PLAYING TO WIN penguin books
Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling romance author. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. A native Californian, she lives on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere with her husband, two kids, one dog and four cats. When she’s not writing, she’s an assistant coach for her daughter’s high school cheer team. Maybe someday, she’ll even write about this experience.
ALSO BY MONICA MURPHY
The Players
Playing Hard to Get
Playing Hard To Get
Playing by The Rules
Playing By The Rules
Playing To Win
Playing to Win Lancaster Prep
Things I Wanted To Say (but never did)
A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime
Birthday Kisses
Promises We Meant to Keep
I’ll Always Be With You
You Said I Was Your Favorite
Wedded Bliss (Lancaster)
The Reluctant Bride
The Ruthless Groom
The Reckless Union
The Arranged Marriage boxset
College Years
The Freshman
The Sophomore
The Junior
The Senior
Dating Series
Save The Date
Fake Date
Holidate
Hate to Date You
Rate A Date
Wedding Date
Blind Date
The Callahans
Close to Me
Falling For Her
Addicted To Him
Meant To Be
Fighting For You
Making Her Mine
A Callahan Wedding
Forever Yours Series
You Promised Me Forever
Thinking About You
Nothing Without You
Damaged Hearts Series
Her Defiant Heart
His Wasted Heart Damaged Hearts Friends Series
Just Friends
More Than Friends
Forever
The Never Duet
Never Tear Us Apart
Never Let You Go
The Rules Series
Fair Game
In The Dark Slow Play
Safe Bet
The Fowler Sisters Series
Owning Violet
Stealing Rose
Taming Lily
Reverie Series
His Reverie
Her Destiny
Billionaire Bachelors Club Series
Crave
Torn
Savor
Intoxicated
One Week Girlfriend Series
One Week Girlfriend
Second Chance Boyfriend
Three Broken Promises
Drew + Fable Forever
Four Years Later
Five Days Until You
A Drew + Fable Christmas
Pretty Dead Girls
PENGUIN BOOKS
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Penguin Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com
First published in the United States of America by Monica Murphy 2023
First published in Great Britain by Penguin Books 2024 001
Copyright © Monica Murphy, 2023
The moral right of the author has been asserted
Edited by Rebecca, Fairest Reviews Editing Services
Proofread by Sarah Plocher
Printed and bound in Great Britain by Clays Ltd, Elcograf S.p.A.
The authorized representative in the EEA is Penguin Random House Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin d 02 yh 68
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library isbn : 978–1–405–96975–8
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PLAYLIST
“Ruby” - Geskle
“Shee” - quickly, quickly)
“Shee” - quickly, quickly
“Thicc” - Remi Wolf
“Erotic City” - Prince
“Lavender Haze” - Taylor Swift
“Think it Over” - New Constellations
“On You” - The Hics
“No Role Modelz” - J. Cole
“Send Nudes” - Warpaint
Or
“O OH , WHO ’ S THAT ?” My gaze lands on the tall, built guy standing dead center in the living room, surrounded by girls, all of them watching him with adoring eyes and wide smiles. He grabs hold of two of them, inserting one under each of his thick with muscle arms, that grin on his face telling me he’s enjoying every minute of their attention.
His confidence practically resonates throughout the room and it doesn’t hurt that he’s gorgeous. His best feature is his beautiful smile—it’s broad and friendly and slightly mischievous. From where I’m standing, he appears to have a beautiful everything.
I’m in Colorado for the holidays to both visit my family and spend time with my brother and sister along with their friends and significant others. They all came back to campus early, specifically to attend this party, and I tagged
along. I’ve had the time of my life in the span of only a few days, which is more than enough confirmation that I need to come back here to finish my degree. I went to the East Coast to college my freshman year thinking I needed something different. An escape from my supposed mundane life. I was craving a new adventure, and when I got into a university on the East Coast, I believed I would party my life away and have a great time. I firmly believed a different environment meant my life would change for the best.
None of that happened. Classes are boring. The campus life—boring. I haven’t made any solid connections with fellow students. Definitely not with my roommate freshman year, who bailed out and wasn’t in our room for the entire second semester. This year, I’m sharing an on-campus apartment with another girl, and while we’re friendly and I think she’s okay, I definitely don’t feel…connected to her. And that’s all I’m looking for.
A connection.
Someone who gets me.
Right now, that feels like an impossible feat.
