Playing Dirty (Leighton U, #4)

by C.E. Ricci

Phoenix

Yuck

“It was just weird not having Kason there. He’d always spend Christmas with my family.”

Fuck you Phoenix and good for Kason

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad Phoenix and Holden found each other.

I'm not

It sucks that Phoenix lost his best friend in the process though.

Phoenix doesnt deserve Kason as a friend

stairwell too. “Why weren’t you answering your texts?” Phoenix hisses, keeping his voice low.

Fuck you Phoenix. Nobody owes you shit. Why do you have any friends at all?

Phoenix has a shit-eating grin on his face when he looks at me. “That’s a question for you to answer, Theo.”

I hate Phoenix so damn much. I literally can't stand the douche and this scene replaying from the previous book makes me mad all over again. Seriously, just get fucked dude.

“Oh, shit. You’re working the Penny Play?”

Seriously, this guy sucks so bad. He is the worst possible "friend" in existence. And WHY is Theo about to go along with this after what he agreed to with Madden

I glance up at him, and it’s evident from his features drawn down in a skeptical frown, he isn’t sold on the tale.

Yeah hes probably skeptical of everything because of all the lying HE'S so experienced with. Douche.

“Eh, screwing him for intel is fine,” Phoenix says, waving me off. “But anything else? Then yeah, it’s straight to the slammer for you, my friend.”

SERIOUSLY THE WORST. THE MOST SELFISH POT-CALLING-THE-KETTLE-BLACK-DOUCHE CANOE IVE EVER READ. He never EVER deserved a happily ever after of his own.

“Damn, kid. At this rate, you may as well bench yourself for the rest of the game.” Phoenix is instantly fuming, his eyes darkening to damn near black when he snarls out, “Yeah, well, at least I’m not a pawn in somebody else’s.” The hair on the back of my neck prickles, and an unsettled feeling coils in my stomach. “What’d you just say?”

AGAIN, I SAY he is literally the WORST friend ever. Even if Theo was lying. Their was speaking to his FRIEND in confidence and the first chance Phoenix gets, he just spews bullshit and throws his friend under the bus to his STEPBROTHER just to get a jab in. Let's pretend they aren't even love interests at all. Phoenix still would have caused family issues for Theo JUST for the sake of being an ass and goading Madden. He's the biggest POS character ever.

“I tried so fucking hard not to want you, you know that? But I wasn’t strong enough to resist—I’m still not strong enough—and it’s got nothing to do with the Penny Play. It’s you. I wanted you in the hot tub, that day on your porch, and every moment since.”

But just not enough to put him and his feelings and value as a person above being honest to your "friend" who again, is the shittiest human ever and not even a friend, and above a stupid capture the flag game that they literally suck at and have never won ANYWAYS. Phoenix is the biggest sore loser ever.

“I wouldn’t have told them anything if I had another option.”

No other option?! How about THE TRUTH!

To my surprise, he doesn’t say anything or linger, just makes a bee-line to the kitchen and starts rifling through the fridge.

Yeah cuz heaven forbid he APOLOGIZE or, idk, say hes happy that they're both ALIVE. What a fucking douche.

If Phoenix wants to be pissed at someone, it should be me.

HE LITERALLY HAS NO RIGHT TO BE PISSED AT ANYBODY. THE WORLD DOESNT REVOLVE AROUND HIM AND HIS GOD COMPLEX ATTITUDE.

I can feel Phoenix watching me struggle for a few seconds before he lets out a sharp sigh and walks over. “Let me help you before you hurt yourself some more.”

This. He literally watches him struggles before then making sure to say a smart assisting remark rather than just HELPING HIS FRIEND WHO COULD HAVE DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT.

Phoenix’s gaze lifts to mine, and his entire demeanor changes on a dime with those last two words. A huge grin appears and he starts laughing—the kind bordering on maniacal—as he drags the fabric from the counter.

Why is he ONLY happy when he gets his way like a child? Its a freaking game. Not even the SPORT ITSELF. And how is he so proud, he literally didnt even earn it. It was QUITE LITERALLY handed to him.