All The Wild Ones | Wildfire Series

Strategy

GRAYSON

I loved my team. Really, I did. Most of them anyway.

Transitioning from high school football to college definitely took me through a loop. Football was a big deal at my school in Modesto, but it wasn't anything compared to how it is when you're playing for a team that makes a shit ton of money off you.

And money runs the world. Apparently protects rapists, too.

It was intense, joining the OSU team. And not only joining them but starting. Racking up stats that could rival some of the best players in our division.

But these guys, they made it seem easy.

I loved them. But I wasn't in the mood for this right now.

"Not your girl yet, huh?" Julian's drunken eyes trailed to the door where Nessa had just left. "That's a damn shame."

He had no idea. "Tell me about it. Came close, though."

Noah, one of our tight ends, leaned in. "How close?"

Nosy bastard. "Went over to her place over winter break. Met her whole family. Played football with her little brother. Taught her how to play the guitar. Made-out in her bedroom."

Jules snorted. "Sounds like she's your girl."

I shook my head. "I fucked it up. She's not my girl."

Julian's roommate Reggie plopped down on the couch next to me. "So what you're saying is that she's available."

"No, that is not what I'm fucking saying, Reggie," I said, shooting him a glare. The last thing I needed was Reggie Welsh as competition. All he had to do was flash his dimples, and girls fell at his feet.

He chuckled and gave me a little shove to prove that he was joking.

"What about the other chick?" Noah asked, perching on the back of the sofa. "The blonde one."

"That's Quinton's ex," I said bitingly. Thinking about what Reid did got me all wound up. "Madie."

"Oh, she's back?" Julian murmured softly, almost to himself. He looked back at the door as if the girls were still there.

I nodded. It was probably for the best, too. If I remembered correctly, Madie and Quinton were high school sweethearts gone wrong. So if Quinton was back home, then Madie should be far away from there. I assumed that's where she'd been, anyway.

"Maybe she could use someone to comfort her," Noah said with a smirk. "Help her forget Reid."

"I've got a shoulder to cry on," Ismael joined in, knocking into Noah with a smile.

I opened my mouth, but Julian beat me to it. His fiery side lit up, east coast accent sharp.

"Knock it off, you pieces of shit. No one goes fucking near that girl. I'm sure she wants absolutely nothing to do with us. Got it, London? Izzy?"

Noah's eyes grew wide while Ismael sank back with an oh shit look on his face. A threat from Julian meant something. "Got it," Noah mumbled.

"Sorry, man. You know we were just kidding," Ismael added.

I swiveled around the room, trying to find Brodie. He was the one who really needed to hear that. Ismael and Noah were harmless even if they lacked a little tact.

"Yeah, yeah," Jules said, waving them off. His expression had reverted to its usual lazy look. When he spoke again, his slow drawl was back. He turned to me. "So, what'd you do?"