“Alright, fellas.” I toss a five on the bar top and stand, thanking the bartender. “I’m running out of time. Gotta go get ready for tonight.” I tip my chin at Austin.

He downs his drink, motioning for another. “I’m headed that way in a few. Grabbing one for the road.”

“Just be in the lobby by seven, yeah?” I raise a brow. “We’re heading over to the next resort for dinner, then going to Coco Bongo for drinks and shit.”

He nods, brushing me away with the back of his hand.

I don’t even make it through the glass, wall-length sliding doors before I’m stopped.

When she walks right in front of me, my hands find my hips, my head dropping back to stare at the gold-flecked covered ceiling. “What, Olivia?”

“Got a minute?” She cuts her eyes around nervously.

“No. Actually, I don’t.” I step past her. “I’m running short on time already.”

“It’s about Lolli!” she shouts, desperation dripping off her tongue.

I keep moving for the elevator, pushing the little green arrow when I reach it.

“Look, Liv.” I turn to her. “I get it. You don’t like her, but that’s too damn bad. We,” I motion my hand between the two of us, “were never a thing. We hooked up a couple times. That’s it.”

She looks at her bare feet, then back up at me through sad eyes, hidden by heavy makeup. “I know, but this isn’t about that. I’m just worried about you.”

When I roll my eyes, she steps closer. “I’m serious.” She looks up at me. “She’s lying to you. Tricking you.”

I throw my hands up and take a step back. “Okay.” My brows jump, making my hat lift off my head slightly. “I’ve heard enough.” The elevator door chimes at the perfect time and I step inside. “Go away, Olivia.”

She doesn’t, and she’s quick to step in with me, making it a point to push her ass out a little further than necessary, rushing to push the button to close the doors before anyone else can join us. “I’m serious. She’s using you!” she all but yells at me.

Running my hands down my face, I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, okay.” I shake my head, praying someone else gets on along the way up.

They don’t.

Olivia rambles on about how Kalani doesn’t care about me, about how she’s using me for status, and I tune her ass out the entire time, jumping out of the tiny silver box the second the doors open.

“Go away, Olivia!” I shout, not bothering to look behind me.

“Nate, please! How can you not see it?” she pleads, her feet padding the floor in her attempt to keep up with me.

Eyes on the white door in front of me, I slip my key card in. “Have a nice night,” I throw over my shoulder, stepping into my room.

“I have proof!” she rushes out, running each word together, her eyes darting down the hall, then back to me.

When the door freezes, half-closed in my hand, I think I see her lip twitch as she steps in front of me.

Her shaky hand lifts, waving her phone back in forth a few inches from my face.

When I don’t slam the door on her, she steps even closer. “Let me come in,” she whispers, “and I’ll show you.”

My eyes narrow.

She gives me a sad, side smile, tucking her long blonde hair behind her ear.

Against my better judgment, I demand, “Show me.”

“Let me in and-”

“Show. Me. Olivia.” I all but growl, determined to call her bluff. Needing to, really.

She sighs and looks at her phone. Pressing some buttons, she bites her lip, turning the screen to me.

It’s Kalani and Jarrod, a picture from last night when they were dancing. He has his sloppy hands on her hips. Her head is tilted back as she laughs.

I shrug, cutting my eyes back to Liv. “Nice try. I’m well-aware they were dancing last night. You were the one that pointed it out to me.” I raise a dark brow at her. “Remember?”

“That’s not the only one.” She pulls the phone back, swipes to the left, and thrusts it back in my face. “See. Today. They were drinking together.”

This photo is of Kalani in her sinful white two-piece that shows off her sun-kissed skin, sitting next to a shirtless Jarrod. They’re clinking shot glasses, smiling at each other.

My jaw ticks, but I shrug. “Already knew this too. Seen ‘em.”

My eyes still on the phone, I see Liv nod in my peripheral. She reaches around and swipes, not pulling the phone away.

Jarrod and Kalani laughing.

Jarrod and Kalani leaning toward each other.

Kalani lifting her glasses to look at the prick.

Jarrod’s hand on Kalani’s arm.

My eyes fly to Liv then back to her phone. “Why did you take all these? So they hung out a little.” My shoulder jerks up in a not so casual shrug. “Big deal. They’re...” What? Friends? “Cordial.”

She nods and steps closer. “I thought so too, until I came up here earlier to switch swimsuits and saw...” She turns her phone toward her, pulling up another set of pictures. “This.”

