Playing to Win (The Players #3)

by Monica Murphy

We stop in front of the newly, publicly launched couple, a pang in my heart when I see the way Cam looks at my sister. As if the sun rises and sets on her head. Like she’s the only person he sees.

“You were pretty confident in your pursuit of me,” Cam tells my sister. Blair glances over at Cam, her eyes wide with surprise. “You think so?” “Oh yeah. You wore me down.” He leans down to kiss her and she reaches out, pinching his lips together. “Ow.” “Wore you down,” Blair mumbles, shaking her head. “More like you couldn’t resist me.” “Same difference.”

“Introduce me, future brother-in-law. I want to meet that guy.” “Ruby.” Blair’s eyes are wide, like she hates that I just said that, but I couldn’t resist. Cam doesn’t appear to mind though. The smile on his face is soft, like he might even enjoy the idea of being part of the Maguire family, and that’s when it hits me.

I grab a cheeseburger and a giant basket of fries, plus a salad and a banana because I’m trying for a balanced meal, damn it.

My gaze snags on a woman in the distance, her back to me, long blonde hair spilling down her back. She moves in a way that feels familiar and I sit up straighter, hoping it might be— The woman turns, her profile visible and I slunk back in my seat, disappointment filling me. She’s not Ruby Maguire. Not even close.

Don’t know how that’ll be possible with Ruby. I mean, look at her. How can I not notice her?

“Yo, Maguire.” We both turn in Derek’s direction. “Your boy here called you his girlfriend.”

“We don’t need anyone else to get it.” His smile is small and a little sneaky and a lot sexy. Ugh. “It’ll be our little secret.”

I have a feeling we’d be so damn good together. Like we have the potential to burn down the world, if she’d just let me show her.

Taylor Swift’s voice booms from the speakers and I slide lower in my seat, closing my eyes. I don’t mind that this girl is a Swiftie, but I don’t really know much of her music. And women who are Taylor Swift fans always get offended when I admit I don’t know whatever song is playing.

“You were a big help to me today at practice.” “I did nothing.” You exist, is what I want to tell her. Just looking at you calms my chaotic thoughts. Like right now.

“Only your parts.” His smile is soft. Intimate. “I guess I’m a Ruby man.”