Play With Me (Playing for Keeps, #2)

by Becka Mack

As if on cue, the teensy bride storms by, Carter hot on her heels. “You’re not getting any of this tonight,” Olivia bites out, pausing to circle a hand around her bottom half. “None of it.” Carter’s gasp leaves him slack jawed, and he chases after her. “Ollie! It was an accident! You can’t cut off access! You can’t!”

“What? No.” Am I yelling? “Why are you yelling?” “I’m not yelling.” I’m yelling.

“Carter!” She slaps a palm across his mouth before yanking him down to eye level. “For the love of God,” she whispers in her threatening teacher voice. “For once in your life, stop talking.” His smirk is slow as we stop in front of a tall building. “I just wanna love you out loud. Why won’t you let me love you out loud?”

Besides, who needs a boyfriend when you’ve got a drawer full of battery-powered ones? Men don’t vibrate, but dildos do.

There are only four boxes, and I go through the first two in no time. When I get to the third, the one labeled toys, I grin triumphantly, ripping at the tape. “Aha.” This is it; this is the box. If this doesn’t put me in Jennie’s good books, nothing will. “Here I come, Princess Bubbleg—ah! Holy fuck!” I flip the top down and scream bloody murder. “Help!” “What?” Jennie slides into the bedroom, breathless, eyes wild. “Did you find Princess Bubble—Garrett!” Her hands go to her face. She’s screeching. I think I’m crying. “What are you doing?” “Looking for Princess Bubblegum!” I shout. The box I’m crushing against my chest, the one filled with dildos and vibrators, rumbles and shakes, coming alive. “She’s not in there!” “Spoiler alert, Jennie: I fucking know that!”

“What was interesting?” Cara grins. “Oh look, Liv. Jennie’s playing clueless.” “Imagine all the possibilities.” “Dangerous possibilities.” “Carter would be livid.” “We should videotape his reaction.” I shut the fridge and strut down the hall. “Where you going?” Cara calls. “Bathroom.” I hear the smile in her response right before I lock myself away. “If you think the bathroom is going to save you from me, sweet, naïve Jennie, you’re more delusional than I thought.”

“Tuck it away!” I shriek at him. “You tuck those away!” he shrieks back. “Stop looking!” “You stop looking!” “Garrett!” “Jennie!”

Two days ago, I knocked on her door. Without opening it, she shouted back in a horrendous mix of Spanish and English, claiming to be someone named Gloria because Jennie didn’t live there anymore. I said I knew it was her because I’d seen her get into the elevator. She was silent for an entire thirty seconds before replying, “Me no hablo English.”

A pretty brunette approaches, and I roll my eyes. Gaze locked on the back of Carter’s head, she tucks her hair behind her ears and takes a deep breath before tapping him on the shoulder. “Excuse me. I’m Arianna.” Carter doesn’t look up from his menu. “I’m married.” I lift my own menu to hide my snort. Arianna opens her mouth, and Carter cuts her off before she can speak. “Happily.” He looks up with a grin and shows her Olivia’s smiling face on his phone screen. “Isn’t she beautiful?” He flips through his photos. “Here she is on our wedding day. Fucking gorgeous, right? And here’s the baby she’s growing right now. That’s my baby. What do you think? Girl or boy? We’re not finding out. We want to be surprised. I’m trying to convince myself I see a penis, though, ’cause girls are scary.” Huh. Arianna might be faster than Jennie. She’s back on the other side of the diner before I can blink.

Well, that won’t work. Absolutely not. If I can’t have her, nobody else on this team gets her.

I changed my mind. I want her, and I’m gonna have her. Carter walks away, leaving his sister glaring at me, and when she flips me the double bird, I know that only God can help me now. Fuck me, I’m going for it anyway.

“Look at us,” he boasts. “Killing the whole friends-with-benefits thing. Knew we would.” I hold my fist up, and he bumps his against mine. “Nailed it!”

“Fucker.” Carter reaches across the table, and a game of slapsies quickly ensues as our hands fly, before Dad gets in the middle of it. Dad is Adam. Emmett is the bad uncle who sits in the corner, egging us on. Jaxon’s the drunk aunt making out with a random. “We should let natural selection take care of you,” Emmett says when we disengage. “Only the toughest survives.”

He stops abruptly, gaze falling to the ruined carpet. The tips of my ears burn. I scratch my neck as Adam stares at me. “Uh, that’s … I was … well, see, I was—” “I don’t even wanna know.” He wobbles by, shaking my cookie butter in my face. “This is mine now, ’cause I’m not gonna tell anyone about that. Deal?” Fucking deal.

“Wanna grab a coffee?” “Mine will have to be to-go. Carter’s picking me up on his way home from the airport.” “I can’t believe he’s cool with you dating one of his teammates.” I fumble a step. “What?” “Garrett Andersen?” “I’m not—” My head wags rapidly. “No, I’m not dating Garrett.” “Really? ’Cause he told me he was gonna put my balls in a blender if I hurt you again.” I swallow my snort. Okay, so I might’ve given Garrett a hard time about approaching Simon—strong, independent woman and all that—but I gotta hand it to him, that’s a good one. BJ worthy, even. Not that I need an excuse to suck his cock. But it’s fun to pretend like he needs to earn it.

