The Game

THE GAME BELLE HARPER CONTENTS 1. Asher 2. Mila 3. Jace 4. Mila 5. Mila 6. Mila 7. Hunter 8. Roman 9. Mila 10. Jace 11. Mila 12. Mila 13. Mila 14. Asher 15. Mila 16. Hunter 17. Mila 18. Mila 19. Mila 20. Jace 21. Mila 22. Roman 23. Mila 24. Mila 25. Mila ONE ASHER Fuck! Everything’s fucked. That first day I met Mila Hart, I knew she was going to be a problem. Hell, she wasn’t what I had been expecting at all. I knew then I was in trouble. She’s gorgeous, and she doesn’t even have to try. It’s just who she is. She could be wearing that tiny little bikini in my hot tub or an oversized hoodie while stuffing her face with popcorn on the sofa. Either way, she’s beautiful. Mila has that girl-next-door vibe; she makes sweet and charming seem effortless. But her no shits given, smart mouth, princess attitude, that’s what sealed the deal. I love it, even though I shouldn’t. I never wanted to feel this way about anyone. Didn’t want what my parents had. Their marriage and divorce swore me off relationships. I keep my heart locked tight. But a little blonde firecracker—who cockblocked me within an hour of our meeting—has wormed her way in, and I want to keep her. I do, and that’s the dilemma. I wish she was a bitch from New York. I wish she wasn’t the daughter of James…the only reason I even know her is because her dad is dating Mom. I wouldn’t have met her otherwise. Okay, I might have seen her at a Rebels game or a party. I never would have gotten to know her. We might have hooked up for a night, and that would be the end of it. I wouldn’t feel like this about her because I wouldn’t have known the real her. I’d been straight-up honest with Mila when I said I didn’t have sisterly thoughts of her that first day. She cockblocked me. I agreed to it, thinking this was just some physical attraction and that it meant nothing. Well, I was wrong. The no fucking each other rule…what dumbass agreed to that? Yeah, that rule made sense, for all of a week, maybe. That’s how long it took me to realize it’s not only physical, but this girl has also gotten under my skin. Everything she does, every time I see or think of her, makes my heartbeat that little bit faster. I love the way she pushes my buttons, constantly messing around and testing my limits. She’s always herself. She never pretends to be something different. Mila teases and flirts, but it’s always with the understanding that nothing’s going to happen. I tease and flirt with her just as much as she does me, but there’s a safety barrier between us. We already have the rule in place, which makes it easier to be myself and drop my guard, since I don’t have to impress her. We know it’s just a game. At least it was at the start. She’s forbidden and off-limits. Same for me where she’s concerned. Only, we made the rules to this game, so we can break them. It’s all fun and games until one of us catches feelings, and I didn’t expect it to be me. She has a boyfriend…hell, she has two, and I don’t even get how that works, but I’m a jealous mess. I like Hunter—he’s fun and a good guy. But now, every time I see him with Mila, I want to punch his smug smile right off his face. Fucker got the girl. My girl. He knows I have a thing for Mila. Hell, he probably figured it out before I did. He hasn’t said anything to me since I walked in on them that morning, and I acted like a complete asshole. I guess he feels safe since she’s always loved him; I can’t compete with him. He doesn’t view me as a threat. Not like Roman. He sees me as someone who will take her away. I don’t know him well, but I can tell he would fight to the death before losing Mila. She would do the same for him. Hell, she went to save Roman from his abusive dad and ended up killing the man in self-defense. I’d like to think I can handle myself in a fight. I work out and keep fit for football. But Roman is bigger, quicker, and stronger than me. I wouldn’t stand a chance if he saw me as a threat and wanted to eliminate me. “Asher, what’s wrong?” Mom asks. I look up from my now-cold meal. Everyone at the dinner table is watching me…well, almost everyone. Mila’s beside me and looking anywhere but at me. Fuck, I can’t even get through a meal without obsessing over her. She smells like roses today, a new perfume. I haven’t smelled that one on her before. Fuck, what’s wrong with me? I need to get over her. Over whatever this is between us…well, what I feel. I let out a deep breath and shrug, “nothing.” A cryptic answer. Something mom isn’t used to from me. As she tilts her head and questions me with her eyes, I look away, unable to lie to her. She can see right through me, and I hope she drops this. But I have a feeling that, when we’re alone, she’ll ask me again, and I don’t want to tell her what’s really wrong. She will have to deal with “nothing” as an answer for a long time. “I just want to ask,” James starts, and I look over at him. His eyes met mine then dart to Mila. Fuck. Does he know? Can he see right through me. “Did you have a fight? Is there something upsetting you both? You haven’t been yourselves in weeks.” How do I answer that? Yeah, well, weeks ago, I did something dumb by