Page 18 of Playing to Win
Maybe she’s trying to find a way to stay connected to me.
I sit up a little straighter, puffing out my chest, willing her to look my way. My gaze is still stuck on her, lingering on that T-shirt that has no right to be so damn sexy but somehow, it is. Maybe because I’m imagining what she looks like without it on?
There’s tiny writing on the front of the shirt and I squint in the sun, trying to make it out. It’s only when my brain computes exactly what it says that I start to chuckle.
Three small white letters stitched into the dead center of her shirt.
IDC.
I don’t care.
“What are you laughing at?” Derek asks me.
“Her shirt.” I wave a hand at Ruby. “The IDC.”
“I-D-C?” Derek frowns. “What’s that mean?”
“I don’t care.”
“You should care. What if it’s some sort of secret code...ahhhh.” Derek nods when he gets it. “I don’t care. IDC. Makes sense.”
“Who’s it directed at though? Us? She doesn’t care about us?” I’m probably reading too much into this.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you go ask her.” Derek grins. “Weren’t you two flirting at the New Year’s party? Whatever came of that anyway?”
“Nothing,” I say way too quickly. From the knowing look on Derek’s face, he caught it too. “She’s not my type.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Derek sounds incredulous.
“Well, yeah. I mean, I have a type.”
“No, you really don’t. You go after pretty much anyone.”
Fuck, he’s not wrong so I may as well own it.
“I don’t need to ‘go after’ anyone,” I remind him. “They all come to me.”
“True. They all come tous,” he clarifies. “But when it comes to a type? You definitely don’t have one, Townsend. You’re down for any of them. As long as she’s cute and flirty, you’re into her.”
Mattson blows his whistle, silencing all of us.
“Townsend!” His gaze is right on me and he waves his hand. “Come here.”
Reluctantly, I walk over to where he’s standing with the social media team, my gaze never wavering from him, though I can feel Ruby watching me.
I send her a quick look, noting how she turns away quickly, her cheeks the faintest pink at getting caught staring. Being this close to her, I can smell her perfume. See the faint pink glittery gloss on her lips, the same color she wore on New Year’s Eve. I stare so long at her sexy mouth I see the quick flick of her tongue as she licks her lips and I finally tear my gaze away from her.
Hot. That’s the only word in my brain, flashing like a bright red neon sign. Hot. Hot.
Ruby Maguire is sexy as fuck and she’s not doing a damn thing. Just standing there, while my body reacts like I’ve just been completely overstimulated.
Damn it, I need to focus.
“What’s up, Coach?” I ask, flicking my chin at him.
“You remember Gwyneth and Eric from the social media team.” Mattson tilts his head in their direction.
I glance over at them, offering a quick smile. Eric’s reaction is instant, his friendly smile making mine grow while grouchy Gwen just scowls. “I definitely remember them. How’s it going, E-Dog?”
