Wild Card by Ashley Munoz

Chapter Eighteen

My phone buzzedwith another incoming text, forcing an odd twinge to creep up my neck. I already knew who it was, already knew what it probably said, and just like the other fifteen or so times, I was going to ignore it.

“Duggar! Glad you came. Where were you all weekend?”

All weekend? I had only been gone for a period of twenty-four hours, but fuck if I was about to say that to my manager.

“Just headed home to help my mom out.” I set my backpack down on the office table and sorted through it to find my apron.

“Well, we’ve been busy. There was a girl in here looking for you yesterday, said her name was…” My manager snapped his finger. “Something with a T. Blonde, real pretty.”

Taylor? Why would she come looking for me? Unless maybe it had to do with Mallory. Maybe she hadn’t texted her stepsister telling her where she was for the night. The alternative reason she might be visiting my place of work wasn’t something I could stomach yet. I knew I needed to; the entire goal was to ruin Elias, and in order to do that…I needed to sleep with and potentially date Taylor.

“Thanks Geno, I’ll figure it out.” I smiled at the old guy and headed toward the back. I knew a few boxes had arrived with fresh inventory, so I decided I’d start there before the rush started up. Sundays weren’t usually too crazy since most of the college kids were at least attempting to get to bed early for a decent night’s sleep before Monday’s classes.

A few brown boxes were waiting for me against the back wall, just like I knew they would be. I found the box cutter and started opening each one then my phone went off again.

“Fucking hell.” I sighed before giving up and grabbing the device. “What do you want, and why do you keep calling?”

“Geez, I texted first, but you weren’t answering those,” my little brother replied defensively.

I snapped my jaw shut, trying to steer clear of the vindictive comments that swirled in my head.

“Anyway…what the fuck gives, D?” he asked incredulously.

I pictured my little brother with his hair askew, his favorite Raiders shirt wrinkled because the fucking washer had broken, something I’d realized the day before when I was there.

I closed my eyes, completely unprepared for this conversation, and that alone spoke volumes. Kyle and I never talked about girls.

“You slept in your room with her then took off without even saying goodbye!”

I rubbed the stress out of my forehead while I thought of what to say.

“I’m sorry. She had to get back, and I didn’t want to wake you,” I lied.

I was such a fucking coward. Mallory had wanted nothing more than to head downstairs and make pancakes, talk to Kyle, see if my mom had made it home yet. But I couldn’t. Things were already twisted enough as it was, waking up to her against my chest, my eyes darting to the ceiling of my bedroom, looking for relief.

The very fact that I actually slept in my childhood bedroom and woke to inhaling her scent with a fucking smile plastered on my face was reason enough to get some distance. The last thing I needed was to let Mallory charm my family and create an emotional shitstorm.

“I liked Mallory. It’s shitty that you guys just left. I want to see her again,” Kyle demanded in between yawns.

“Yeah, but I told you about this already—”

“You’re still trying to go after the sister?” he shrieked, like he couldn’t believe I’d even consider something so crazy.

“You already know I am.” I stood, heaving the new glasses out of the box then cutting into the next box.

“Yeah, but does Mallory know that? You two…you guys looked like…you looked at each other like you wanted to tear each other’s clothes off, so you might want to have a convo about this situation.”

“There is no situation. I’m only hanging around her to get to Taylor, and I owe her a story, which is exactly why she came with me yesterday.” Napkins—we had a thousand fucking unopened packages of napkins, but Geno kept ordering them. I told him we were good for a while, but the bastard added it every fucking week.

My little brother’s scoff made me see red, but he cut me off before I could put him in his place. “Even I know what you’re doing is shitty. We both know she can’t run that story…you’re stringing her along, all for your own purposes. That’s jacked up, bro.” His tone softened, which fucking enraged me further.

“This isn’t even your business, Kyle. If you’re concerned about someone, focus on Mom. She needs help around the house, paying the bills, fixing shit. I can’t do it all.” I spoke with so much venom I actually cringed.

The silence that followed nearly hollowed me out. I loved my brother. He was only sixteen; this shit wasn’t his to worry about. He should have been goofing off, being a kid, not worrying about our mother checking out or the shit around the house, but I hated how right he was about Mallory. I hated that there was a chance I cared about her more than I should.

I hated that I was essentially fucking her over where the story was concerned, but what was I supposed to do? Give up my status on the Devils? Fuck…they were all I had left besides Kyle and Mom, although my mom wasn’t really there. I was lonely, but I had the team, and they had my back. Even though some of the players were cocksuckers who called me shitty names, they weren’t all bad. I couldn’t give that up, especially since I’d be job hunting the day after I moved back home.

