MY EX'S BEST FRIEND

The Game

I stared at my phone, confused and hoping it wasn’t Rohan calling from a new number after I blocked him. When I answered, I stayed silent.

“Ivy,” Cole’s voice came through the speaker, and excitement shot through me. That man could make anything sound sexy.

“Look who finally decided to call me,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but it came out breathy.

“I’ve been busy. Sorry, I should have called earlier.”

“What have you been up to?”

“Travelling mostly. Then I got back to take my exams. I’m supposed to be graduating and applying for teams, so I’ll probably be busy for the next few months.” He sounded tired.

“Any team in mind?”

He made a sound on his end before replying. “Not really. I just want the money and the experience.”

“You already have experience. You should be fine,” I said, though I had no real idea how the game worked.

“University games are not enough to prepare you for the outside world, but it’s a start. I just...” He stopped abruptly, and I heard someone calling him in the background. “No, I’m fine. I want to be left alone... Rohan, just go and finish your business, man. I’m busy... It’s none of your business who I talk to... She will never meet you, man... Just go, your friend is waiting.”

Rohan was with a girl. I waited for the familiar pain to hit me, but it didn’t. All I felt was anticipation to finish talking to Cole.

“Do you want to come to one of my games? I’d really love it if you were there cheering me on.”

I smiled, thrilled that he was asking me to do something with him, even if it wasn’t exactly a date.

“I’ve never been to a rugby game, Cole.”

“You’ll enjoy it.”

He was right. I enjoyed the game more than I expected.

He picked me up on Friday in a car that he said belonged to his mum. I wore nice jeans, a black top, and a leather jacket. I didn’t miss the way his eyes dropped to my chest, and I smiled to myself. Mission accomplished. I knew he was attracted to me, and I was determined to make him do something about it.

When we got there, he introduced me to his cousin, who had come to watch the game. He told me to sit with him while he played. Cole was a beast on that field, and I was completely captivated by him. By the time the game ended, I was practically drooling.

“If you keep looking at him like that, you might as well f**k and get it over with,” his cousin said. I turned to him, wide-eyed.

“He’s my ex’s best friend.”

“Yeah, and that’s why you came to watch this game, and I’m guessing it’s also why he kept asking me if he should ask you on a date.”

“Kyle,” Cole said, standing in front of us and looking past his cousin. “You opened your big mouth again, didn’t you?”

Kyle didn’t look bothered. He just shrugged and smirked at Cole. “Someone had to tell you two idiots, or you’d keep pretending forever that you don’t want to get into each other’s...”

“Kyle.” That shut him up, but it also killed the little excitement that had been building inside me. Cole looked angry, and I started wondering whether he didn’t want Kyle to say those things or whether I had simply imagined everything between us.

“It’s okay,” I said quickly. “We both know he was talking nonsense.”

And so was I, like the coward that I was.

“Give me a few minutes, then we can go. I’ll shower quickly, and then we can leave.”

I nodded and sat back down, scrolling on my phone and trying not to stare at him. He looked even taller when I was seated, and I was annoyed with myself because I wanted him so badly. He clearly wanted nothing to do with me.

He came back twenty minutes later, clean and smelling delicious, with a bottle of alcohol in his hand.

“Want some?” I nodded and reached for the tumbler, which was half full.

“We’re just waiting for some of my friends, then we can leave. Drink.”

I took a shot and handed it back. “What about you?”

“Well, I have to keep your drunk ass safe, and I’m driving us home.”

“Fair enough. Pour me some more.”

A small laugh escaped him before he handed me another shot. “You’re not having any more. We need to get you food first.”

“I know. Where are we going?”

“Same club as last time. We won’t stay long. Somehow everyone loves clubbing except me.” He dragged a hand down his face, and suddenly he looked exhausted.

“We don’t have to go. They’ll understand.”

Cole shook his head. “It’s just for formalities, you know. Boy stuff and shit.”

“Tell them you have to go home with me. I’ll be very drunk before they get here.” I leaned closer to him. I was a lightweight, and even though I wasn’t drunk yet, I was feeling reckless.

Cole’s eyes drifted down my face and stopped at my chest, where the zipper had fallen open. He stared openly at my breasts.

“Give me another shot, Cole.”

He didn’t even question it. He just poured and handed it to me.

“Is Rohan going to be there? I don’t want to run into him.”

Cole stopped staring at me and gave me a confused look. “We’re not going there, baby girl. We’re going back to my other place.”

“The Airbnb?” I asked. He nodded.

“You didn’t tell me it was your place.”

“I lease it out once in a while for extra cash. I’ve been using it a lot lately, though. We still need to stop by the hostel to get a few things.”

He saw the look on my face and reached for me, brushing my cheek with his hand. “He won’t see you. We’ll be in and out very fast. I promise.”

“I never want to see that man again.”

He smiled at that. “I’m here. He won’t see you, and you won’t have to see him.”

I turned my face into his palm, closing my eyes and enjoying the small touch. “Let me tell the guys I’m leaving, then we can go, okay?”

I nodded. He stood and handed me the bottle. “I’ll be back in five minutes.”

