Read Hard Tackle (A Stepbrother Warriors Novel) for Free Online Page B

as my legs pump on the
cement beneath us. "I don't like what that scene does to people. I run for
myself, and that's it."
    "Not even high school sports?"
    "No," I respond flatly.
    "What's up with you? You seem even grumpier than usual,"
he notes lightly.
    "It's nothing." I can't tell him what I'm upset
about. I don't want him to know that he can have that effect on me.
    "Did you know they were going to get engaged?" he
asks. He thinks I'm upset about the engagement…fine, let him think that.
    "I had a pretty good idea," I reply.
"You?"
    "Same. Alexa's going to be shocked, though."
    "What's the deal with her? People just keep telling me
she's in Europe…what does that even mean?"
    Jack laughs. "It means no one really knows what she's
doing, least of all her."
    "And that drives your dad crazy."
    "Oh, yeah. She's great, though. You'll like her.
Everyone does."
    "She coming home soon?"
    "Maybe," he says with a shrug. "She dropped
out of college, followed this guy over there, but her relationships don't tend
to last long."
    "So you two are alike in some ways."
    "Well, Lex tends to romanticize everything. She thinks
her life's a cross between The Great Gatsby and Emma. " I
glance over at him in surprise, not expecting to hear those references from
him. "What? I was a Lit major at the University of Michigan."
    "Not just a pretty face, huh?"
    "Aw, shucks, you think I'm pretty?" he asks,
pushing my playfully.
    "Quit it!" I scold him. The feeling of his skin on
mine is too distracting.
    "You are in a bad mood," he says.
"Upset we didn't finish that kiss?"
    "Probably not as upset as you," I retort. "I
hear I'm your only option."
    "What's that supposed to mean?" I shrug. "Oh,
you heard about those pictures yesterday. Look, a man like me is never really
out of options…and I know you're going to tell me I'm arrogant for saying
something like that, but it's the truth. Is that what's eating you? You think I
only asked you because I couldn't get anyone else in bed?"
    "Well?" I ask, keeping my eyes trained on the dark
road ahead of us, lit only by the security lights by the mansions on either
side.
    "I think you're beautiful and interesting," he
says simply. "But yeah, it doesn't hurt that you're someone who's not
going to sell a story to the press, or my underwear online."
    "You're honest, I'll give you that."
    "I see how Lex gets torn up by these guys promising her
the stars and the moon, and then ditching her when they're done. At least I'm
straightforward about not looking for any attachment. I don't want anyone
getting hurt. Has to be two consenting adults with all the information out
there. Speaking of…how old are you?"
    "Sixteen."
    "What?!" he yelps stopping in his tracks. I laugh
as I keep running.
    "Oh man, I got you!"
    "Not funny!" he says, starting up again.
    "Eighteen," I tell him as he catches up to me.
    "And you're clean?"
    "Jack!" I protest. God, it's not like I expect him
to hand me red roses or something but that's a bit much.
    "Hey, it's a fair question."
    "Yes, OK?" It's not a lie, really…I mean, I am
clean. It's more of a lie of omission than a real lie.
    "Gets so humid out at night when it doesn't rain,"
he remarks, then quickly whips off his shirt.
    "Jack, seriously?" I groan, stealing a quick
glance at his bare chest in spite of myself.
    "Not bad, though, right?" he smiles, spreading his
arms out to give me a show. "Just giving you something to think about. And
it's only fair…you showed me yours."
    "I did not 'show you' mine! You snuck in and saw
me."
    "Hey, no sneaking involved. I honestly didn't think you
were in there."
    "I know," I reply more softly. I do my best not to
glance sidelong at his torso, but it's covered in sweat, and I can see each
muscle twisting across his stomach with every footfall.
    "What about your brother? When's he coming back?"
    "I think around October. He can't tell us the exact
date, even if he knows."
    "And he gave you that knife? Sounds a little
overprotective." A laugh bursts out