“That, my friend, is Ace Townsend. Second-string quarterback on the football team and hopefully our starting quarterback next season,” my new friend Natalie informs me. She’s my brother’s new girlfriend’s best friend—whew, that was complicated—and guess what?
The moment we met, we instantly connected. We’ve been having fun hanging out together ever since. Natalie is down for anything. She likes to party and she’s blessedly single. Everyone else that currently surrounds me while I’m here is attached to someone else, with the exception of Natalie.
Which makes her the perfect friend to crash holiday parties with.
Not that we’re crashing this particular one. We were both invited, thank you very much.
“Ace? That’s his actual name?” I blatantly stare at him, not that he notices. He’s too busy putting on the charm and chatting up his fan club. “Not a nickname?”
I’ve never heard of him. Knox has never mentioned him to me before, and neither has Blair, but that doesn’t mean anything.
“Maybe it’s a nickname? I’m not sure.” When I glance over at Natalie, she’s already shrugging. “I don’t know him that well.”
“He’s hot.” I can’t help but smile when he laughs, the pleasant rumbling sound drifting over to where we stand, and I’m suddenly compelled to walk over to him and introduce myself.
But would he care? Maybe not. He seems preoccupied enough. What’s one more girl in the mix?
“He is, huh?” Natalie grabs my arm and hooks it around hers, dragging me over to where my sister Blair is with her boyfriend, Camden. He’s the current quarterback for their college football team, though can I call him current? He’s basically finished with his college football career and hopefully about to embark on an NFL career next. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“We need to talk to Cam. He can give us the scoop on Ace,” Natalie says as we head toward them.
We stop in front of the newly, publicly launched couple, a pang in my heart when I see the way Cam looks at my sister. As if the sun rises and sets on her head. Like she’s the only person he sees.
That’s another thing I want…eventually. Maybe sooner than later, though I guess it depends on who I meet. But yeah.
I want a man who’s totally into me. All the guys I manage to try to get to know either lose interest fast, or they’re not serious. That’s the biggest issue. They are never serious. Though am I ever serious? Not really. But also, when it comes to men…
I always pick the wrong one.
I like the good-time guy. The fun guy. The one all the ladies love, which always ends up being a giant problem. From what I see happening around Ace, I’d guess he’s the same type, so it makes sense that I’m drawn to him.
Which means he’s probably all wrong for me. I need to be a little choosier in my man crushes and not fall for the hot guy with the lazy smile and buzzing sexual energy.
Blair finally glances over at me, a faint smile on her face. “What’s going on?”
“I want to talk to that one.” I incline my head in Ace’s direction, who isn’t paying us the least bit of attention.
All thoughts in regards to being pickier fly right out the window.
What can I say? Attractive, confident men must be a weakness.
Cam groans. My sister grins. I can’t help but frown.
“I think you two might be cute together,” my sister singsongs.
My brows shoot up, curiosity coursing through my blood. Oh really? Hmm. Maybe I like the way my sister is thinking.
“No fucking way. Look at him. He’s currently sitting with two girls,” Cam grumbles, waving his hand toward Ace. I quickly glance over my shoulder to see most of the women have left, leaving him with…yep. Two girls.
Rolling my eyes, I bump my hip into Natalie’s. “Duh, Cam. He’ll take one look at me and forget all about them.”
“Yeah, girl!” Natalie holds up her hand and I give her a high five, Cam muttering curse words under his breath.
“I wish I had an ounce of your confidence,” Blair tells me, her voice sincere.
I’ve never understood why Blair isn’t more confident. She’s beautiful and smart and always so composed. While I’m over here acting like a hot mess most of the time. If I could learn anything from my older sister, it’s how to better control myself.
“You were pretty confident in your pursuit of me,” Cam tells my sister.
Blair glances over at Cam, her eyes wide with surprise. “You think so?”
“Oh yeah. You wore me down.” He leans down to kiss her and she reaches out, pinching his lips together. “Ow.”
“Wore you down,” Blair mumbles, shaking her head. “More like you couldn’t resist me.”
“Same difference.” He grins, reaching for her, and I realize I need to break this up fast or I’m going to get nowhere with these two.
“Hey.” They both turn their heads to find me staring at them. “Introduce me, future brother-in-law. I want to meet that guy.”
“Ruby.” Blair’s eyes are wide, like she hates that I just said that, but I couldn’t resist.
Cam doesn’t appear to mind though. The smile on his face is soft, like he might even enjoy the idea of being part of the Maguire family, and that’s when it hits me.