“Fuck you, D. You deserve what’s coming if this is how you’re going to be.”

He hung up, which didn’t surprise me. What did surprise me was his incoming text. It was a picture he’d taken of me and Mallory. It was the two of us in my bed, her tucked into my chest, my arm around her, my other hand dangling over her hip. Her face was serene, a tiny smile playing along her mouth…and fuck, I looked peaceful. I couldn’t believe I had slept in my bed, in my room…during a storm. I ignored the fact that it was creepy as fuck that he’d snuck in to get the picture, although on some level, if the tables were reversed and he hadn’t slept in his room in over a year, I’d grab a picture too.

I blinked, rubbing the stress out of my eyes, taking a second to think back over the night and why I’d agreed to try to sleep up there in the first place.

Ripping into another box did nothing at all to distract me from realizing I had totally led Mallory on by taking her upstairs.

Mostly I had just been exhausted. Memories had torn at me for hours while I sat next to Mallory. Seeing her on that couch, cuddled under that throw blanket my grandmother had made…it messed with me. But I kept myself busy, trying to get the power back on and the generator running so the frozen things didn’t go bad. Once I finally did, I sat down, my fingers greedily searching for any contact with skin that they could make.

When she stood and suggested we go to the truck, there was just this need to touch her, and I originally planned to kiss her, maybe do more with her…then that fucking tattoo. Curiosity got the better of me. Fuck, what were the odds of it being something that had to do with being safe in a storm? Suddenly I just needed her, wanted to hold her all night like my own Irish rune and see if it would keep the demons at bay. Just for one night.

If I could sleep in that room, just once…

I had…and that fucking messed with my head.

So, I did what I could to feel in control.

I deleted the picture and pocketed my phone.

* * *

Mallory: Hey, I’m craving a cinnamon roll…wanna go browse books and share one?

I flipped my phone over on my knee and continued watching the game play out on my flatscreen. I’d known she would text me eventually. After we woke up early and left my house without a word and me not explaining jack shit about my mom or brother, of course she was curious. I had been mentally preparing to shoot her down, tell her I was busy and give her some kind of brushoff, but now that her name was there flashing on my screen, I couldn’t seem to do it.

Instead I ignored her.

I’d only respond if she mentioned me hanging out with Taylor. It was eating me up inside to do it, but she knew the deal, and I refused to budge…even if she was doing the very thing I had always envisioned doing when I one day found someone to actually have a relationship with. I could picture her there, those green eyes narrowed, a pair of black glasses (which I was sure she owned) perched on her face, that hair cascading down in a tangled mess of brown and reddish-gold hues. Her perfect tits would be straining against whatever shirt she wore, and those curves would be highlighted in a pair of sinfully tight jeans.

I blinked, the game going in and out of focus as I imagined Mallory smiling, leading me by the hand to an empty section of the bookstore. She’d spin against one of the stacks, bite her lip, and toss her head back on a gasp as I leaned in, capturing those luscious lips in a kiss. We’d make out for a few minutes, my hands greedily roaming her curves until I made my way down that body and slowly pulled those jeans down her thighs. Fuck, she’d be in a dark green thong, and I’d shove my nose in between her thighs, pressing my thumb against the wet spot over her clit. I’d tell her I liked how wet she was for me, then I’d throw her leg over my shoulder and dive in. I’d lick through her glistening folds, up and down her pussy, tugging her open for me so I didn’t miss a single drop of her arousal. She’d beg me for more, grip my hair, and rub herself against my face until she came hard, screaming my name.

I let out an audible groan as I fantasized about her. I was alone in the apartment, but I’d never pull my dick out while in the living room, so like I had at least ten times since meeting Mallory, I walked back to the bathroom and shut myself inside.

Unzipping my jeans, I pulled myself free of my boxers and gripped my erection. Shutting my eyes tightly, I pictured her falling to her knees in front of me, eyes on mine the entire time she gripped my dick, her red lips skimming the underside of my shaft, licking away the precum on the tip then taking me fully into her mouth.

Moving my hand up and down my cock, I kept imagining the sound she would make while choking on my length. I’d grab the back of her head and shove my hips forward, fucking that pert little mouth of hers while those big green eyes stayed glued to me.

“Fuck.” My voice was raspy as I furiously jerked my dick.

I imagined stripping her bare. She’d hold her breasts together, pinning those lips in between her teeth, and I’d fucking come all over her chest and face.