This picture is Kalani walking into the elevator, Jarrod following close behind. The next one is him stepping in with her.

My pulse spikes, thumping against my neck. “Not a big deal.”

Liv laughs lightly, hearing the tightness in my voice.

She nods, pulling up on more picture. “And this one.”

It’s a clear shot of Kalani standing in front of her room.

With Jarrod.

One of his hands is on her door that’s cracked open slightly, the other holding her bicep. I can’t see her face because his is tilted, blocking her, but it’s as clear as a fucking blitz his mouth is on her.

I lose balance slightly, having to take a half step back to right myself.

Olivia takes it as in invitation, stepping inside, closing the door behind her. “I’m really sorry, Nate.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, shaking my head.

No. No.

“Get the fuck out of here, Olivia.” I narrow my eyes. “I know that’s all bullshit. You’re just trying to cause problems.”

My chest tightens. That’s all it is…right?

“Seriously, Nate?” She gapes at me, her eyes glazing over. “I give you proof and you still believe in her?”

“Yeah.” I step toward her. “I do.”

With a shake of her head, she sits down on the edge of my bed.

When her gaze lowers to her phone once again, I hold my breath.

“I didn’t want to have to do this,” she mumbles, sounding not at all remorseful. “I thought the pictures would be enough, but clearly they’re not. She’s worked some serious magic on you, Nate.”

When my brows pull up, Olivia rubs the silk comforter, motioning for me to sit beside her.

I sit in the chair across the room.

She sighs, crosses her long legs, and pushes a button on her phone, before setting it beside her and leaning back on her elbows.

Kalani’s raspy voice fills the room, sounding a little muffled by distance.

“What is this?” I ask, my eyes locked on the lit screen.

“Shh...” Olivia answers.

“Olivia.”

“A recording, Nate. You need to hear what your precious Kalani really thinks.” When my eyes fly to hers, hers seem to soften around the edges. “She admitted everything, Nate,” she tells me, then presses play on her and Kalani’s conversation once more.

 

“What about him?” Kalani spews, irritation lacing her words.

“Why are you with Nate?”

“NFL pays high for recognizable talent,” she states, matter-of-factly.

 

My brows grow close, my chest tightening slightly.

 

“So, that’s all this is to you?” Olivia sobs. “What about Nate?”

“I don’t care about Nate!” Kalani yells.

 

It feels like my heart has stopped beating. Using the heels of my hands, I push into my eye sockets, not wanting, but needing to hear the rest.

 

“So, what is he to you?”

“Easy. Money, a title, and a ticket.”

 

Kalani’s voice is so calm and unaffected, I want to puke.

 

“So, you don’t even love him?” Olivia whispers in a broken voice.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Kalani’s voice booms.

“You’re going to hurt him!” Olivia shouts. “You’re acting like money is everything!”

“Money is everything!” Kalani shouts right back.

“So, you don’t love him. How could you say that?” Olivia yells.

“Because it’s the truth!”

 

I fly off the chair and rush into the bathroom, doubling over, as the contents of my stomach splash into the toilet.

Money is everything? She doesn’t love me?

What. The. Fuck.

More vomit makes its way up my throat.

A soft hand finds my bare back, rubbing small circles in attempt to comfort me, but all it does is make me feel sicker.

“Go, Olivia. I need a minute here,” I grumble into the porcelain throne.

“I don’t think you should be alone right now, Nate. I know this hurts you,” she whispers in a somber tone. “I’m so sorry.”

“Right,” I scoff, reaching past her to flip on the shower. “‘Cause you’re all tore up about it.” I toss my hat on the countertop, turning to face her. “You been waiting for this.”

She smirks slightly, stepping closer to me. “Maybe I have.” Her hand slides down my chest. “But that doesn’t mean I wanted you to get hurt in the process.” She leans into me. “Let me make you feel better,” she murmurs, brushing her tits across my chest, making sure I feel her hardened nipples through her thin swim top.

I let my eyes rake over her nearly naked body, following her long shape in her hot pink bikini, and bring my eyes back to hers. I drop my trunks to the floor, watching her grow hungry, and maybe a little vindicated.

“Let yourself out.” I step into the shower, slamming the glass door behind me.

It only takes a few seconds for the bathroom door to close behind her.

My head instantly drops to the tiled walls.

Kalani.