This is serious. They’re madly in love and he didn’t even bat an eyelash at being called my future brother-in-law. He might even envision marrying Blair himself, and if that’s the case?
Wow.
An unfamiliar feeling flows through my blood, leaving me uneasy. I’m not…jealous. Am I?
No way. I don’t want to get married yet. I’m too young. I don’t even think I’m ready for a serious relationship. Or am I? I just want to have fun. With a guy. Who isn’t afraid to give me what I want when I ask for it. Or when he just…takes it.
Takes me.
Whoa. My feelings are taking a turn for the slightly dirty tonight and I don’t get why.
“Come on,” Cam tells me, releasing his hold on Blair.
I follow him, Natalie and Blair trailing behind us as we walk over to where Ace is currently sprawled out on the couch. One of the girls has disappeared, so he only has a cute redhead under his left arm, a red Solo cup clutched in his right hand. When he spots Cam, he grins, lifting the cup up in a toast.
“Number one QB! Who’s the hottie?” Ace’s attention shifts to me, his gaze slowly running up and down my body, checking me out. Making me tingle with just a look. I stand a little taller, thrusting my chest out and his gaze falls to my breasts, lingering there for a moment too long.
Well, well, well. Looks like I might be catching his attention after all.
“This is Ruby Maguire. Ruby, I’d like you to meet Ace Townsend.” Cam pauses, his lips curling in the faintest smile. “The number two QB.”
“And about to become number one.” Ace rises to his feet, forgetting all about the redhead, his focus one hundred percent on me, those beautiful blue eyes leaving me frozen. Even a little breathless. “Nice to meet you, beautiful.”
He thrusts his hand out and I automatically shake it, a jolt passing between our palms the moment they touch. I can’t let go of his hand, and he can’t seem to either. An
uncomfortable giggle escapes me, which is just—weird. I don’t giggle like that. Not really.
His gaze seems to darken, his fingers curling tighter around mine and when I glance over at the couch, I see the redhead scowling at me, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
“You did hear me say her last name, right?” Cam asks Ace.
“I caught it. Maguire. You a cousin?” he asks me. His gaze is hopeful and my heart starts to sink.
Ugh. This has everything to do with Knox. He’s so overprotective of me and my sister, though I’ve rarely had to deal with it. We’re a little farther apart in age, so Blair is the one who’s had Knox standing guard over her with his friends.
“She’s my sister,” Blair pipes up from behind us.
Ace lets go of my hand immediately. “I forgot Knox had two sisters.”
“Is that a deterrent?” I ask, my heart racing a little faster than normal. “That Knox is my brother?”
Is Knox really that much of a threat? What does he say to these guys to keep them away from us?
“It makes you off limits,” Ace says, sending a smile in the redhead’s direction, whose entire demeanor relaxes when he looks at her.
Okay, that’s freaking annoying. Forget the redhead. Forget my brother.
Forget everyone.
My gaze goes to Natalie, her eyebrows shooting up in question, and I sort of love how she’s always encouraging me. If we were to hang out much longer, I’m sure the two of us could get into some serious trouble, and have fun while doing it too.
“Ooh, I love a challenge,” I proclaim, making Natalie laugh.
Ace returns his attention to me, his interest obviously piqued. “You do, huh?”
I nod, not letting the redhead’s moody stare bring me down. “And my brother is not my keeper.”
“Tell that to Knox,” Ace says with a chuckle that he immediately smothers with his hand.
My gaze zeroes in on that hand. It’s large, with a wide palm and long fingers I wonder if he knows how to use.
I have a thing about hands. A man’s hands. I don’t know what it is. I love a smile and a handsome face and a hard body but what really gets me?
Ace’s hands are…perfect. I bet he knows just how to touch a woman. Hands cupped around my cheeks, holding me in place, or even better? A hand around my throat. Gentle yet firm. With just enough pressure to show his strength, though I know deep down he would never harm a single hair on my head.
Heat coats my skin and I part my lips, my tongue touching the corner of my mouth just thinking of Ace’s hands on me.
“Damn, girl, don’t look at me like that,” he murmurs.
I jerk my gaze to his, surprised at the rough sound of his voice. “What do you mean?”
Okay, I let my imagination get out of control and unfortunately, he caught me.
“You’re looking at me like I’m a tasty snack and you’re dying to eat me.” His blunt statement makes my skin burn.