“Fuuuuckkkk.” Ribbons of white landed all over the counter and inside the sink as a spine-tingling shudder ran through me, forcing an audible groan from me. I usually did this in the shower, which further demonstrated that I was losing control of my feelings for her. Jerking off to images of having Mallory was occurring too frequently. I needed to get a grip, get her out of my system. Maybe if I kept enough distance, these feelings and urges would start to dissipate.

They had to.

* * *

Five days later

Mallory had textedthe day after I blew her off, asking if I wanted to study with her, even sending a picture of a fresh bag of lime-flavored chips. The day after that she sounded more professional, asking if I had time to answer a few questions regarding her notes and the story. Still I fucking ignored her because I just couldn’t bring myself to text with her or see her or talk to her about how much of a coward I was being. The problem was, I had no self-control around the woman. At this point, I was worried if I saw her, I’d lose all sense and just start kissing her.

We both had to keep our heads on straight and remember that we had a deal.

Taylor for the story—that was it. I couldn’t blur, cross, or erase the lines…they were the only thing granting me revenge.

I walked toward class, pulling my cell free to shoot off a text to Daniel. He was my go-to guy for dealing information, and while it might have been more worthwhile to just head home and ask my brother for what he knew since he was obviously working with our Uncle Scotty, I preferred to keep him out of it. I needed to know if there was any update on the situation, or if Elias had made any changes or moves. I wanted to know what was going on with his physical therapy appointments in Pinehurst.

If there was a chance to exploit that or find out how he was getting through every game, I wanted to know. I had a feeling they were juicing him up, especially when scouts were going to be attending. I wanted to ruin his chances at having a backup plan, and that was why it was so imperative I close the deal with Taylor.

Once I sent the text, I pocketed my phone and slumped into my usual desk. Just as class was about to begin, Juan crept in, slinking down into his seat. He’d come in so late the past few days someone had taken his usual spot, so we hadn’t had the chance to catch up.

I waited for him to ask what he’d missed or what kind of mood our teacher was in today, but he didn’t say anything. In fact, he looked like he was completely ignoring me. My eyebrows caved as I thought through what I could have done to piss him off. Nothing came to mind, so maybe it wasn’t me at all…maybe there was just something else going on in his life.

“Hey, everything good?” I asked, eyeing the front of the class. Flynn was still organizing his slides.

Juan continued to ignore me, but his jaw tensed and his nostrils flared.

Shit, he was pissed, but about what?

I leaned over, folding my arms on the desk. “Seriously, man…we good?” I didn’t even know Juan outside of class; maybe I’d done something to mess with his grade in the class or something.

Suddenly his cell landed in front of me, the screensaver a photo of Mallory and him. His arm was around her, her petite frame tucked under him. They wore matching grey sweats…the ones I had seen her wear at her house.

Suddenly pieces fell into place as a dull throbbing filled the space between my ears. I didn’t like seeing her tucked under his arm. I didn’t like that those were his sweats she was wearing, and it must have been his house she’d been at that one morning at two a.m. Fury burrowed into me like a rabid animal.

I clenched my jaw as I stared at the phone.

“Fuck you, man—get that look off your face. You haven’t earned the right to wear that look.” Juan glared right back at me, his dark brows a shelf on his face. “Five days ago, you did something to piss off my best friend. I stood up for you when she heard rumors about you, but you ended up being a dick just the same. So no, we aren’t good. I don’t like when people fuck with my friends.”

I let out a sigh and sat back in my chair, unsure how to respond. I liked the dude, even if I was getting territorial over a girl I’d brushed aside. I was fucking tired of taking the coward’s way out, but there wasn’t really a way to salvage this.

“Look, man…I’m sorry if your friend got the wrong impression about me. We aren’t dating or anything, we’re just working together on something.” I was going to hell. It was official.

He laughed, shaking his head back and forth. “Wow…you don’t think she told me about the little party? Or the deal you made with her for Taylor?” He leveled me with a serious look, which made me curious if he’d hit me or not. He looked like he might. I’d deserve it and so much worse.

I didn’t know what to say to that. He knew I was playing Taylor…and fuck, I supposed I was also playing Mallory, and that wasn’t my intention.

“Okay, fine.” I watched the teacher as he flicked his gaze to where we sat in the back row. “I like her, but I’m trying not to…so I had to ignore her for a few days. I didn’t want to though. I feel like shit about it.”

“Well you should. If we weren’t in class, I’d kick your ass right now. Your deal doesn’t matter anymore anyway.”

I turned to him, feeling a strange panic start to blossom in my chest.

“What are you talking about?”

Girls in school watched Juan like he was one of those coffee milkshakes they all drank. They were always watching him. I could admit he did look half decent, but right now he looked like he wanted to murder me. Legit Mexican cartel shit. I wasn’t assuming he had connections just based on his skin tone; I’d heard rumors about him too.

