The fluorescent lights overhead hummed softly, casting a sterile glow over the expansive space. The turf strip stretched out in front of us, marked with scuffs and patches from countless drills.
Weights clanked nearby, mingling with grunts and the occasional shout. The air was thick with sweat and determination.
Knox’s breath came out in quick, shallow gasps as he pushed the weight sled, breathing heavily. Jax wiped his forehead.
The hum of teammates talking and joking mingled with the low rumble of the overhead HVAC system, making the whole place feel alive like a buzzing hive.
“Didn’t know you had a girl.” Knox said, still catching his breath.
“Neither does she,” murmured Jax amusedly, but Knox caught it.
“Uhm … what?” His eyebrows furrowed in confusion as his gaze flickered back and forth between us.
Jax shot me a quick glance, and I shrugged. I didn’t give a fuck who knew. As far as I was concerned, the more people knew, the better. Sierra was going to be mine,my girl.It was inevitable.
We had connected that night — we had chemistry. Every detail I learned about her only sharpened the hunger inside me.
Age? Distance? Nothing mattered. She was the prize, and I was coming for her, no matter what.
“Let’s say Dom’s working on … convincing her.”
“Ah, she giving you a hard time?” He peered up at me. “What gives? You’re notthatbad looking. I’m sure the chicks dig the ink.”
“They do.” I said with a half-shrug.
“So, what? You playing out of your weight class or something?”
“Or something.”
“Try age group,” Jax fake coughed.
“Ohhh, I see. Well, tough luck, man. Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of pussy to go around tonight.”
I leveled him with a stare. “I ain’t worried. Also, not interested in random pussy.”
“Dude, come on. You haven’t evenstartedyour college career, and you’re already trying to settle down?” Knox stared at me with a furrowed brow before motioning to Jax, exasperated. “Back me up here, man.”
“I know what I want. And what I want is her.” I shrugged, unconcerned.
Jax chuckled. “You’re wasting your time, man. It’s the girl he signed with BRU for. He’s committed — and possibly insane, but the jury’s still out on that.”
Knox’s eyebrows shot up, his mouth dropping open slightly. “Oh, shit! I wasn’t there that night, I completely forgot about it. That was you?”
“Yup,” I popped the p.
Jax sucked his teeth before pointing at me with his thumb. “Like I said, probably insane.”
“Nah. I just know what I want, and what I want is her. Simple as that.” I tilted my head from side to side, cracking my neck.
“O-kay. Cool, cool, cool.” He nodded, smiling uncertainly at me. “Why don’t you invite her out then? Who knows, maybe she’ll come. We can just start something at—”
“My place.” An emotionless voice came from behind us.
The three of us turned around in surprise, recoiling slightly, as we caught sight of Hunter Rhodes. I’d only met the guy a couple of times, and I had no fucking idea what to make of him.
Apparently, he was Colt’s best friend, and I’d seen Hunter play with him many times over the years.
While Colt had seemed more reserved, possibly even shy, Hunter was a different breed. He was cold, detached, like he wouldn’t know what an emotion was, even if it was dressed up in a tutu and danced the Macarena in front of him.
