Playing the Enemy: The Trouble With Tomboys #1

by Dallen, Maggie

  She flinched—it was slight, but I caught it. Before I could even wonder what that meant, she was back to being the cool, laid-back Hannah I’d grown used to seeing on the opposing team.

  She tilted her head to the side. “Do you guys need a new girl or not?”

  “We do.” Tristan’s voice behind me made me stiffen. I loved the guy like a brother, but he never knew when to keep his mouth shut.

  Hannah’s eyes lit up as if she was actually happy to hear this…

  Of course, she was. She’d probably been sent to get the downlow on our situation. Make sure the rumors were true.

  “We don’t need anyone.”

  Her eyes darted back to me, and I braced myself for impact. I could feel Tristan staring at me, too. He’d moved to our town in junior high, well after me and Caleb stopped being friendly competitors, when Hannah was just a girl I’d known. Tristan had no idea of the history here, and that was just fine by me. He’d never let me live it down if he knew I used to have a crush on this little tomboy.

  But I didn’t anymore, and she and Caleb could go back to their perfect life in their perfect houses with their perfect families. I took a half step closer to her, getting in her space. “You can tell your boy we don’t need any players.”

  I shouldn’t have been surprised that she didn’t so much as blink let alone back off.

  The girl was as tough as they came on the field, was it really a surprise that she’d be a little warrior on the sidelines?

  As if to prove my point, she tilted her chin up so she could meet my stare head-on. “Your friend here seems to think you do.”

  I heard Tristan snort with amusement behind me before shoving a hand between us. “Tristan. How you doing?”

  She looked down at his hand for a second before shaking it. “Hannah Crowley.”

  “She plays for the Lions,” I added.

  Tristan took a step back after dropping her hand. “Ahh.”

  She gave me a bland look that I couldn’t quite read. “I don’t play,” she said mildly. “I win.”

  I’ll admit it—she shocked me. Her bravado mixed with the low, dry tone made me smile before I could stop myself.

  Her answering smile was worse than her stare when it came to sheer impact. It was there and gone in a heartbeat, but I caught the full force of it like another blow to the gut. It was the dimple—the flash of that little indentation a tease. I wanted to see it again. I wanted that huge beaming grin I’d seen her give to Caleb when he scored a goal against us.

  What was I, twelve years old and still mooning over the rich girl who loved to play with the boys? Oh man. Seriously? I rubbed a hand over my eyes to clear my head. It wasn’t possible. I couldn’t possibly still have a crush on Caleb’s girl.

  Get a grip, dude.

  “What are you doing here, Crowley?” I said.

  Her lips twitched up at the corners. “It’s Hannah. Or did you forget that we used to be teammates?”

  I let out a huff of amusement. As if I could forget. “That was a lifetime ago.” I looked around again pointedly. “We’re not exactly playing in the same league anymore.”

  We weren’t even living in the same world. Her fancy private school might as well have been on another planet compared to Fairmont.

  “No,” she agreed. “Although right about now I’d love to be playing for the Tadpoles.”

  And there she went again, surprising a short huff of laughter out of me. The Tadpoles. I’d forgotten that’s what our team had been called. Our coach had the brilliant idea that we should name ourselves.

  Tristan let out a cackle. “Dude, you were a tadpole?”

  I ignored him even when he clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Aww, that’s adorable.”

  Hannah was grinning at him, and I had flash of jealousy so strong it made me want to punch my best friend.

  “Tristan, don’t you have somewhere to be?” I glanced over to see him smiling back at Hannah.

  “Nope.”

  I kept staring at him until he finally looked at me. When he did, his smile faded and he took a couple steps back. “I’ll, uh…I’ll just go make sure the team doesn’t slack off while you’re chatting with your tadpole friend.”

  Hannah’s laughter as he walked away was as low and raspy as her voice, and it had a direct effect on my body. I stiffened as desire raced through me, unexpected and totally unwanted.

  An old crush I could handle. A current desire? That was not what my life needed right now. I had enough reason to hate Caleb—his wealth, his access to the best coaches and colleges, the fact that he had the attention of all the best recruiters, not to mention his picture-perfect family—I didn’t need to be slobbering over his girl, too.

  “So, did Caleb send you?”

  “No.”

  “Then what are you doing here?”

  She gave an exasperated sigh. “I thought that was obvious.”

  “Not to me.”

  She hitched her lips to the side and gave me a funny narrowed-eyed look. “Were you always this suspicious?”

  I arched a brow. “Yes.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t remember that about you.”

  “I’m surprised you remember me at all.” And I was equally surprised those words had just slipped out of my mouth. It was the truth, though. I’d always been so aware of Hannah but she had only ever seen Caleb. Even as kids. I mean, I got it. He was her best friend, and I was just some kid from the other side of town. Caleb and I had been friends of a sort, but he’d always been between us. We were both friends with Caleb, and she and I were just…friendly teammates.

  I’d had a plan to change that the summer between fifth and sixth grade. I had this whole crazy plan to ask her out.

  But Caleb beat me to it.