“We went to a party last night.” He dipped his head, leaning closer. “That pitcher for the Devils was there, and his sights were set on Mallory the entire fucking time. He wouldn’t leave her alone. Dude was pretty obvious about wanting her.”

Was this what a heart attack felt like?

“He eventually wore her down, even with me trying to interfere. They talked for a bit, that was it, but after the party, I asked her about it, and she seemed excited. She said,‘because you fell off the face of the planet,’ this would be her new story source.”

Fuck me.

I brought my hands to my face and rubbed my eyes. This couldn’t be happening.

“I hope you told her how bad of an idea that is,” I replied, likely seconds from being kicked out of class. We weren’t being quiet anymore. I didn’t even know how to do so or if I could at this point. I was about to throw a chair if I didn’t get some of these emotions under control.

Elias had talked to Mallory; he’d gone after her. The memory of his cleat going through my hand came back, making me stretch it.

“I told her…but she said she needs this story, even if that means she is dealing with a bad guy. I’ll spare you on what else she said…it wasn’t nice, and it was about you,” Juan added with a smirk.

I started gathering my stuff, tossing it in my backpack.

“Where are you going?”

I leaned toward him before getting up. “To fucking fix this.”

* * *

The lightsin the team house were low as I waded through the halls and stopped at the massive island. Toby, one of the shortstops, was there eating a bowl of cereal. Since it was getting later, there weren’t many players around. Most started their evening festivities around six and didn’t roll back in until around one in the morning.

I knew for sure there was one person in the house who didn’t live by that schedule. Taking the stairs two at a time, I trotted down into the basement and stalked toward the back where my old room used to be, where Elias’s was now.

I knocked politely so maybe he’d assume it was one of his lackeys. A few seconds passed, and I waited…then it swung open and my ex-best friend stood there in a pair of loose shorts and a white t-shirt.

I pushed against the door, forcing him to take a few jumbled steps back.

“Whoa, what the…” His hands went up like he was innocent.

“You laid hands on my brother, and I didn’t end you—consider that a kindness. But if you think you’ll get away with going after Mallory Shaw, you have another thing coming.” I stuck my hands in my pockets, hoping I seemed calm and in control, all while white-hot anger pulsed under my skin at the mere idea of him being close enough to talk to Mallory.

Elias grinned, letting out a small laugh. His thumb came up to stroke his bottom lip before he sank into a chair.

“I know you know about the arrangement I made with Taylor’s dad…or stepdad, Charles Shaw. I know you know, because you started hanging out with his daughters out of the blue.”

I scoffed. Who even gave a flying fuck?

“What does this have to do with you leaving her alone?”

“You think I’m going to sit here and stand by while you move in and take away the opportunity of a lifetime?” He stood, pointing at his chest like he couldn’t believe I’d suggest such a thing.

“I think you’re power hungry and you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. These are real people you’re dealing with.” I slashed my hand toward him, my voice rising a few octaves.

“And real money, Decker. You of all people should know what it’s like to want to care for your family.” He got in my face, and it took all my strength not to fight him. Our coach had forced us to go to therapy after my accident on the field. Rumors had circulated that I’d thrown the pitch so the ball would give him a dead arm. Another rumor said I had reached for Elias’s ankle, trying to trip him, and he accidently caught my hand while steadying himself.

Fucking noise. All of it.

I went to the sessions mandated by Coach, but Elias had made it seem like I had it out for him, so I had to be careful not to engage with anything with him, or else it would just cause more issues. I had a few months left of the season then I’d be done, and my Devils status would be good for a lifetime.

I took a step back, mentally scolding myself to fucking learn the order in which to breathe properly.

“Just stay away from her.” I ducked my head, ready to leave before I did something I would regret, like kill him.

Elias folded his arms, giving me a smirk. “Nah…I think I like this sister better.”

“Your deal doesn’t work like that. You can’t just choose which one to take over half his fortune with.” I knew a little bit of the deal, but not all of it. I just knew he’d needed to be in that room with Taylor that first night and he hadn’t been. Now it looked like I was going after her, and as far as what Scotty had found…it would be a big fucking problem for Elias if Taylor started dating someone else.

“I think you’d be surprised. I think since you tried to go after Taylor, it only seems fair I give Mallory a good shot.”

I was in his face again, and this time there was no way I could keep my fist from flying. I landed one good punch before someone ran into Elias’s room and broke us up.

Three other players were there in an instant, pulling me out.

“Stay the fuck away from her, E,” I warned one last time before they’d effectively removed me from the property.