Playing the Game (The Renegades) (Volume 3) (17 page)

“
Whatever you say. I can’t wait to
eat; I’m starving. Junk food and alcohol, here I come!”

“
Tough day at work?” Rylee asked,
as she pulled into the parking lot.

“
You have no idea. I actually have
one thing to finish up after we get home, but some fun and alcohol
is needed first.” Paige smiled as they walked into the
bar.

“
Whatever you say, Miss Party
Animal.” Rylee found a nice table in the corner. “How about we sit
here?”

“
Can I get you ladies something to
drink?” the waitress asked.

“
Yeah, I’ll take a Corona,” Rylee
said.

“
I’ll have a rum and coke, and can
we get a plate of loaded fries, please?”

“
Sure, I’ll be right back with your
drinks.”

“
Loaded fries? Okay, you only eat
like that when something’s bothering you. Rum and Coke? Take those
drinks slowly, or you might end up waking up in some stranger’s
bed—wait, that’s it.”

“
What’s it?” Paige asked, as the
waitress dropped off their drinks. She took a long sip, and the
alcohol burned as it slid down her throat.

“
Tyler.” Rylee snickered before
sipping her beer.

“
You’re crazy. I told you, we work
together.”

“
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and that he was
too drunk to remember anything. Blah, blah, blah, I don’t believe
you.”

“
Fine, so don’t. I don’t care.” She
downed her drink and waved to the waitress for another. “And he did
remember.”

“
What? You talked to him about it?”
Rylee said, her eyes wide in amazement.

“
Not exactly. Damn waitress better
hurry up with that drink.” Paige sighed. “The other night at the
bar, he said something just before I got out of there. And then
today he came to me.”

Paige was thankful for the interruption, as the
waitress set down her new drink, a new bottle for Rylee, and the
plate of fries. “Flag me down if you need anything else. I’ll be
around for refills.”

“
So he came to you?” Rylee
prompted, after the waitress left.

Paige stuffed a forkful of fries into her mouth, and
simply nodded. Rylee was right; she only ate like this when she was
bothered by something, and that boy was sure bothering her! The
warm melted cheese and bacon really hit the spot, and she took a
drink to wash it all down. “He tried to, but I basically brushed
him off. I don’t know if he bought it. If it were me, I probably
wouldn’t have. I’m so bad at lying.”

“
So why did you? I mean, if he
rocked your world and he’s super cute, why didn’t you just jump in
there to be Tyler Kidd’s next girlfriend?” Rylee picked at the
fries. “Oh, it’s because of the other night, isn’t it?”

Paige didn’t even want to answer that and took
another long drink before gorging on more fries.

“
It is! Oh my, my, Paige. I didn’t
have you pegged as a groupie. You were jealous of that girl he was
with.” Rylee squealed with delight.

Was she that transparent? “No. I was not jealous. I
told you, we work together so that rules out any further
interaction. And yeah, after seeing him in the ladies bathroom with
that girl…”

“
But didn’t she say nothing
happened?”

Refusing to admit that it hurt even seeing him with
another girl so soon after her, she pushed back that pain and
grabbed more fries. “I’m fine. That’s all there is to say. Now I
have this decision to make on a Make-A-Wish kid who wants to meet
Tyler. I really think it’s a bad idea.”

“
Why? That sounds so cute! Have you
ever seen when kids meet their sports heroes? It’s adorable. So he
wants to meet Tyler?”

“
Yep, he wants to meet Tyler. But
is Tyler really a role model for little kids? I’ve been watching
him jump from girl to girl more than he passes the puck on the ice.
What would he talk to them about? The best pick-up lines to use at
the bar?”

“
Paige, I agree that boy is a whole
bunch of messed up, but I don’t think he was always like that.
Maybe it’s all just a façade.”

“
That’s what Melanie said too. I,
for one, am not falling for that.” Maybe she was laying it on a
little think. After all she
did
fall for it, and it landed
her right in his bed. Maybe if he would’ve called her the next day,
or even the day after that, she wouldn’t be so bitter. Or maybe it
just wasn’t meant to be. “I have to decide whether I’m going to
grant the request or not.”

“
You’re leaning towards not. I can
see it in your eyes. If your boss says he’s not as big of a jerk as
he appears, maybe you should consider it.”

“
I did want him to do some sort of
PR to get rid of the bad press he kept getting, but I hadn’t given
it much thought lately. I guess this is a good opportunity for
that. But what if I organize it, and he’s a real prick to the
little boy? Then I’m to blame for crushing that little guy’s dream.
I don’t think I can do that.”

“
You could also crush them by not
letting him meet Tyler. You know that, right?”

“
That’s where the fries and alcohol
come in. Maybe by the end of the night I will have decided.” She
flagged down the waitress for another drink, and handed her some
cash to pay for the bill.