Yet when Carter pulls up out front, the tension in my shoulders dissipates. Krissy might as well be purring as she follows behind me, like she’s planning to climb in with me. “Is that your brother?” “No,” I answer bluntly, launching myself into the front seat. “It’s my grandma.” I slam the door and sink into my seat. “Yes, Krissy, you fucking doorknob. It’s my brother.” Carter grins. “Ah, my sweet, charming sister. How I’ve missed you.”

“C’mon, Jennie. Dance with me.” Her grin is a slow explosion, lighting her whole face as all that apprehension fades away. “You’ll dance for me?” “I’ll do anything for you.”

“Jennie,” Mom murmurs from where she’s working over the stove. She casts me a glance over her shoulder. “Not Jennie Beckett?” When I don’t respond, her mouth gapes. “Garrett Andersen, please tell me you’re not dating your captain’s little sister.” “Okay. I’m not dating my captain’s little sister.”

“What? We’re not dating. We’re just friends.” Technically not a lie. “Does Carter know you’re friends?” “Uh, yeah. We live in the same building. He knows.” Still not a lie. “Okay, let me rephrase my question. Does Carter know you’re watching movies at night with his little sister and making her ice cream sundaes?” I cross my arms and look away, grumbling, “Shut up.”

She laughs and smiles, and I revel in each one she graces me with as I sit here thinking about that fucking f-word, the label I was so eager to shove on us. Friends. What the fuck was I thinking?

“What? This?” Carter looks down at his shirt, tugging so the single word is visible, as if it weren’t already large and in charge. DILF. “Ollie got it for me.” “It was meant to be a joke,” Olivia murmurs, “but it’s his favorite gift. He won’t take it off.” “Wanna see the best part?” Carter pulls Olivia into his side, beaming proudly. “Show ’em yours, pumpkin.” Her face flushes. “No, I don’t think I will.” “C’mon.” He shakes her arm. “Be loud, be proud, Ollie girl.” She does it, but she sure drags her ass about it, slowly pulling her sweater over her head, and I don’t know whether to laugh at her or cry for her. Because the shirt she wears underneath sports one simple sentence: I HEART DILFS. “Pip,” I whisper to Olivia, my shoulders shaking, laughter rumbling in my chest. I try to hold it in, I swear. “What did you do?” Her shoulders slump, eyes downcast. “I fucked up.”

“So it’s over.” Jennie takes my hand, towing me into the elevator. “Because Cara said she wouldn’t tell.” I nod, pressing for the twenty-first floor. “She did.” “Because she thinks it was a one-time thing.” “She does.” Jennie’s foot bounces. “So we shouldn’t push our luck.” I follow Jennie to her door. “Definitely not.” Her hand trembles as she jams her key in the lock, and when she finally gets the door open, she stares up at me. “So we’re in agreement? We’re done?” “Done,” I whisper, leaning toward her. “Totally done,” she murmurs, lifting her chin. I bend my neck. “Done like dinner.” Her breath ghosts over my lips, warm and sweet. “Stick a fork in me, I’m done.” Jennie’s back hits the wall with a thud as we crash into it, the door slamming behind me. I kick my shoes off, ditch my coat, and don’t wait for Jennie to take her heels off before I tear her dress over her head and hoist her up to me, winding her legs around my waist. “Not done,” I growl against her neck as we pinball down the hallway. “Not fucking done.”

“Oh no.” I cover my trembling mouth with my hands. “No.” Tears fill my eyes, ready to spill. “Carter’s going to kill me.” “Oh. Oh fuck. No.” Jaxon waves his hands erratically. “Fuck, no, please don’t cry. I won’t—I won’t tell him. I promise. Please don’t cry.” He looks to Garrett for help before squeezing both my shoulders. “Hey, it’s okay. Your secret’s safe with me, Jennie, really. And, uh …” His gaze falls to Garrett’s crotch. “I won’t tell everyone you named your junk after Indiana Jones. I haven’t heard that one before. It’s … new.” I sniffle, wiping at my eyes. “Thanks, Jaxon. You’re a good friend.” We watch him leave, and when he disappears, Garrett raises his fist. “Good call on the tears.” I bump my fist off his. “Gets ’em every time.”

“I’m so fucking tired of pretending.” “Pretending what?” It’s nothing but a breathy whisper as he prowls toward me, matching each of my steps backward. His strong hands cup my face, piercing gaze locked on mine as he looms above me. My heart slams in my chest as his thumb sweeps across my lower lip, and his eyes dip, watching as my lips part on a jagged inhale, before flipping back up to mine. “I’m so fucking tired of pretending I’m not in love with you.”

