Page 56 of The Draft

This was so wrong on so many levels.

Scotty leaned back so he could look her in the eye. “So, it's not just football guys you have a thing for now? It's baseball too?”

That made her slump her shoulders as her lips quirked into a smile.

“When they look like that, how could I not consider my options?”

“He's married,” I deadpanned, drawing the attention of the entire room. Well, shit. That wasn't how that was supposed to go. Scotty rolled his eyes, leaning back onto the couch and shook his head. Okay, maybe that was a little too obvious. When I glanced at Cade, he wasn't paying much attention, seemingly more interested in his pepperoni slice than my anger over Madison’s non-existent affair with a too old and taken baseball player.

“No, he's not,” Brooks said, correcting me. “He's got twins with a woman that works in the Catfish marketing department, but they aren't technically married.”

“Oooh,” Madison cooed playfully. “Guess that means I've got a chance. Now the question is, do I want to be a stepmom this young?”

“Considering you live in California and he's full time in North Carolina, you might have trouble getting his attention,” Scotty answered saving me from any potential embarrassment, I presumed. “Besides, you switched allegiances fast. I doubt he’ll dump his baby mama for someone as fickle as you.”

“Fickle?” Madison’s mouth hung open as she stared at him in shock and disappointment. “Et tu, Brute?”

Cade hummed out his disapproval but didn't say much else. Instead, he stuffed his mouth with more nachofied pizza.

Madison nodded, conceding. “I know. I know. I just find it hard to focus when there are so many guys around.” She elbowed Alex on her other side and winked when he gave her a weary look. The poor guy had no idea what he got himself into. “But let's be real, the hockey team will always be number one in my heart.” She drew a heart in the air with her fingers and shimmied her shoulder against Alex's side, who was doing his best to pretend he didn't notice.

Wait a minute, was that sweat dripping down his temple?

“Can't a girl just appreciate the hours and dedication it takes to look like that?”

“I think I'm going to throw up.” Cade hopped off the sofa and walked to his room without another word. With that combination of food, I wasn’t surprised.

Scotty raised his brows and blew out a breath. “I don't know how your brother deals with you. If Amelia was this extra, I think I'd have a heart attack.”

“Get with the times, Hendricks. I'm a young, independent woman, and I'm going to enjoy my youth while I can.” She raised her nose in the air, subtly checking my reaction. I was just watching this conversation play out with annoyance but refusing to show it.

It took everything in me to turn my head away from her and watch the game instead of gazing at her beautiful face. Yeah, I was becoming a stalker.

“In fact, I'm going to enjoy my youth so much that I'm going to the football game tonight.” The smug satisfaction in her voice immediately piqued my interest.

“No, you're not,” I replied sternly and without thinking. All the guys looked at me with confusion. All of them except Scotty who was clearly bored with this cat-and-mouse game Madison and I were playing. He'd be having another conversation with me soon; I just knew it.

I ignored everyone else and kept my focus on Madison.

Her mouth was open, and she was doing her best to look upset, but she wasn’t the best actress. “What do you mean I'm not going? You guys aren’t playing, so I don’t need to cheer Cade on. I might as well cheer on the Wildcats instead. Especially since they invited me as a special guest.”

My lip curled because who the hell was inviting her to a football game as a special guest?

Was she still speaking to Adam and Devin? Or worse, had she decided to give Aiden a shot?

I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about all the different things I was going to do to Aiden, and they were all ten times worse than a broken nose. “Does Cade know you’re going?”

“Cade isn't my father, and I can do what I want.” She waved her hand flippantly.

“Guess we'll see you there, then.”

“Wha— Wait, who’s we? All of you?” She pointed to the rest of the guys sitting around her. Most were ignoring her antics now since they were used to her, but I was watching. I was always watching.

“No. Me and Scotty. If someone’s giving you special seats, then I’m sure they’ll be able to wrangle a couple of extra for us.”

“Oh, no,” Scotty rolled out before falling back onto the sofa.

She looked between me and Scotty a few times, her mouth hung open like a fish. “You're not coming. This is my thing. I'm going on my own without chaperones.”