Or maybe that’s the image that’s now floating in my head thanks to what he said.
“I just looked at you like that?” I blink at him, knowing exactly how I looked at him.
Playing to Win 9
Busted.
His laughter is deep. A pleasant sound that makes me smile. “Yeah, you sure did. And don’t play like you don’t know.”
“This is some bullshit,” the redhead mutters as she leaps to her feet and stalks off with a huff.
We both turn to watch her go, eventually facing each other once more, and he scrubs a hand along his jaw, contemplating me. “Guess it’s just you and me now.”
I look over my shoulder to see that he’s right. Everyone has abandoned us. Cam and Blair are leaning against the wall once again, completely wrapped up in each other, Cam’s hand on her waist and their gazes locked. Natalie is nowhere to be found.
“I guess so,” I say when I meet his gaze once more.
Ace settles his big body on the couch, his arms stretched out across the back of it, his legs spread wide. The man sprawl is strong with this one. “You should join me.” He taps his fingers against the back of the couch.
“It’s probably safer if I stand,” I say. I get the feeling if I snuggled up close to him on the couch, I might end up doing something I’ll regret.
Oh, who am I kidding? I wouldn’t regret spending a little time with this man.
“For who? Me or you?” He seems amused, but not at my expense. I think he’s just happy to be talking to me and not afraid to show it? Hmm.
How refreshing.
Ruby Maguire is a hot piece of ass.
That sounds shitty as hell, even in my thoughts, but it’s true. She’s got on a pale blue, tight in all the right places dress and it shows off her assets to the best of its ability. Meaning, she looks sexy as fuck tonight. Might be the sexiest girl at this party.
And that’s saying something. There are a lot of beautiful girls here—both in this house and on campus in general. I should know since I’ve talked to a bunch of them and the night is still young. But most of them…I’m not really into. They’re either too shallow or too grabby or scarily possessive and/or obsessive.
Some of them are flat out dumb, which is mean of me to think, but damn, it’s true. And then there are others who are way too smart and onto my game so I leave them alone. They know what I’m about.
Which is absolutely nothing. When it comes to women, I’m not serious. Not even fucking close. Coming here to Colorado University after growing up in a super small town
with conservative parents who tried their best to shelter me, while attending a tiny high school, I turned into a kid at a candy store. Only my candy of choice is women.
Lots and lots of women.
I know how to have fun and I know when to be serious. School and football? I’m serious as hell. Women and partying? Fun. I work hard and play hard, and so far, it’s working out for me.
But shit is about to get even more serious come next year. I’m a contender for being the starting quarterback, taking Cam’s place. And while I’m positive I can handle it and even more positive I’ll get the coveted position, nothing in life—or football—is guaranteed.
Which means when spring hits—hell, when we return next semester—I’m going into full-blown serious mode. Right now, though?
It’s fun all the damn time. I have a small window and I’m taking advantage of it.
Maybe I can have some fun with Knox’s little sister. I might be an idiot to even consider it, but as I sit here listening to her explain her situation and how she doesn’t even go to this school, she’s sounding more and more…
Perfect.
The ultimate one-night stand. Have a little fun with Ruby, fuck her on the bathroom counter, maybe while we ring in the new year together, and then I’ll never have to see her again. Knox is graduating. Blair should still be around next year, but Ruby won’t be.
Sounds like the ideal way to spend the last night of the year.
“I’m feeling lonely,” I say when Ruby pauses to take a breath. She’s a talkative little thing, which makes me think
she’s nervous. I pat the empty spot next to me on the couch. “You should join me.”
A delicate brow lifts and she crosses her arms, plumping up her tits. My gaze drops, lingering. “Does that work on other women?”
“All the time,” I drawl, smoothing my hand over the couch. “Come on, pretty girl. Join me.”
“Pretty girl? What, am I a parrot?” Both brows are practically to her hairline now.
I keep the smile on my face, not deterred by her sassy mouth. Her body leans forward, like she’s subconsciously drawn to me, so I know I’ve got her. I just need to be a bit more persistent. “If you say so. And might I add, you’re the prettiest parrot I’ve ever seen.”
“What’s with the parrot talk anyway? Are you a pirate?”
Now I’m the one with raised eyebrows. “Of course not.”
She remains quiet. Just sends me a look that says, okay? Like she doubts me.
What the hell?
“I’m definitely not a pirate,” I continue.
