The Striker: Gods of the Game

“A bit,” I admitted. “I’m here with a friend, but they got called away.” Asher used the term. I might as well too. “Boyfriend? Girlfriend?” I smiled at the obvious fishing. “Platonic friend.” Besides friend, platonic was in the running for the word of the night. “Good for me, then,” the blond said. “Though if…

Surprise flashed through me, quick as lightning, followed by an irrepressible warmth as we entered the lounge and left her sputters behind. “I’m sorry about that,” he said. “The door people can go on a power trip sometimes.” “It’s okay.” I slid a sideways glance at him. “Your date, huh?” “It sounded better than friend…

I was a single twenty-six-year-old living in London, and this was how I spent my weekends: alone with fictional sociopaths. It’d never bothered me before, so why did I feel so restless now? After all, there was nothing wrong with staying in. A book and tea were far superior to battling drunken strangers for breathing…

The boom of Timmy’s laughter sounded like boulders rolling down the side of a mountain. “Sounds like him.” He unhooked the velvet rope and waved us through without checking our IDs. “Have fun.” We swanned past, eliciting a chorus of grumbles from the queue. Timmy silenced them with another scowl. “Next!” he barked. “Where’s your…

We were having drinks at the Angry Boar, which was packed with happy hour patrons and a handful of lost-looking tourists. I usually steered clear of this pub because it was a magnet for footballers, but it had great weekend drink specials and the number of athletes usually thinned out during the offseason. “Good-looking, single,…

I’d promised myself I’d never fall for another footballer, but I hadn’t been this consumed by a guy since Rafe, and it terrified me. Asher wasn’t my ex; he was smarter, funnier, more thoughtful. It was awful. Because smart, funny, thoughtful men were my weakness, and I didn’t have the option of avoiding him until…

“Don’t get used to it. I can’t always be around to protect you,” I said, but I couldn’t resist a small smile in return. His eyes crinkled deeper at the corners. “Noted.” A long, languorous beat passed between us. Every time I thought I knew where I stood when it came to him, something happened…

Was that…? It was. My good mood evaporated like a puddle in the sun. A strange ringing filled my ears. Now I knew why Asher hadn’t been there to greet me. He had a guest over. A very blond, very leggy guest in an outfit that probably cost more than my monthly rent-and they were…

Granted, she’d left without saying goodbye the next morning, but I’d slept in. I couldn’t expect her to wait around for me. “Are we good?” I asked as she dropped her phone in her bag and walked to the sound system without looking at me once. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like it all.…

I attempted to focus on something else. Unfortunately, the only other thing grabbing my attention was how hungry I was. My stomach growled in resentment. “Shut up.” The second growl overpowered the thunder. Clearly, my muffled command had only served to antagonize the hunger monsters more. Oh, screw it. I tossed my covers to the…