“Any suggestions on how to win her over?”

Jock threw back his head and laughed. He laughed so hard there were tears in his eyes. Finally, he blew his nose and wiped his eyes. “You have to be fucking kidding me? I’d never give you tips on how to get my sister to go out with you. If anything, I’d give her tips on how to avoid guys like you.”

“Guys like me? What’s that supposed to mean?” I probably shouldn’t have asked for clarification, but I’d thrown it out there like the idiot I was.

“Players. Guys who don’t have any interest in women beyond their next fuck.” He glared at me pointedly. And here I thought we were getting along.

“You don’t know shit about me.”

“I know enough, and there are plenty of guys on this team who’ve known you a long time, and I doubt one of them would dispute what I just said.”

The sad thing was, neither would I. I had been a player until I’d met Geneva. I probably would be again once the relationship with Geneva ran its course, which it would. They all did.

~~Geneva~~

The next morning, I was straightening out the players’ stalls in the visitors’ locker room when my brother came in. He glanced around to make sure no one was around. He didn’t have to worry. Jock was notorious for showing up before everyone else. He must’ve taken a taxi here instead of waiting for the team bus.

“Hey, big bro. Good to see you.” I gave him a quick hug. He still stiffened when I hugged him, but he was getting better about it. His family must not have done much hugging, not that mine did either, but I was better at faking being comfortable with it than he was.

He lounged against the side of one stall, crossed his arms over his chest and one ankle over the other. His pose was casual, but he didn’t fool me. He was as wound up as a little yapper dog when a stranger rang the doorbell.

“Spill it,” I said, sitting down on the padded bench in front of him.

“Axel tells me he’s asked you out.”

“He talked to you?” I wasn’t surprised, yet I was. He’d said he was going to be up-front with Jock, but I didn’t think he’d act this fast, if ever.

“Yeah, brought a pizza to the room to fatten me up for the kill and then gave it to me straight. He wants to date you. Says you have chemistry.”

I shrugged, not denying the chemistry. How could I? Axel and I had epic chemistry, but I would not be exploring how far that chemistry might take us. “You don’t have a thing to worry about. I told him no.”

“You told him no this time, but what about next time?” He watched me intently, either trying to get under my skin or read my mind.

“It’ll still be a no.”