“If you say so.” She tilts her head to the side, her long blonde hair sliding over her shoulder. It looks soft. I bet it’s silky to the touch.
I have the sudden image of wrapping those wavy strands around my fist and giving them a hard tug. All while I fuck her from behind.
Damn.
“You sound disappointed,” I say when she remains quiet. “I can’t figure you out.”
What’s she trying to figure out? We only just met.
I flex my wrists, lifting my hands, though I keep my arms planted on the back of the couch. “What you see is what you get, babe.”
I sound like an absolute cheese monkey. I’m trying to impress this girl, yet I’m saying stupid shit. I really need to know when to stop.
But she does the most surprising thing. The very last thing I expected. Without warning, she settles in right next to me, so close our thighs are pressed together on the couch. The moment her warmth seeps into me, I’m on high alert. My arm falls from the back of the couch to settle around her shoulders and she doesn’t seem bothered by it at all.
See? I knew she’d come around.
“You’re a giant flirt,” she tells me, and I open my mouth to argue with her, but she keeps talking. “Which is fine. I like it. You’re actually just my type.”
“You’re just my type too,” I tell her, leaning into her so I can murmur those words close to her ear.
“What’s your type? A willing female?” She leans back some, as if she needs the distance, our gazes locking. “By the way, I can feel Cam’s death glare penetrating my brain.”
We both turn our heads to find Cam staring at us, Blair hanging all over him. She’s another hot piece of ass, but I would never ever utter those words out loud. First of all, I’m never going to disrespect my number one QB’s girl and I like her as a person. Second, Cam would hand me my ass and make me eat it for lunch if he ever heard me say that. He’s a grumpy son of a bitch.
And if Cam didn’t beat my ass, Knox would and he’s another grump, though he’s not as bad as Cam.
Honestly? I can’t wait for the seniors to graduate so I can slowly but surely take over the team. I’ll be a junior this upcoming season. Ready to lead our team and make it a well-oiled machine that takes us all the way to a bowl championship. It’s going to happen.
I can practically taste it.
“Ignore him,” I tell her, my attention zeroed in on her face. She’s cute, not one of those sisters who looks like her brother wearing a wig.
Thank fucking God.
Her lips are coated with a faint pink, glittery shine and her eyelids are covered with a pale blue shadow that matches the dress. I just impressed myself that I even noticed. She looks good with the makeup, but I’m guessing she looks just as good without it.
I’m not anti-makeup, but some women wear it so thick it’s like a mask, when that shit is absolutely not necessary. They take the cosmetics off and it’s like I’m looking at a whole different woman. Sometimes I even feel tricked.
That won’t happen with Ruby though. She’s hot. Pretty. The dress she’s wearing has a low-cut neckline that shows off the tops of her tits and I can tell…she’s not wearing a bra.
Nice. Easy access. I’m all about that.
The dress hits about mid-thigh and when she sits, the hem rides up, showing off her slender legs. Wonder if she’s got panties on.
Wonder if she’s going to let me check.
I must stare at her thighs a little too long because she begins to laugh, murmuring, “Are you Superman?”
My gaze jerks to hers, guilt flooding me. “What do you mean?”
“Do you have X-ray vision?” She tilts her head again, all of that blonde hair spilling down her back and this time, I give in to my urges and touch it, slipping my fingers into the silky strands, making her breath hitch in her throat. “It’s like you’re trying to see what’s under my dress.”
“Ah. No.” Well. Yeah. But I’m not going to admit that.
“Oh.” She sounds almost disappointed.
“Wouldn’t mind sneaking a look though.” I lick my lips for emphasis because yeah, sometimes I can be a prick.
An over-sexualized, looking to get in a girl’s panties, prick. I can’t help it. I’m young and horny and women are throwing themselves at me constantly, thanks to being on the football team. How can I resist? I never tell them lies. They know what they’re getting when they’re with me. A good time. A quick fuck.
Then it’s adios, baby. See ya around campus.
Ruby’s gaze flickers in Cam and Blair’s direction for the briefest second before she rises to her feet and bends over me, the front of her dress dipping, giving me an excellent view of her chest. Her tits. She’s definitely not wearing a bra, and I think I can see her nipples. “Come on.”
She grabs my hand and I let her pull me to my feet, which is impressive because I’m not small. I’m tall and I weigh a lot and it’s all solid muscle. But she comes from a legacy football family, so maybe she’s used to big dudes like me.