  “Look,” Hannah said as she shifted in front of me. “I’m not here as a spy, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  It was exactly what I’d been thinking, but it sounded ludicrous when she said it like that with that sarcastic tone. I held my hands out to the side. “Then why don’t you tell me what you’re really doing here.”

  She huffed, and I half expected her to stomp her foot in her obvious irritation.

  I could admit it—Hannah was adorable when she was exasperated. A smile tugged at my lips as I fought the urge to tease her, torment her until she lost that cool, collected air of hers and did something crazy like shove me or hit me or…

  Or kiss me.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” she said.

  “Like what?”

  She widened her already wide eyes. “Like you’re going to eat me alive.”

  I opened my mouth to—to what? Protest? Tell her that I was thinking about kissing her? I clamped my jaw shut.

  “Look, I promise I’m not here to cause trouble, I just want to play for your team.”

  She looked like the admission had cost her, and for the first time since she’d arrived, I actually started to think maybe she was telling the truth.

  “You want to play for our team,” I repeated.

  “Exactly how many times am I going to have to say this before you believe me?”

  I leaned back a bit and folded my arms as I studied her. “At least once more.”

  She pressed her lips together, but I caught the little smile of amusement. “Fine. Would you please let me play for your team?”

  “No.”

  She blinked.

  “Not until you explain.”

  Her tongue flicked out to wet her lips, and I had to fight back a groan. Did she have any idea how tempting she looked, all fresh-faced and adorable in that oversized jersey? But it was the wary look in her eyes that really got to me. Crap. I could handle hormones and lust—but did she really have to go looking all sweet and vulnerable? It was too much.

  “You always play for the Lions,” I said.

  “Thank you for pointing that out, Captain Obvious.”

  “Why not this season?”

  “Does it ma
tter?” she shot back.

  “Yes. Of course, it matters. Look, I’m not trying to be a jerk here—”

  “You’re doing an exceptional job for not even trying.” Her tone was so dry, her expression so blasé. It took everything in me not to laugh. “Hannah—”

  “Oh, I’m Hannah now,” she interrupted. “I guess that’s progress.”

  I narrowed my eyes and leaned in slightly, loving the fact that she still didn’t pull away. This girl would never ever back down…which was why I had to know what on earth would have her walking away from the team she’d been playing on for years. “Give me one reason why I’d take on a player from our biggest rival, and you can try out for the team.”

  She hesitated for a second before letting out a huff of laughter. “Oh please. If you’re going to let me try out, then the rumors are true, and you are down a player—” She shocked the heck out of me by reaching out and jabbing a finger into my chest. “A female player.” She arched her brows. “Am I right?”

  Yes. “Maybe.”

  She tilted her head to the side and some of the fight seemed to seep out of her. “So clearly you need me.”

  “That’s an awfully big ego you’ve got there, Hannah.”

  She shrugged. “I’m good. You know I’m good.”

  I did. She might’ve been one of the best female players in the league—maybe even better than Allison, not that I’d ever admit it. “You’re also Caleb Everette’s girlfriend.”

  “Not anymore.”

  Silence hung between us as I stared at her. She met my gaze evenly, and I knew she was telling me the truth. I also knew there was a whole lot she wasn’t saying. There were so many different emotions racing through those big brown eyes of hers. Hurt, anger, pain, desperation.

  But more than all of that, her eyes seemed to hold a question. Maybe even a plea.

  Don’t ask me any more questions. Give me a chance.

  I could’ve interpreted it a million different ways, but what mattered was no matter what she was asking, I was incapable of saying no. I had a million questions racing through my head, and even more sensations making my insides a freakin’ mess—but I swallowed down the questions and the weird feelings that reared up as if we were still twelve years old.

  Clearing my throat, I jerked my head toward the field. “Show us what you’ve got.”

  Just like that, she was back. The vulnerable, sad girl was gone and in her place was the fierce little warrior I knew from the field. With a cocky little smirk, she took off toward the field.

  I had to fight a smile as I shouted out orders to my team to let Hannah take a spot in the scrimmage they’d been getting ready for.

  “Show us what you got, Crowley,” I shouted to her.

  “Aye aye, Captain.” She gave me a little salute as she ran over to her spot on the field.

  Tristan’s voice next to me gave me a shock. “You’re staring.”

  I snapped my head to the side. “How long have you been standing there?”

  He ignored the question as he and I both turned to watch Hannah and the others.

  “You were smiling,” Tristan said, his tone suspiciously bland.

  “Shut up.”

  He leaned over and reached for my chin. “You’ve got a little something here…yup, that’s drool all right.”

  “Tristan.”

  “What?”

  “Go home.”

  Chapter Seven

  Hannah

  River’s idea of tryouts was torture. It was intense and hardcore and…exhilarating.

  I loved every minute of it.

  It was the first time in more than a week that I’d been too focused on something to be able to think about Caleb and our breakup. It was weird to be playing with a new team—but not bad.

  At first they were tough on me, but I could take it. And once they saw I knew what I was doing, they only got tougher.

  River most of all.

  He was on the opposing team, and he didn’t give me an inch.

  Good.

