Annoying as hell.

“Baylor is on our team.”

It’s a simple statement. But to some, like me, it has the power to knock them on their ass.

Like I knew it would, his jaw drops as he sputters questions at me. “What do you mean? Baylor, the chick from the beach? How? When? Why? You’re joking, right? Did you talk to her? Oh shit!”

Leaning against my hand, I shrug. “Dude, I have no clue. It’s like God thought, hey, he’s focusing on his career and he’s doing good; let’s throw a kitchen sink at him.”

Jude scoffs. “I mean, it can’t be that bad.”

“She wants captain.”

“The fuck?!” he screeches and I nod, not even having the gusto in me to tease him for squealing like a girl.

“Exactly. And then we had it out, and I apologized for the way shit went down.”

“Good—”

“But still she snapped at me, screaming, and I don’t think she’s forgiven me. Then she’s saying I’m defending her because, of course, the guys are being dicks to her because they are scared of her talent. I make them wait so she can take showers, and they are so fucking pissed. So maybe I am.”

“Whoa, what? She’s showering with y’all?”

“Yeah,” I say, almost like I’m giving up. “It’s so damn stressful. If she was just some regular girl, I don’t think I’d be so torn up about it, but because it’s her…I’m freaking out and threatening lives. Dude, it’s been real.”

I expected him to guide me. To be the big brother I need, but instead, he laughs. “You’re so fucked, dude.”

“What?” I actually yelp, and he laughs even harder.

Wheezing for breath, he shakes his head before looking up at the ceiling. When he starts to laugh again, I glare, crossing my arms over my chest as I watch him. I don’t know what the fuck is so funny, but he is pissing me the hell off. I’m half tempted to hang up on him, but maybe he’ll stop laughing and actually guide me. But by the way he’s laughing, I have a feeling I have a better chance of getting sucked off by Baylor than getting any kind of guidance out of my brother.

Maybe I am fucked?

Wiping his eyes free of tears, he looks at me and shakes his head. “You’re such a good dude. You know that, right?” I don’t answer, and he smiles before going on, “You are doing right, bro, better than I would have. I would tell her to fuck off and make her eat my dust because no one is taking my position. But you, you’re gonna do that while protecting her. It’s sorta cute.”

“Not what I need to hear here,” I remind him, and he scoffs.

“What do you need to hear, then?”

“I need to know what to do.”

“What to do?” he asks. “Jay, you’re doing it. You quit your job, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re focusing on your game?”

“Yeah,” I agree again.

“You’re doing right by your team? Being a leader?”

“Yes, and I think by doing what I am for Baylor, it shows that. But it’s not only for the captaincy.”

“Oh, I know. You’d do it for anyone.”

“Right,” I say and Jude shrugs.

“Then what else do you want?”

Looking at him like he’s an idiot, I ask, “What to do about Baylor?”

He returns the look before holding his hands up. “What do you want to do?”

My face scrunches up before I yell, “I have no fucking clue!”

“So how am I supposed to help you with that?”

“Oh my God, Jude, you’re supposed to guide me, do some big brother shit!”

He laughs. “Dude, I got you on hockey. You’re the woman expert. I come to you with my woman problems.”

I scoff because he’s right. Jude is horrible with relationships and girls. Why did I think he was gonna guide me on this? “I like how that was singular.”

He smirks. “I’m a one-gal dude now. Love my redheaded hotness.”

“Gagging,” I reply, and he laughs before shrugging.

“But really, Jay, you’re doing right. I see no wrong in what you’re doing.”

“But it’s hard,” I admit and he nods.

“Because you like her.”

I don’t even deny it. I just stare at him as he goes on, “And that’s the hardest thing because I know you want to show her who’s boss, but you also want to see her succeed. It’s tough, dude. You’re in a shitty spot, but keep doing you.”

Looking down, I let out a breath through my nose. “Should I ignore her? Try to act like she’s not there?”

He scoffs, which makes me look up. “I’m pretty sure you’ve tried that and failed.”

I have. And man, it’s so hard. She doesn’t make it easy with those glossed-up fucking lips and banging-ass body. When I was watching the shower yesterday, I caught a glance of her naked ass and almost passed out from the mere sight of it. An ass. Really? I’m pathetic.

“I mean, have you told her how you feel?”

“She doesn’t do feelings,” I answer, looking up at him. “And when I threw at her that I wanted to have sex with her when she accused me of it, I thought she was gonna punch me.”

“She’s weird,” is his opinion and I nod.

“She isn’t normal. That’s for sure.”

“Which is why you like her,” Jude says, and I shake my head.

“Guess so. Glutton for punishment, eh?” I smile then, thinking of her sweet voice, and when I look up, Jude’s looking at me like I pulled a hockey stick out of my ass.

His brows come together and before he can ask, I say, “Don’t ask.”

He laughs before saying, “10-4, good buddy. But remember, just keep it up. It sounds like the captain spot is yours.”

For as much as I want it, hearing him say that does make me feel better, but it doesn’t ease my worries about Baylor. She isn’t going to make it easy. Not for the captainship or even life.

She may have been born to play hockey, but she was put in my life to make me a wreck.

And the sadistic thing is that I like the way it feels.

While yesterday I wanted to protect Baylor, today, I want to kill her.