Ruby keeps my hand in hers and drags me through the house, her steps determined. All sorts of people yell out my name in greeting as we pass. Male or female, it doesn’t matter. They all want to talk to me. They all act like they want a piece of me.
But Ruby won’t let me linger. She’s stronger than she looks, pulling me through the room. I have no idea where she’s taking me. Pretty sure she doesn’t know either, but within seconds, we’re in a cramped box of a bathroom and she practically shoves me against the door, her body pressing into mine as she murmurs, “Show me what you’ve got, big boy.”
Big boy?
Without hesitation, I wrap my arms around her waist and maneuver us so she’s the one with her back against the door, her eyes wide when she tilts her head back, our gazes clashing.
We stare at each other, as if we can’t look away, and I reach out, tracing the neckline of her dress with my index finger, goosebumps rising on her flesh where I touch her. Her skin is so damn soft and I swear I’m witnessing her nipples tighten into hard points beneath the fabric the longer I touch her.
Her gaze still locked on mine, she sinks her teeth into her lower lip, her breaths starting to come faster. Damn, she smells good. Sweet and heady, reminding me of candy, and I inhale deeply, breathing in her scent. The pulse at the base of her neck is fluttering wildly and I’m tempted to kiss it.
I’m tempted to kiss her everywhere.
She tips her head back, a soft exhale leaving her when I lean in closer, my mouth hovering above hers, sharing the same breath with her for a beat. Two beats.
Anticipation curls through my veins and I dip my head, about to kiss her when
The door swings open, shoving Ruby into me, me stumbling backward with her practically on top of me, my ass hitting the edge of the bathroom sink. The redhead I was talking to earlier is standing there in the slightly open doorway, a sly smile stretching her lips just before they form an O, her eyes comically wide.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt.” She hides the laughter that spills from her lips with her fingers.
Ruby disentangles herself from me, straightening her dress before she brushes her hair away from her face. Her cheeks are flushed and she looks frazzled and I sort of want
to tell the redhead to get the fuck out of here, but that’s mean as hell, so instead, I just shrug at her.
“It’s all good,” I say, my voice easy, my manner much the same because what’s the big deal? I can sneak Ruby into another room in the house and we can continue what we started later.
“I need something to drink,” Ruby mutters, pushing past the redhead and exiting the bathroom without another word for me.
Huh.
The redhead watches her go—damn it, I wish I remembered her name—before she turns her attention to me. “Looks like you got ditched.”
“Yeah.” I scratch the back of my head, my butt still propped against the edge of the counter.
She shuts the door behind her, leaning against it with a sultry smile on her face. “I can pick up where you two left off.”
Say what? This type of girl is always surprising to me. She has no clue if I was kissing on Ruby just moments ago. For all she knows, I had my tongue shoved down Ruby’s throat and my fingers inside her pussy. She literally has no idea. Yet she’ll happily offer herself up to me and that’s kind of wild.
Okay fine, it’s really wild.
“Thanks, but no.” I rise to my full height, ready to get the hell out of there, but the redhead slaps her palms against the door, like she’s not going to let me get by her.
“It’s almost midnight.” Her smile is now overly bright. “We can ring in the new year together.”
“Maybe.” I pull my phone out of my pocket to check that yep, it is close to midnight. “I need something to drink too.”
“Let’s go then.” She shifts away from the door and opens
it for me and I have no choice but to walk out, the redhead right by my side.
I need to lose her. Fast. I need to find Ruby. Where the hell did she go?
Once I make it to the kitchen I lean against the counter for a moment, running a shaky hand through my hair as I focus on my overactive heart rate, mentally telling myself to calm down. But wow.
Wow.
That moment with Ace shouldn’t have felt so intense, yet it did. I’ve been kissed before. By plenty of guys. I’ve even been felt up in a bathroom a time or two. But there was something about the way Ace touched me. The way he looked at me.
A shiver moves through me and I close my eyes for the briefest moment, willing myself to stop. I’m reading too much into it. Our encounter was a potential hookup in a bathroom, only to be rudely interrupted. I need to compose myself.
But it’s like I got close to him and he put his hands— wait, only his finger—on me and my senses went haywire. Completely out of control.
It’s weird. I don’t like feeling out of control. I sort of hate it.
I also sort of want it—that moment between Ace and me —to happen again.
