Playing Fate (Endgame Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

nose scrunches up, and her cheeks tinge with color.
    “Thanks.” She glances up at me and immediately averts her gaze. I exhale a frustrated breath, and her eyes snap to mine. There’s so much fire there…so much she is holding back. Her lips twitch, and I want her to unload on me; I want to listen to every word she has to say. Her eyes dart behind me, staring at my door. Like a ninja, she extracts herself from my touch and steps back. I follow her stare and don’t see anything but know I need to unload the rest of my crap and get inside.
    I step back. “See you tonight.” Turning to leave is hard. Those few seconds I touched her skin, stared at her, made me crave more. I shake those thoughts. I have my focus. Julie. School. Career.
     
     

     
     
    Running the streets of my parents’ neighborhood, my thoughts don’t stray from the green-eyed imp who captured my attention. Her head lands below my chest. I dwarf her with my body. Standing over six foot five that isn’t hard to do, but I’d never noticed how it made me feel. Protective. Proud. Like if I stood by her, nothing could get her. Nothing could harm her. Shit! I can’t go down that lane . . . anger would cloud my mind, and I need my A-game for dinner tonight.
    “I’ll be back before ten.” I kiss my mom’s cheek.
    “We’ll be fine. No rush.” She’d rather I leave Julie here and just go home…be a college kid, but that isn’t what I want.
    Walking into the restaurant, they’re seated waiting for me, and Saylor took the end of the circle booth. Easy escape—or so she thought. I nod my head to Mason, and he reads me like a book, scooting down, shoving Avery to the opposite end. Everyone else slides, and I stand next to Saylor, indicating for her to move so I can sit down. Basically trapping her. Her face is so readable, she can’t hide her feelings . . . she is like a caged animal looking all around and going to stand up. I don’t move back, so she has nowhere to go. Sighing, she gives in, and I’m sitting so close to her our legs touching. On purpose.
    Nobody studies the menu but her. We all know what we want; this is a regular haunt for us. She’s picking at her nails, fingers fidgeting. “What can I get for you?” Our waitress interrupts my perusal. Avery starts and it continues until it’s Saylor’s turn. She licks her lips, “Uh, just a Coke and Caesar salad. No croutons.” I give my order and before the waitress leaves I lean in close, “You sure that’s all you want?” She nods, so I signal to the waitress that we’re done.
    “Girl, I saw you scarf down a double cheeseburger and fries today at lunch. I know you aren’t on a diet.” Avery throws her straw wrapper at Saylor. She ducks her head and blushes.
    “It’s fine. I’m not that hungry.”
    “Liar, newbie. I heard you talking about eating the ass out of an elephant on the way over,” Mason calls her out. Damn it, I offered to pay for her dinner. I swear if she isn’t eating because of money, I’ll throttle her. If I don’t control myself and figure out this fucking attraction to her, I’m liable to drive myself insane.
    “Drop it.” She begs with her eyes.
    “Dinner’s on me, remember. Order what you want.” I level her with my gaze, hoping to convey that I’m not playing around.
    Rolling her eyes, she admits, “Oh my gosh. I’m a picky eater. I don’t like frou-frou stuff. I like beef. Not chicken. Not fish. Grade-A American beef.” She throws her dramatic self back against the booth and hides her face.
    “I got some Grade-A American beef over here, newbie. Just waiting for you,” Mason teases her, grabbing his dick while we all laugh. Well, they laugh, I glare. Mason is a douche.
    “I didn’t say I wanted a pig in a blanket or a Vienna sausage.” Her eyes hold his. This game could get interesting. She’s challenging him where we ignore him; we are used to his arrogance and antics. She’s fresh meat, so he’s going to try, and she isn’t