The Bad Baller Collection by Kiss Tabatha

Author:Kiss, Tabatha [Kiss, Tabatha]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2019-11-20T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

These parties used to be more fun.

I look around Ty’s living room, staring into the blissful faces of my teammates and classmates and perfect strangers and wonder why everything feels so different.

The party hasn’t changed. It’s still the same people, the same cheap beer, the same pre-game ritual, but…

I’m just not into it this time.

I toss my half-empty cup into the trash can and round the corner toward the front door to go out and get some air, only to come face-to-face with Grant’s smug mug.

“Hello, Johnny,” he says, smiling at me.

“Hey,” I say through gritted teeth.

“What’s wrong with you?”

I raise a brow. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Yeah, nothing.”

“You seem pensive,” he says. “You never seem pensive.”

“Must just be an off night.”

“Johnny…” He throws his arm over my shoulder. “Walk with me.”

We spin around and he guides me away from the door. “Grant—”

“Johnny,” he interrupts, “I think you’re going through what the psychologists refer to as an identity crisis.”

I laugh. “What the hell do you know about psychology, Grant?”

“I go on a lot of triple dates with Junior and his sister. Anyway, that’s not important. What is important is that my house parties are amazing. Would you agree with me when I say that my house parties are amazing?”

I nod. “Yes, your house parties are amazing.”

“Then…” he swings in front of me and stares me down, “why the hell do you look like your favorite show just got canceled?”

“Grant—”

“And why the hell haven’t you completed your trifecta yet?”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Being pensive?”

“Yes.”

He shakes his head. “No, I don’t buy it. What’s her name?”

“Her name is piss off, Grant.”

“Ohh.” He grins. “Sounds Swedish.”

I sigh. “If I tell you there’s a girl, will you let me leave?”

He stands up a little taller. “Yes.”

I lean forward. “There’s a girl. Excuse me…”

“Wait, wait—” he says, grabbing my elbow. “If there’s a girl, then what the hell are you doing here?”

“And miss one of your amazing house parties?” I ask.

“Touché.” He releases my arm. “You may go.”

“Thank you.”

I walk toward the front door, briefly glancing back to see Grant furrowing his brow at me, deep in thought. Telling him there was a girl probably wasn’t the brightest idea but Grant lives for gossip. Those three little words should be enough to keep him preoccupied for a while.

I step out onto the porch and fill my lungs with fresh, autumn air; enough to chill my insides and clear my head.

Man, what the hell am I doing here?

I used to come to these parties for a singular purpose and that was to find a girl to take home with me. It was easy. I’d spend an hour mingling with the team before setting my sights on some girl. A wink-wink and a nudge-nudge later and she was climbing into the backseat of my car with smeared lipstick but now…

I just can’t be bothered.

“Leaving so soon, Kirby?”

Ugh.

I pause on the stairs as Douglas climbs them. “Yeah,” I answer, brief and cold.

“Hey…” He offers a forced smile, gently patting my shoulder as he stares back at me.

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