Page 67 of Broken Romeo

Because right before the game started, a photo pinged in my inbox.

A black lace thong.

Her underwear was getting more and more daring as the week continued. And today was the sixth day. The last pair… the last picture I’d get.

Even her photo had revealed more of herself than any other image. I got glimpses of her torso and upper thighs. A full view of her ass in that thong. I honestly didn’t think she had it in her. The false bravado of anonymity.

Except it isn’t anonymous, despite the fact that she thinks it is.

I was lying to her.

I was a fucking creep who was lying to Kate every day and secretly buying her panties.

And I was so fucking turned on by it that I couldn’t even stop myself.

She needed the money, the little voice in my head whispered. You’re helping her by offering her that $500.

Who knows what kind of pervert would have bought those panties from her if I hadn’t stepped in.

With a sigh, I slid my fingers through my shower-damp hair. I could justify it all I wanted until I was blue in the face, but the fact of the matter is I’m a fucking dick of a man for doing this.

This was it. Tonight, it was over. After we do the drop off of cash tomorrow, I’m done.

I had a whole day Sunday ahead of me to not think about her or see her again.

I stood outside of Magic Mushroom, looking in the window at several of my teammates who were already inside pushing tables together.

The last thing I wanted to do was go in there and celebrate with them. But it was part of being a team. Camaraderie and all that bullshit. Plus, most of the guys had gone to Kelsey’s sorority party, so it was just a few of my closest friends, thank God.

One beer wouldn’t be so bad. I could have a beer and a couple slices and still be in bed before midnight.

So with a tired breath, I pushed open the door and entered my team’s favorite pizza joint. Well, the only pizza joint open this late. But that was beside the point.

I entered Magic Mushroom and waved at my group. The guys all hooted and slammed their fists on the table in our own post-game battle cry.

I was the last one there, as usual, and froze when I saw the only open seats were beside and across from Addison.

Who the hell invited her?

Hesitating for the briefest second, I took my normal seat at the end of the table beside where Addison was sitting. “Hey,” I said, then gave a nod to Duncan and the rest of the guys.

“Hey,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Good game tonight.”

I did my best to give her a smile. “Thanks. Didn’t peg you as the football type though.”

She gave a shrug and bit her bottom lip suggestively. “I’m full of surprises.” Then, leaning in, she whispered, “And you can peg me anytime.”

Classy.

Surprisingly, there were more of us here than I’d expected tonight… but that had less to do with my stellar company and more to do with the fact that Brandon and Kelsey broke up last week, so a lot of our guys refused to go to her sorority’s party. Team solidarity and all.

It was pretty easy to ignore Addison most of the night. Our group was already louder than most of the other people there, high-fiving and going over our favorite plays from the night, except for Brandon, who had his eyes set on our waitress. A rebound if I ever saw one.

“I can’t believe you caught that pass.” Duncan laughed, punching my arm. Then, he gestured for the waitress to bring another round of shots. I groaned. I’d already dumped the first shot out instead of drinking it without anyone seeing. I wasn’t sure how much more I could get away with that.

As I lifted my first beer of the night, still nursing it, my cell phone buzzed in my pocket, and I knew without looking that my dad was calling to check in on how the game went. Even though he’d probably watched it on college ESPN, every week was the same thing. He wanted to hash out the details of what I could have done better.

It was never a phone call to congratulate me or say he was proud…