My beautiful, broken, blue-eyed girl…is a lying fucking bitch, caught red-handed.

What. The. Fuck.

After stepping into my heels, I smooth my dress over my hips, and turn to look myself over in the mirror.

The dress is a fire engine red, with see through lace shoulders. The front is nice, the lace dropping down onto a V-neck cut, showing just enough cleavage to drive Nate crazy, but the back is my favorite. The lace lays from my shoulders to an inch above my ass, so my tan skin is visible through the material, making a bra impossible to wear. It’s tight and slinky, and ends a few inches down my thighs.

I paired it with some five-inch black heels and diamond studded earrings. My dark hair is down with big beach waves, and I winged my black eyeliner. The final touch is a long-lasting matte lipstick in the exact shade to match the dress, and bam. I’m ready to get tonight’s party started.

Grabbing a granola bar off the counter, I toss pieces in my mouth, just in case my lipstick has yet to dry, and pick up my phone to text Mia, letting her know I’m grabbing Nate and we’ll be in the lobby in five.

She texts right back.

 

Meems: uh-huh, we’ll see about that. No hanky panky. We’re already down here having a drink. Hurry up.

 

I toss my phone to the bed, deciding I don’t want to bother with it tonight, grab my room key and cash, and head out the door.

Nate’s room is only a few doors down the hall, so I’m knocking in seconds.

It takes a good minute, then the door flies open and a scowling Nate looks down at me.

“Hey.” I see he’s still wrapped in a towel, water dripping down his solid chest. When I reach to brush it off, his hand grips my wrist.

My gaze flies to his, hoping to find that dilated look his brown eyes get when I’m near, but instead I find a set of dark ones, hard around the edges, glaring down at me.

He tosses my wrist away from him with force.

“Uh…” I cut my eyes left, then back to his. “What’s going on?” I frown. “You look pissed, and you’re not ready to go. Everyone’s waiting down-”

My voice cuts off when his smirk turns vile and predatory, his hand dropping from the door frame.

I take a step back and he lets his door fall open the rest of the way.

My eyes find her like a truck driver would at a pit spot.

She’s laying on her stomach, her fake blond hair laying over her shoulder, while she kicks her feet in the air casually, her naked ass bouncing slightly with the movement.

Olivia rests her head on her propped elbow and uses her fingers to wave at me from Nate’s bed.

And I just stand there, my eyes roaming her naked, perfect body, that’s on top of my boyfriend’s bed.

I force my gaze away from her, locking eyes with a Nate I haven’t seen in a long time.

His stance is loose and comfortable. Confident. His face relaxed and collected. Arrogant and privileged.

This is Nate Monroe, the star quarterback, playboy extraordinaire.

A stranger.

I nod, my eyes never leaving his, a laugh bubbling out of me like vomit, because this is so beyond fucked up and I have no idea how to even begin to process this. I’ve never been let down by anyone based on choice, and the sudden hollowness in my chest gives me no help in deciding how I’m supposed to act.

“She must have come in here with a really good plan, considering I didn’t see this coming.” I shrug, tipping my head slightly. “But I guess that’s the best kind of play, right?” My eyes flit between his. “The ones you never see coming. The ones you can’t read.” I laugh again. “Those are the ones that win a football game.”

I take a step back, my eyes cutting to Liv’s and that smirking face I want to ram my heel into. “I definitely didn’t see this one coming. And I’m all about defense.”

“Yeah, well,” he seethes. “Never figured you for a scheming bitch, either. So, I guess we’re on the same page, huh, Lolli?”

Lolli. Ouch.

A sad smile graces my lips and I hate myself for being unable to wipe it away. “What’d I tell you, Handsome?”

His entitled eyes and self-assured face morphs, tightening around the edges and pinching between his eyes at my question. Or maybe it’s the broken tone the words left me in.

“In the beginning?” I stare at him. “I said, if there was ever something you needed to know, ask, and I wouldn’t lie to you.” His face falls.

“Yeah,” I nod. “You remember.”

My eyes shift back to the bimbo who, somewhere along the way, grew some self-respect and covered herself with a pillow.

The hole in my chest widens.

I look back to Nate. “I’m gonna go meet my friends and enjoy my night. You two do the same.”

With that, I turn and walk away, rushing through the elevator doors at the end of the hall before my brain has a chance to process what the fuck just happened.

One thing is for sure.

I’m getting fucked up tonight.