The End of Games by Tara Brown Read Free Book Online Page A

was giving him my kiss-me eyes. He bent his face closer to mine, "You know the problem for me though? You make it too easy for me. I like the chase. I'm not like Servario. I don’t want you conflicted about me. I want you to admit you want me, as bad as you know I want you. We could have a fun time if you did, Evie."
    Somewhere inside of me a magical thing happened, I mustered up some willpower. It wasn’t my vagina, that ho was already on board, and it wasn’t my brain because that was already closing the curtains and taking my shirt off. It was from somewhere else, maybe my heart, which imagined it might belong to Servario. It might also have been the fact he only wanted fun, and deep down I knew that would never be enough for me. Not with him. Either way, it was amazing. Just as he leaned in to close the deal, I slipped to the side, "Nice try, Skippy." I walked to the back of the store and leaned on the counter, doing my Kegels and taking deep breaths.
    Shit.
    I wasn't less confused about him and he wasn’t less of a contradiction.
    Shit.
    It was going to be a hard few months adjusting to Coop in cowboys hats and tight jeans, probably while doing workouts. Not to mention, watching him eat, smile, breathe, or exist.
    Being back on the market made me uncomfortable. I was feeling super slutty. My hormones were raging. I needed Servario to satisfy my inner pervert and walk away again, but he was months away from that moment.
    Jack and Luce came rushing in the back door. I scowled, "No pastries? No good coffee? Really? You left us here and brought back nothing?" I ignored the fact I sounded like a total bitch.
    Jack's eyes were wide.
    "What?"
    He licked his lips and walked past me. Luce didn’t move but refused to meet my eyes.
    "What's going on? Are the kids okay?"
    Luce nodded, "They're fine. See." She pointed at a monitor and clicked something. The screen split. Jules was talking at a desk with two little girls and Mitch was listening to his headphones. A kid threw a paper ball at him. It bounced off of him but he didn’t move. The kid laughed and tossed another one but Mitch kept his face down. My insides clenched. I wanted to go to the school and kick the crap out of that kid. Where was his teacher?
    "Is there hockey here?" I asked. When the little bastards saw how good he was, they wouldn’t mess with him anymore.
    Luce shrugged, "How the shit would I know?"
    I ignored her, keeping my eyes on my boy. My boy who wouldn’t let me in, no matter what. He was pissed at me.
    I made a few mental decisions, but before I could leave the store and go to the school and act on them, Coop and Jack walked in looking the same… unsure. "What's going on?"
    I bit my lip, pushing aside my inner momma bear and waited for whatever bad news they had for us.
    "There is someone who wants to see you. He's outside."
    I frowned at Coop, "What?" Coop looked at Jack who nodded, "Just go outside and see what he wants. It's fine, trust me."
    Coop gave me a subtle nod. I backed up, scared that they had sold me down the river for something. My eyes reached out at Luce with their stare, but she kept her gaze down. I felt like panicking or running but I didn’t. I shook my head, "If this is a trap, I'm going to lose my shit." I turned and walked out the back door, instantly stopping when I saw his face, "Steve."
    He looked bad, beaten, and exhausted. His eyes had huge bags under them. He nodded, "Hey, Evie."
    I swallowed hard, glancing around the alley for the person I feared and wanted. "What's going on?"
    He shrugged, "Just came to get your help."
    My stomach ache worsened, "Fuck Steve, you found us here, that easily?"
    He nodded, "Servario installed a tracking device in those Louboutins."
    I looked back at the door to the store. Luce had borrowed them before the fire. Of course she brought them with her.
    I folded my arms around myself, "Why are you here? What help?"
    He shook his head, looking like he might get sick, "They took him. They have