“There you are!” I turn to find Natalie approaching me, two fresh Truly cans clutched in her hands. She gives one to me and I take it gladly, cracking it open and practically draining it with a couple of gulps. “Where were you? Getting felt up by the cutie QB?”
“Sort of,” I answer, lifting my can toward her in a cheers gesture.
She nailed that a little too closely for my liking.
Natalie laughs, clinking her can against mine before we both drink. “I need all the details.”
“There’s not much to share.” I glance around the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ace again. Hoping against hope that he followed me out here, though he better not be with the redhead.
I mean, it’s possible he could be looking for me. The tension between us was strong. Palpable. Did he feel it? When he touched me, I wanted to melt. I sort of did.
Remembering the moment now, I want to melt all over again.
“Don’t be shy.” Natalie’s smile is sly. “Please tell me you at least kissed him.”
“Hey, everyone! It’s almost midnight!” A tall, beefy football player is standing in the middle of the kitchen, his hands cupped around his mouth as he makes his announcement. “Get ready to celebrate the new year!”
Natalie sends me a panicked look. “I need to find someone to smooch on at midnight. It’s bad luck if you don’t kiss someone!”
“Are you serious?” She doesn’t even hear my question. Just hurries away from me, her head swiveling left and right
as she moves through the house, as if she’s on the hunt for a man.
Which she totally is.
I watch her go before leaping into action myself, on the search for a specific someone to ‘smooch on,’ as Natalie put it. And that someone is Ace Townsend.
This is probably a terrible idea, but what does it matter? I’m leaving in a matter of days. I might be coming back to this campus as a student next fall, though what are my chances of running into Ace again. Knox will be graduated and gone, so I’ll have no reason to spend any time with the football team. No access to them whatsoever, which is fine by me. I get enough of that in my homelife. My entire family is made up of football players. I don’t date them.
I swore I never would.
Exiting the kitchen, I move through the crowded house, but I don’t spot him anywhere.
Where did he go?
“Hey! Did you just sneak off with Ace?”
My sister appears in front of me, her expression one of pure concern.
“Nothing happened,” I immediately say, not wanting Blair to overreact. I know she’s just watching out for me, but whatever happened between Ace and me a few minutes ago was no big deal.
That’s what I keep telling myself.
“Between you and Ace?” Blair makes a tsking noise, shaking her head. “Well, that’s a shame.”
I’m frowning. My sister is sending me mixed messages. “You actually want me to hook up with Ace?”
“I don’t know. Maybe?” She shrugs. “I mean, it wouldn’t be a hardship, spending a little one on one time with Ace. Look at him. He’s adorable.”
Adorably sexy. Adorably magnetic.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for him.” Blair leans in close, her voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t tell Cam, though. I think he’d be jealous.”
“Please.” I dismiss her worries immediately. “Like you look at anyone else.”
“I don’t,” she agrees. “But he’d still be jealous. Sometimes he acts like Ace is coming for his entire life.”
It’s kind of weird to hear that Cam has any insecurities, though he’s only human, so I guess it makes sense. He definitely acts like he’s got his shit together. Both personally and out on the football field. But if anyone knows the real Cam, it’s my sister. They’ve become super close in a short amount of time, and I love it for her. For them.
They make a great couple.
“Get a drink everyone! The countdown is about to start!” the same football player screams, his voice booming through the house.
“I need to go find Cam.” Blair gives my arm a squeeze before she leaves me alone.
Geez. I’m the guest here tonight and everyone keeps ditching me, I swear.
Determined, I go on the hunt once more for Ace, peeking around every corner. Looking behind every closed door, except the locked ones. He’s nowhere to be found and the beefy football player—I think his name is Derek—has officially started counting down from thirty, which is obnoxious as hell.
I guess he’s trying to give everyone enough time to find a drink and someone to yell Happy New Year with, but all he’s doing is filling me with panic. Leaving me with the urgent need to find anyone—okay fine, a particular someone now.
“Ten, nine, eight…”
I race up the stairs, my heart pounding, my hands shaking when I reach for yet another closed door. An ominous feeling washes over me, my breath stalling in my lungs, and when the door swings open, I swear my heart lodges in my throat.
“Three, two, one…HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
The sounds of cheers and party horns blaring fill my already ringing ears as I take in what’s happening directly in front of me. It’s another cramped bathroom and Ace is in it, and this time the redhead who busted up our earlier encounter is the one in his arms, her lips fused with his. His broad back is to me and her hands are buried in his hair, long pointy red nails stroking through the short strands. When she breaks the kiss, our gazes meet, the triumphant smile on her face telling me she’s absolutely thrilled I caught them together.
