Ruthless knight

COLE

I sense her the moment she walks out of the bathroom. 

I’m not sure what she did in there, but those pouty heart-shaped lips are red and shiny. 

I barely manage to suppress the groan of irritation lodged in my throat. 

She’s trying to impress me. Which can only mean one thing. 

Christ. My mistakes are piling up by the second. 

I shouldn’t have gotten so drunk this weekend. 

I shouldn’t have wandered upstairs. 

And I most definitely shouldn’t have talked to Sawyer Church—Little Miss Bible Thumper—and let her see that side of me. 

I grind my molars so hard I’m surprised they don’t turn to dust. 

According to the rumors, there are a few more things I shouldn’t have done with her. 

Things I have no recollection of because I blacked out mid-conversation. 

Fuck. 

Behind a pair of black-rimmed glasses, her big brown eyes hold mine…seeking answers to a slew of unspoken questions. 

Answers I can’t give her, because I don’t fucking remember. 

All I know is whatever we may or may not have done that night is ruining her untainted, pristine reputation. 

And mine. 

Peeling my gaze away, I direct my attention back to Dwight and Cortland. 

As usual, Cortland’s being his dickhead self. Beating around the bush in a pretentious mocking way that a

“So, how was it?” 

I stuff my blazer inside my locker. “How was what?”

I’ve been dealing with his stupid i

He exchanges a glance with Dwight. “Come on, Covington. Don’t be shy. Tell us how your little hookup was.”

My hand clenches into a fist. I have to remind myself my arm will be worth millions one day, and Cortland isn’t worth shit. 

 “Bet a girl who looks like that was awfully desperate to please,” Le

A few of our teammates snicker. 

Ignoring them, I swivel my gaze to the opposite end of the hall. 

As if things couldn’t get any worse, Casey and her posse are marching toward me. 

Bianca texted me earlier that Casey had told the girls on the team she was going to kick Sawyer’s ass if it was true. 

Casey’s outrage over my drunken betrayal is almost comical given Bianca’s positive she’s cheating on me. 

However, it’s just speculation and I don’t have proof. 

All I have is a pissed off girlfriend who’s currently glaring daggers at me as her heels clack against the terrazzo floor. 

And another girl who’s looking at me like I’m some kind of knight in shining armor.  

The same girl I’ve forced myself to stay away from for the last three months. 

Sawyer has a way of getting under my skin and inside my head like no one else…which makes her a hazard. 

Even more so now. 

There’s only one way to restore order and fix this shit. 

I turn to Cortland. “You’re go

Way more than he has. 

This time he’s the one who appears confused. “You really don’t remember?”

“Remember what?” I roar, drawing everyone’s attention to our conversation. “I was drunk as fuck on Friday.” 

Sawyer’s steps falter.

Smiling snidely, Cortland looks around the small circle of people surrounding us. It appears everyone is interested in our little pow wow. 

“Hate to break it to you, but rumor has it you fucked Sawyer Church at Christian’s over the weekend.” Before I can answer, he slaps my shoulder. “Never pegged you for a chubby chaser, but I hear Jesus freaks are wild in bed.”  

My laugh sounds convincing, even to my own ears. “You’re shitting me, right?” Before he can protest, I seethe, “Why the hell would I ever fuck some fat virgin when I can have prime pussy whenever I want it?”

I feel the weight of everyone’s stare as Casey sidles up beside me. On cue, I sling an arm around her. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Oakley looking at me like I’m a scumbag. 

Whatever. He can kiss my ass. This is my reputation on the line. 

And hers. 

Not only will Sawyer be branded a slut—because that’s what girls in high school do—Casey and the rest of the cheerleaders will make her life a living hell. 

Besides, Casey and I make sense. Us being together is what people expect. 

What someone like me should want. 

I’ve spent a long time building this life for myself and I’m not about to let some drunken mistake rip it all away. 

No matter how much Sawyer intrigues me. 

Looking at my girlfriend, I grunt, “Babe, tell this moron what happened on Friday since he’s so interested in where I stick my dick.” 

Not missing a beat, Casey chirps, “You got trashed and then we went upstairs.” She narrows her eyes at him. “Why are you so interested in my boyfriend’s junk, Cortland? If you’re switching teams, I’m afraid you’re out of luck. My squad is already full.”

No matter how upset she is, I knew she’d step up to the plate. 

Not because she loves me or she’s ride or die—but because we’ve been dubbed RHA’s power couple, and the notion of me cheating on her with someone like Sawyer is a huge insult to her vapid ego. 

Just like me, Casey knows it’s important to keep up appearances and give the world a show. 

Conceal who you really are. 

Cortland looks embarrassed, but I’m not done with him. 

Gripping his collar with my free hand, I fix him with a glare that makes it crystal clear not to cross me again. “Next time you give me the third degree about my sex life, I’ll slap your ugly mug with my cock. Just like I do to all the other uppity cumsluts who don’t know when to hop the fuck off.” 

His face goes slack as everyone hoots and hollers. 

Gri

I look at my teammates. “Same goes for the rest of you.” 

Respect illuminates their faces once more. Crisis averted. 

Feeling like a weight has been lifted, my hand finds Casey’s ass and we start trekking down the hallway. 

As usual, everyone’s eyes are on me. 

Except Sawyer.

She’s peering down at her shoes…as if it hurts too much to look at me.   

Good. 

I warned her not to get too close.