“I love you.” He presses a kiss to my cheek. “I love you.” The other cheek. “I fucking love you.” “I’m not crying,” I cry. “Just in case you were wondering.” I choke out a pathetic sob. “It’s allergy season.” “It’s February.” “Shut up.”

“You’re right. It’ll be—” His head snaps up. “No, but you-you said … you said—” “I love you, too, Garrett.” His eyes come alive, brilliant and electric. “You do? Really?” “I do, really.” His grin is detonating, laugh eager as he crushes me to him, falling to his back, dragging me on top. “Thank fuck. I mean, obviously. Who can resist all this? About time you admitted it.” “Garrett?” “Yeah?” “Shut up.” “Yes, ma’am.”

“Oh, that reminds me,” I yell over the shower. “I had to get air in the tires yesterday. I got a great deal!” Nothing but the sound of water raining down. And then: “A deal? On air?” “Yeah, I took it to that shop over on Renfrew, and they knocked the price down to four hundred dollars!” The water stops, silence hanging heavy in the air as steam seeps from the bathroom. Slow as molasses, Garrett appears in the doorway, naked, soaking wet, not even bothering to cover his XL cock. “Pardon?” “A hundred bucks a tire! For premium air! Can you believe it?” “P … Premium air?” “They said they normally charge double!” “Oh my God.” His hands come up, head moving rapidly between them like he isn’t sure what to do, before he finally drags them down his face. “Oh my God. Jennie, what the fuck? How-how-how … You got ripped off!” “What are you talking about?” “Air is—oh my God! Jennie, it costs, like, a dollar to put air in your tires!” “What?” His arms fly around his head. “You do it at the gas station! At those little pumps with the hose! Jesus fuck.” He scrubs his face, and I think it’s hilarious he’s somehow managing to get an erection right now. “We’re gonna have to skip breakfast. We’ll stop at the shop on the way to Carter’s. I’ll get you your money back.” My chest rumbles. I bite my lip, trying to stop it, but when Garrett’s flustered gaze meets mine, I can’t help it. A snicker-snort comes out my nose, and I fold forward as the rest of my laugh comes barreling out. “It’s a TikTok ...

“I didn’t know,” Cara whisper-yells at Emmett, arms in the air. “Okay, I knew, like, a little bit.” She points at Adam and Jaxon, who followed Garrett in. “But they knew too!” Emmett throws his arms overhead. “Oh, so everyone knew except me?” “That’s not true,” Cara argues. Adam scrubs a hand over his face. “Yeah, Carter also doesn’t know.” “I didn’t know!” Mom cries, hands clasped under her chin. “But I’m so happy!” “What?” Hank asks, head whipping back and forth. “What am I missing? What’s happening?” Cara leans over, whispering in his ear, and a smile erupts on his face. “Oh boy. Carter’s not gonna like that now, is he? Mr. Nice Guy Adam might have been a safer bet, Jennie, but if you’re going to go for it, go all the way, that’s what I always say.”

“Let me take care of you. Let me do something.” “You do everything.” My head falls to his shoulder as he pushes inside me. “You are everything.” “You’re my everything.”

“Should I call her? I should call her, right? Yeah, I’ll call.” I pick up my phone, thumb hovering over that sunshine. “No,” I groan, chucking my phone on my bed. “I shouldn’t call.” “I’m scared,” Jaxon whispers from the doorway. “Me too,” Adam whispers back. “I’ve never seen him talk to himself before.” “I’m not talking to myself, you fucking turkeys.” I stuff my sweatpants and hoodie inside my carry-on bag. “I’m talking to you two donkeys.” “It’s one or the other, Andersen,” Jaxon says, an irritating smirk on his face as he watches me pack for our flight later tonight. “Turkeys or donkeys. We can’t be both.” “You’ll be whatever the fuck I tell you to be.”

Ollie said I wasn’t being fair. Made me sleep on the couch.” “You have, like, three spare bedrooms.” “Four. She said I didn’t deserve a bed.”

Stephie pokes my cheek. “Your face got super red when you read the message.” “My face did not get super red.” Her brother just lit my insides on fire with a simple text message. “He was just being sweet. Super sweet.” I’m gonna let him tie me up tonight. “What did he say that was so sweet?” Stephie frowns. “Did he say he wants to braid your hair? ’Cause last week I caught him with one of the ribbons you use in your hair. When I asked him what he was doing, he said he was going to braid your hair for you. His face got really red, too, and he was kinda yelling.” She shrugs. “I guess he really likes when you use those ribbons.” “Yes,” I say slowly. “That’s definitely why he had my ribbon.” “Maybe one day I’ll have a boyfriend who wants to tie my hair with a ribbon too,” Gabby says brightly. Garrett’s gonna kill me.

“Your parents signed everything for the house today,” I manage, jolting forward with the weight of his plunge. “Mhmm.” “They move in four weeks.” “Yup.” “That means I can move back home soon.” “You’re already home.” “What?” “This is your home.” The words lick at the skin on my neck, hot and sweet. “I’m keeping you.” “Are you asking me to move in with you?” “I’m telling you you’re not going anywhere.”