your business, but no."

Her sister is eating all of this up. She is on the edge of her seat, enthralled by my inability to feel uncomfortable by her sister's standoffish attitude.

"Maybe a Mrs. Rudd then?" I cock my head.

Under the lights I see a slight color change to her cheeks. Her skin is dark, smooth and inviting. But I'm pretty sure I just made her blush. I like that very much. Almost as much as I like the nervous way she licks her full lips.

"Oh shit, you can tell she's into girls?" Her sister basically outs her and then narrows her eyes to stare at her sister and see what the telling signs are. "How?"

"I'm going to murder you," Jade whispers under her breath. Then she turns to look at me and purses her lips. "I am single. Is your curiosity satiated?"

Not even close. Not after finding out that she plays for my team. If anything, I just want to ask more questions.

The waitress comes in time to drop off the drinks and saves me from having to answer out loud.

"I really shouldn't be drinking with one of my student's parents." Jade bites her lip, looking nervous again.

And damn if that doesn't do something to me. Her uncertainty and shy nature pull at something within me. Something that I haven't felt in a very long time. Being confident and sure of myself is something that comes hand in hand with playing soccer. I had fans in college, I had girls falling over themselves. For some reason, I liked the ones that kept to themselves and hated any type of attention. Then I realized I liked it because by the time that I was done fucking their brains out, their turned into sexy vixens that held their heads up high. The transformation was addicting.

I don't know what Trinity says to make her more comfortable but she takes her first sip of the drink and coughs when it goes down her throat.

"That burns." She covers her mouth. "I can't drink all of that. It's all alcohol, no tea at all."

"Jade, be serious." Her sister takes a generous gulp and doesn't even flinch. "You promised me a fun weekend."

I like Harper. She is the opposite of Jade but also encourages her to live a little.

"I don't want to die from alcohol poisoning."

"You don't usually drink?" I take a sip of my beer to hide my smile.

"I do!" She looks down at the table. "A little wine here and there."

"Of course," I smile without hiding it this time.

She hates it. I know so because she takes another sip of her drink without coughing this time. Just a little nostril flare. I chuckle this time and that makes her chug a little more.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Harper claps. It's nothing compared to the clapping going on in the background because of the game.

"You might want to take it easy, Miss Rudd," I lean over and whisper in her ear. "Wouldn't want to have to carry you out of here. Or maybe I would."

She doesn't find that funny at all and takes a sip of water instead.

Trinity gives me a knowing look. She knows all of my signs by now. I'm interested and it will take a lot to distract me from my goal now. Back in our college days, we would be each other's wing woman and she would have had Harper in the back of some car right now making her cum all types of ways to help her explore her sexuality just to let me deal with shy Jade. It is a bullet she always took without complaint. One I had to take a few times when she wanted to hook up with a girl with clingy friends.

Those were the days.

These days though, I'm kind of on my own. I can't juggle Harper trying to get Jade drunk and Jade trying to hate my guts before even giving me a chance. Granted, I should not be teasing her when we have just met. She doesn't know my humor and will probably think I'm being mean.

I get ignored by the woman next to me and the topic moves on to something tamer.

Eventually Trinity checks her phone and finishes her second and last beer of the night. "I should be heading back home now." She waves at the goody-two-shoes teacher next to me and I give her a fist bump.

"I'll walk with you since I have to use the restroom." Harper hops up from her seat and gives her sister a sly smile.

Thank you, Harper.

I waste no time and pull Jade's chair a lot closer to mine. I have her knees between my legs in an instant. She stares at me with wide eyes and mouth slightly open. I see her breaths coming out quickly.

"What are your plans after you leave here?" I'm leaning close so that we don't have to shout over the noise.

"I don't know." She licks her lips and then tries to look toward the restroom door where her sister disappeared to.

"Uh-uh," I gently guide her face back to me using her chin. "Focus, Jade."

She looks down at my lips and I feel her heated stare.

Yes, baby.

It makes me feel better about trying to seduce her. She is obviously attracted to me.

"I would love to show you my place if you're free."

Her lids lower and she starts to nod but then shakes her head and blinks a few times. "My sister is staying with me over the weekend. Hence, why I'm in this stuffed sports bar when I'd rather be home. I can't leave her alone."

I suck my teeth. "She looks like she's old enough to behave if she's alone."

"You don't know Harper." She genuinely smiles this time and then takes out her phone. "Give me your number."

It is the first time she is taking control of anything.

I type in my phone number and set my name as Mia Cute Girl from the Bar.

She rolls her eyes and changes the name. I'm slightly offended until I see that she changes the word cute to hot.

"You sure I can't convince you to come over?" I lean in again, close enough to feel her breath against my lips.

She shakes her head.

I look to my left and see Harper coming our way. Her eyes pop open when she sees how close Jade and I are. I want to kiss her so bad. But I don't want her getting endlessly teased by her younger sister. Not that she won't get teased just by leaning into me right now.

I pull back and then smile at Harper.

"What do you two have planned after this?" I ask.

Jade tenses next to me and I can see she is motioning something to her sister from my peripheral.

Harper ignores her sister and smiles back. "We have no plans. I am actually feeling kind of tired." She yawns and covers her mouth. "If you want to stay out, Jade, please don't let me stop you."

Jade glares at her and shakes her head. "I'm not leaving you alone in my apartment. Mom told me what happened last time her and dad visited you in your dorm."

Harper looks embarrassed but then shrugs. "I wasn't expecting them. Anyways, I really am tired and I have no desire to entertain anyone tonight." She holds her hand out. "Please give me your apartment keys. I can open the door when or if you come home tonight."

Jade contemplates her words and then looks at me.

"Maybe we can grab breakfast tomorrow." I offer both of them.

"Brunch sounds great!" Harper stands and takes the keys from Jade's hands. She hugs her sister tight, gives her some words of encouragement and then waves to me. "Make sure to treat her right and know that I will be able to find her if anything bad happens. I'll also make it my life mission to ruin your life if it comes to that."

I wave and cross my heart. "Nothing will happen to her, I promise."

We watch her leave and silently finish our drinks.

I close the tab, not taking any of the money she offers, and we walk out of the bar.

"Did you drive?" She asks.

I shake my head and ask her the same question. She shakes her head as well.

"I live a few blocks down. Think you can make it?" I look down at her red high heels.

"Is it really worth it?" She rubs her chin.

I pull her into me and lean down to kiss her soundly. She grips my arms, digging her nails into my skin as I deepen the kiss. Her lips are so full and soft. I plunge my tongue deep into her mouth, promising her anything she wants as long as she comes home with me tonight.

I finally pull back and stand straight, watching her pull herself together.

"Which way did you say?" She breathlessly asks.