He jogged toward a group of his teammates. I watched them talk with fans and schoolmates, clearly used to attention. I was getting distracted when I noticed a girl standing next to him. She was smiling, and he was smiling back. After a few words, he handed her his phone. I was sure she had just given him her number, and he looked a little too happy to take it.

Jealousy hit me so hard I didn’t think I could breathe. Without thinking, I stood and walked toward his car, hoping I remembered where he had parked.

I hadn’t gone far before I heard someone call my name.

“Go finish what you were doing, Cole.” I kept walking faster.

“Ivy, stop.”

I didn’t. I nearly ran, trying to get away before I could embarrass myself any further. The jealousy was turning into hurt, and I suddenly felt stupid for thinking he might like me.

Then I was lifted off my feet.

Cole had me over his shoulder and was already moving before I could process what had happened. A minute later, he set me down beside his car.

“Where do you think you’re going? I told you to wait for me.”

“Well, you were busy handing out your number to your fans. I thought I’d give you space.”

He looked at me for a few seconds before a small smile appeared on his face. “You’re jealous.”

He stepped closer, placing one hand on the car beside me. His face was now inches from mine, and I tried to turn away, suddenly embarrassed.

“Look at me, Ivy. Are you jealous?”

“Why did you bring me here if you were just going to be giving out your number to other girls? That’s humiliating,” I muttered.

“I did not do that.”

“I saw you. You handed her your phone.”

“That wasn’t my phone, baby girl.” He shook his head. “Do I look blind to you, Cole? I saw it. You know what? I’m leaving. I’m going back to school right now. Go have fun with your friends and girls.”

I ducked under his arm, but he caught me around the waist and pulled me back.

“Get in the car, Ivy.” His voice was firm now, and it only made me angrier.

“No. You get in the car and go wherever you want.”

“I have your phone, Ivy. We left our phones in the car when we got here. That was Kyle’s phone. She wanted his number, not mine.”

“Oh.”

I smiled sheepishly, suddenly feeling very stupid. We had left our phones in the car.

“I won’t tell you again. Get in the car.”

I nodded, avoiding his eyes, and sat awkwardly while he got in on the other side.

“Now, where were you going without your phone?”

“I don’t know. I overreacted. I’m sorry.”

“Yes, you did. Don’t do that again. You hear me?”

I nodded. “Look at me.”

“I have plans for you. And those plans do not include other women any time soon. I want you, and I’m not going to mess this up like Rohan did.”

There is a certain feeling that comes with hearing a man say he wants you. I couldn’t explain it then, but I wanted to climb across the seat, sit on his lap, and let him have his way with me without caring who was outside.

“Well, you haven’t exactly told me that’s what you wanted.”

“Give me your hand.”

I looked at him in confusion. He took my right hand and placed it on his crotch. He was hard, very hard, and very big.

“I’ve been hard for the last thirty minutes since you said you were ditching the boys. You getting upset just made it worse, because all I can think about is throwing you over my lap and spanking you until you stop overreacting.”

My hand flexed, and I squeezed him involuntarily. My body reacted instantly to his dirty words and the feel of him under my palm. He let out a low groan, and my eyes dropped to where our hands were joined. He was big, deliciously big. I squeezed again, hoping he would groan again.

“Ivy, stop, or I’ll f**k you right here in this car where anyone can see us.”

“Maybe you should.”

He let out a small breathless laugh and stilled my hand when it started moving again.

“I knew you were going to be the death of me from the first day that motherfucker introduced us.” He lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to my wrist. “As much as I’d love to do that, you’re for my eyes only. But I am about to kiss you.”

He leaned over and took my mouth before I could fully process what he had said. My eyes closed, and a spark shot through me, spreading from my n*****s to my p***y and through the rest of my body. I felt light-headed, not because of the alcohol, but because Cole had just become a new drug in my system.

He tasted like alcohol, warmth, and sweat from the game. A small sound escaped my throat, and I leaned closer. My hands moved to his face, pulling him nearer, wanting more. He brushed his hand over my breast, and another wave of electricity ran through me.

He pulled away first, and I almost cried at the loss of contact.

“Try not to look so gloomy,” he teased. “We have the whole weekend to kiss some more, and someone is watching us.”

I turned sharply. Kyle was standing outside, grinning and waving at us. I looked away, cheeks burning. With my head on Cole’s shoulder, I listened as Kyle demanded to be driven back to school and mentioned that the coach wanted to see Cole before he left for the weekend.

A few minutes into a very quiet, awkward drive, Kyle decided to stir things up again.

“So, you took my advice, huh?”

No one answered.

“Come on, brother. I told you to whisk her away and tell her. And if I remember correctly, you had her on your shoulder with her ass in the air.” He chuckled at the end, making me even more embarrassed.

“Let it drop, Kyle. Don’t talk about my girl like that.”

“My girl?” Kyle leaned forward between us. “You hear that, Ivy? You’re his girl.”

Cole parked angrily and ordered him out of the car. Kyle didn’t even look sorry. He just laughed as he got out and disappeared into the crowd of students.

“I hope I won’t have to see you for the next two weeks at least, you nosey cow,” Cole muttered.

Kyle didn’t even turn back. He just kept laughing.

“Come on,” Cole said, turning to me. “I’ll take you upstairs.”