  The look in his eyes was fierce, his every move a challenge, and it made my whole body feel like I was on fire—in a good way. My blood was pumping and adrenaline flooded through me. After a week of wallowing, of being treated like I was fragile and breakable by my friends and family, it felt amazing to remember who I was.

  I was a fighter.

  I was unstoppable.

  Hours passed, and I wasn’t sure at what point this new team had stopped calling me “hey, Lakeview girl” or when I’d started thinking of them as my team, but it happened. I mean, it wasn’t the same as with the Lions. I didn’t know these guys as individuals, but when we were playing, I fell into my role as a team member and they did the same.

  This, this right here. This was what I loved about playing on a team. That feeling of synchronicity, of working together. There was nothing better than getting in the zone—of playing your best alongside worthy teammates and opponents.

  There was no one better than River.

  A little voice from my former life told me that thought was a betrayal to Caleb. He’d have been crushed to hear me say that. His rivalry with River was well known.

  It was funny, though. Talking to River about those old days playing for the youth teams together…I couldn’t remember when he’d gone from being a teammate to being a hated rival.

  I couldn’t remember when or why.

  All I knew was for the past few years or so, Caleb had said River’s name with a sneer, and the rivalry between our teams had never been friendly. It had been fierce and filled with nasty comments on both sides.

  “Hannah, look sharp!” Cara called out to me before shooting the ball over my way.

  Our timing was perfect. I caught it with my knee, dribbled it past a tall guy named Nate and shot it into the goal to the shouts and cheers of my teammates.

  “All right!” A guy I didn’t know tackled me from behind in an exuberant hug that lifted me off my feet.

  “Put her down, Leroy.” River’s voice was filled with dry humor, but the guy dropped me instantly.

  I’d noticed this throughout the practice. When River spoke, people listened. He wasn’t loud—unlike Caleb, he didn’t bark his orders or shout at the team like a military commander with an oversized ego.

  River was quiet but respected. He didn’t give orders often, but it became clear that was because his team knew what he wanted before he had to say it. They were tight-knit and obviously fiercely loyal. When he spoke, they fell silent to hear what he had to say, and they followed his instructions without comment.

  “Practice is over,” he said. “Go grab the gear.”

  Everyone hustled but not before slapping me on the shoulder, ruffling my hair, clapping me on the back. No one said ‘welcome to the team’ but it was understood.

  I started to follow them to gather up the cones River had used to set boundaries, but River stopped me. “You did good out there, Crowley.”

  I grinned. “I know.”

  He rolled his eyes upward like he was asking for patience, but I saw the way his lips tugged up at the corners.

  “So, does that mean I’m on the team?” I had to bite the inside of my lip to hide my excitement.

  I wanted this…more than I thought I would. I mean, I knew I wanted to play in the league, and I knew I wanted to get back at Caleb…show him he couldn’t hold me down. But I hadn’t expected to want to play for this team so badly.

  He didn’t answer right away.

  Jerk.

  His eyes darted to the left toward the parking lot. “Did you drive here?”

  I shook my head. Of course, he’d seen me come from the opposite side of the field. “My friend dropped me off.”

  He arched a brow. “You don’t drive?”

  “I don’t have a car.”

  He arched both brows this time. He had very expressive eyebrows. With that one move, he managed to express surprise and also derision. I knew exactly what he was thinking, probably b
ecause I’d heard his jeers and comments to Caleb often enough. He thought all us Lakeview kids were driving around in our very own sports cars to the country club every weekend.

  He wasn’t totally wrong. There was money at our school and on our side of town. Caleb had a sports car of his own. But me?

  Not so much.

  My parents did well enough—my dad was a lawyer and my mom had worked for an accounting firm before she left to take care of me and my brother—but we weren’t rolling in the dough. Even if we had been, my dad had very firm beliefs about work ethic and learning the value of money.

  Hence…me with no car. I was saving up for it but my part-time babysitting money wasn’t exactly filling the coffers as quickly as I’d have liked.

  Of course, I didn’t explain any of this to River and he didn’t push.

  “Do you have an issue with motorcycles?”

  I blinked at him. “No?”

  It came out as a question because I had no idea why we were talking about motorcycles instead of my kickbutt performance out there on the field and the fact that I was most likely—hopefully, maybe?—their newest striker.

  River smirked and heaven help me if it wasn’t the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.

  He was sexy, everyone knew that. It wasn’t a secret. Even the most anti-Fairmont female players on the Lions were quick to state that they had a hottie for a captain. It wasn’t subjective, it was empirical.

  Still, even knowing that, I wasn’t entirely prepared for the effect it would have on me. The only times I’d seen him since middle school had been across the field. I had no idea how different it was to be this close to him.

  He didn’t just look good with that dark, mussed hair and the impossibly chiseled jaw. Nope. It was the look in his dark eyes. The intensity that seemed an intrinsic part of him. It gave him this energy, a vibration or something that was impossible to ignore. It made my entire body hyper aware of his every movement.

  Plus, he smelled good.

  That was just overkill.

  I took a half-step back because the smell of him all sweaty and…and male…

  It was messing with my head. I couldn’t even remember what we were talking about.

  “Come with me,” he said.