Playing By The Rules (The Players)

NEW YEAR’S Eve

Knox and I decided to throw a party to ring in the New Year. A lot of people are gone for winter break, but we came back early for training, and so did a few of the other seniors. Plus, some of our teammates who are taking on bigger roles for the upcoming season.

Like Ace. His ass came back early too. And his ass is currently in my apartment, hanging out on our couch and throwing back beers with a big ol’ smile on his face. Not a single care in the world.

Blair approaches me, clad in a tiny black dress that shows way too much skin and barely covers her ass. I hate it.

Lies. I love it. I just don’t want anyone else looking at her.

“Are you having fun?” she asks.

“I am.” I have to shout over the music to be heard. “Why do you ask?”

“You’re scowling.” She pats my chest, both of us turning when her sister approaches.

Ruby is here for winter break. She’s going back to college on the East Coast and will complete the next semester there before she’ll enroll here. She’s already filled out the application. She’s ready to come back to Colorado. She made sure to tell us at Christmas.

Multiple times.

I’m glad she’ll be going to school here. I know her and Blair are close. It kills me that I won’t be on campus next year, but I feel better knowing the Maguire sisters will be together.

“Look at him.” I point at Ace, who’s currently got a girl under each arm, all three of them laughing. “Is he trying to start a harem in my living room? That shit is not gonna fly.”

“Oh, simmer down. He’s just having fun. You’re so hot and cold with Ace sometimes, I swear. Kind of like you were with me.” She snuggles up close, sliding her arms around my neck and kissing me.

I rest my hand on her hip, gently pushing her away so I can watch everyone from where I’m leaning against the wall. “You’re blocking my view, B.”

“You’re supposed to be looking at me.” She mock pouts, and I do what she wants.

Taking a good, long look at her.

Wearing that dress should be a crime. It dips low in the front, showing off the tops of her breasts and making me think all sorts of dirty thoughts. Like how I wouldn’t mind coming all over them.

Don’t think we’ve done that before. Wouldn’t mind trying it out later tonight.

Ruby and Natalie magically appear, their arms curved around each other’s, matching grins on their faces. Once they met, they clicked, and they’ve been running around together ever since. Ruby has to go back to school in less than a week, and I know those two are going to miss each other.

“What’s going on?” Blair asks her sister.

“I want to talk to that one.” Ruby’s gaze slides to Ace.

I groan.

Blair grins.

“I think you two might be cute together,” my delusional girlfriend says.

“No fucking way. Look at him. He’s currently sitting with two girls.” I wave a hand at him like Ruby has no idea who I’m talking about.

She rolls her eyes, bumping her hip into Natalie’s. “Duh, Cam. He’ll take one look at me and forget all about them.” Natalie high fives her while I mutter curse words under my breath.

“I wish I had an ounce of your confidence,” Blair tells her.

“You were pretty confident in your pursuit of me,” I say.

Blair glances over at me. “You think so?”

“Oh yeah. You wore me down.” I lean down to kiss her and she reaches out, pinching my lips together instead. “Ow.”

“Wore you down,” she mumbles. “More like you couldn’t resist me.”

“Same difference.”

“Hey.” We both turn our heads to find Ruby glaring at us. “Introduce me, future brother-in-law. I want to meet that guy.”

“Ruby.” Blair’s eyes are wide, like she hates that Ruby just said that.

But I don’t mind. It has a nice ring to it. Being a part of the Maguire family wouldn’t be a hardship. They’re so close, so obvious with their love for each other, and I come from the complete opposite type of family. I spent Christmas with them since my mom spent the holiday with her new boyfriend, and I loved every second of it. Her parents treated me like I’m already a part of their family, and that was the best gift they could’ve ever given me.

Besides Blair, of course.

“Come on,” I tell Ruby, removing my hold on Blair, so I can escort her sister over to where Ace is currently sprawled out on the couch. One of the girls already left, so he only has a cute redhead under his left arm, a red solo cup clutched in his right hand. When he spots me, he grins, lifting the cup up in a toast.

“Number one QB! Who’s the hottie?” Ace’s gaze runs up and down Ruby, and I can tell she likes it.

Behind us, Blair groans.

“This is Ruby Maguire. Ruby, I’d like you to meet Ace Townsend.” I pause. “The number two QB.”

“And about to become number one.” Ace rises to his feet, forgetting all about the redhead. “Nice to meet you, beautiful.”

They shake hands, Ruby giggling, the redhead glaring from her perch on the edge of the couch.

“You did hear me say her last name, right?” I ask him.

“I caught it. Maguire. You a cousin?”

“She’s my sister,” Blair pipes up from behind us.

Ace lets go of Ruby’s hand as if it were a snake. “I forgot Knox had two sisters.”

“Is that a deterrent?” Ruby asks. “That Knox is my brother?”

“It makes you off limits,” Ace says, sending a smile in the redhead’s direction. What a schmuck.

“Ooh, I love a challenge,” Ruby says, making Natalie laugh.

“That might be a mistake,” Blair tells me minutes later, when we’re alone, watching Ruby and Ace, who are still talking. He’s back on the couch, the redhead long gone, Ruby standing directly in front of him.

“Ace and Ruby?”

“Yes.” Blair makes a face. “They sound like cartoon characters.”

“I think they kind of go together.”

Blair swats at my chest. “You do not.”

“I’m just giving you shit.”

“I know.” She beams up at me and I kiss her. “Are you going to kiss me at midnight?”

“Definitely.” I kiss her again. “Can’t wait to see what the new year brings us.”

“Me too.” She slings her arms around my waist, peering up at me. “I love you, Camden.”

“I love you too, Bumblebee.”

She reaches for the necklace I got her, with the tiny gold bumblebee pendant. She hasn’t taken it off since Christmas morning. “I sort of hated the nickname at first, but now I love it.”

“You hated it?” I whistle. “Those are strong words, baby.”

“I was just feeling sassy—and annoyed by you. I wanted you to think of me by my real name, not some made-up nickname.” She scowls, and it’s adorable.

“I always know exactly who I’m thinking about no matter what I call you. Blair. B. Bumblebee.” I kiss her again. “Baby.” Another kiss. “Love of my life.”

“You’ve turned into a real sap, Camden Fields,” she tells me, her eyes glowing.

“And you love it.” I smile.

She smiles in return. “I do.”