That she’s the one who got to kiss him at midnight and not me.
Frustration ripples through my veins and I clutch my hands into fists. I hate losing control of a situation, and I hate even more looking like a fool.
Right now, I feel like the biggest fool out there.
Ace quickly extracts himself from the redhead’s arms, shaking his head. Rubbing his hand across his mouth like… what? He didn’t enjoy the kiss?
Please. I must make some sort of noise because he jerks his head in my direction, his eyes going wide when he spots me, the panic in his expression obvious.
Panic that he just got caught, I’m sure.
“Oh shit. Ruby.” He starts toward me and I hold up my hand, stopping him.
“Fuck off, Ace.” Before I can hear him say anything, defend himself, whatever… I’m gone.
Late August
“W E ’ RE EXCITED to have you as a part of this program, Ruby.” My advisor smiles at me, his teeth blindingly white. Jim Williamson was in the NFL for about a minute, before my dad and uncle’s time, and he’s been using that ‘connection’ with me since the moment I met with him via Zoom over the summer to discuss my goals and aspirations as part of the sports management and marketing program.
I didn’t call my plans ‘goals and aspirations,’ he did. But anyway…
I decide to give Jim what he wants.
“I’m excited to be here.” I sit up a little straighter, my gaze wandering over all of the stuff in his office, taking it in. He has an entire shelf devoted to his college and NFL career, with photos and plaques and ribbons and a signed football
encased in plexiglass. I’m sure he’s proud of his accomplishments but that was a long time ago and I can’t help but wonder if he’s the type who revels in the glory days.
My father isn’t. He was in the NFL for years—part of that time when I wasn’t even born yet—and Dad doesn’t brag about it. He doesn’t even really talk about it much. With Knox he does, of course, because my brother is just like him. Whenever Knox needs advice, Dad is always willing to give it to him. And now Knox is on a professional team like our father, about to play his first season opener in like what… two weeks?
Yikes. I bet Knox is nervous. Excited. I can’t wait to watch him.
“An opportunity has come up,” Jim says, his voice serious and I return my gaze to his. “We have paid internships with the teams here on campus and one of the students had to pull out of the program, due to her withdrawing from the university. You were the first person I thought of for the job.”
“Oh, wow. Thank you.” I’m flattered. I took classes at the other college I went to, but nothing specifically for this major. The sports marketing major that Colorado University offers is right up my alley. And while I’m not a diehard football fan—I’m not a huge fan of any type of sports—I do know my way around athletes. Plus, I enjoy marketing and promotion, specifically in social media, and I’ve put together some great projects in the past. It seemed like a natural fit. “But I’ve barely been in the program.”
It's only the second week of school. How am I the first person Jim thought of for the job?
“I know, but I truly believe you’re the perfect candidate.” He smiles at me, looking pleased, but doesn’t say another word.
“What’s the position?”
“Social media for the football team.” Jim leans back in his chair, resting his linked hands on his chest. “Running their Instagram and Facebook pages, I guess. Oh, and that clock app. Twitter? Is anyone there anymore? Reels and videos and whatnot.”
Spoken from a man who sounds like he doesn’t have a firm grasp on social media. “Are you saying I would be the social media manager for the football team?” I’m shocked they don’t have one currently.
“Not the manager. They already have one of those. You’d be an integral part of the team though.”
“How big is the team?”
“Not sure. It varies. Would you care to interview? They need someone right away, so they’re willing to talk to you ASAP.” He smiles. “I already put in a good word for you and told them you’re Knox’s little sister.”
Frustration ripples through me at his using my family name as a selling point. Though I suppose I can’t blame him because the Maguire name is well-known on campus, thanks to Knox. “I appreciate the mention, but I can get by on my own merits, Mr. Williamson.”
“Call me Jim,” he insists. “And trust me, it doesn’t hurt to say who you’re connected to, young lady.”
Ugh. I want to roll my eyes, but I just nod and smile instead.
“They like the fact that you’re so steeped in football history. Your family is a legacy. That you want to carry it on in a sports-related field is a smart move. You’ll get far with the Maguire name on you.”
That’s not necessarily why I chose this major and potential profession, but it’s definitely influenced me. I’ve been immersed in football pretty much my entire life. I under- immersed in football pretty much my entire life. I understand