When the music changed to a new track, Rylee jumped
up. “I love this song! Let’s dance.” She pulled Paige out onto the
dance floor.

The alcohol must’ve started to affect her because she
didn’t argue. She moved to the beat and hummed to the music. Lights
flashed and a disco ball spun as the dance floor filled with
people. Song after song, Paige danced until her feet were sore and
her mouth was dry.

“
C’mon, let’s go get another
drink,” Rylee called over the loud music, while pulling Paige in
the direction of the bar.

Her body ached but it felt good to let loose. She
needed to do this more often. She motioned to the bartender. He
looked familiar. “Jack and Coke for me, and a Corona for my friend,
please.” She handed him money.

“
Sure.” He handed Rylee the beer,
then mixed the drink for her. “I know you.”

“
No, I don’t think so.” Her mind
was clouded with the alcohol, and the loud music. She knew him from
somewhere, but she didn’t know where.

“
I do. You were here with Tyler.
Want me to tell him you’re here?”

“
He’s here?”

“
Yeah, he’s at the other end of the
bar, I can—”

“
No! I mean, don’t bother. But
thanks.” Paige looked down to the end of the long bar, and there
sat Tyler, alone. She watched intently, assuming a lady friend
would slide up next to him any minute, but none did. She wondered
if the bartender—she thought she remembered Tyler call him
Marco—would honor her request and not tell him she was
here.

“
Paige, I just heard some girl
saying that Tyler is here,” Rylee said in her ear.

“
I know.” She pointed down the
bar.

“
Well, apparently this girl tried
to cozy up to him and he told her to hit the bricks. Those were her
words.”

“
That doesn’t make any
sense.”

Paige watched, not sure what she was hoping to see.
Tyler still sat alone, and he was checking his phone when a guy
pulled him up off the bar stool and started to poke his finger into
Tyler’s chest. He was yelling, but Paige couldn’t make out what he
was saying over the music. Tyler just looked bored, not even a
smirk crossed his lips. He shook the guy off him, and then called
for Marco. The angry man became redder after the bartender stepped
in. He shoved Tyler one more time and then stomped away.

Paige’s eyebrows rose. She didn’t expect to see Tyler
do nothing and keep his cool. Tyler sat back down on the bar stool
and returned to what he was doing on his phone after thanking
Marco. A blonde made her way to his side, and Paige’s heart
pinched.

“
Are you satisfied?” Rylee said in
her ear. “Looks like he found his blonde for the night—oh wait,
lookie there, he’s turning her down. Hmm, I think your theory about
him is being blown to pieces.”

Marco returned and Paige couldn’t help herself.
“Marco, that’s your name, right?”

“
Sure is, what can I get
you?”

“
I think I’ve had plenty.” Her head
was spinning. “But you can answer something for me. That fight
Tyler almost got into—he somehow started it, right? Did he hit on
that guy’s girl or something?”

“
Nope.” Marco shook his head.
“Tyler didn’t do anything. He’s been at the bar by himself the
whole time he’s been here. The guy just came up and started with
him. Tyler didn’t fight back and once I threatened to call security
on him, the guy stormed out of here like a little kid throwing a
temper tantrum. That’s nothing unusual. Guys are always coming in
here trying to start shit with Ty. Most nights he doesn’t engage
them. He’s really a good guy.”

Well that wasn’t what she thought she’d hear.

Marco narrowed his eyes. “Look, you’re not one of
those reporters are you? I saw you with him the other day. Tyler is
a friend and I won’t say anything to hurt him. He’s a good
guy.”

Dammit, why do people keep saying that? “No, quite
the opposite. I work for the Renegades in public relations. I’m the
one who keeps his sorry ass out of the papers when he gets into
trouble.”

“
Oh, yeah, that’s right. You were
here the other night when that meathead started with him. Looks
like you’re free and clear tonight. He’s still sober and there
hasn’t been any trouble in sight. He only gets like that after too
many drinks. If I can keep him limited, it’s a pretty calm
night.”

“
So, he isn’t always the big ass
that he was the other night with the triplets, or the night he was
in the ladies bathroom…?”

“
No.” Marco laughed. “Ty’s been
through the wringer, and sometimes he just gets carried away.
Honestly, he just needs to be saved from himself. Some nights I can
do that for him. Other nights, well, there’s no saving him. Maybe
you can change that.”

“
Me?”

“
Darlin’, I just call them like I
see them.” He wiped down the bar before tossing the cloth over his
shoulder.

“
What do you mean?” What the hell
was he talking about? I can save him?

“
When you were with him the other
night the two of you spent the whole time talking. He doesn’t
usually do that when… you know. Anyway, he’s not looking for any
trouble tonight, just trying to figure some things out.”

Paige frowned at his comment. It looked like she had
a few things to figure out herself. “Don’t tell him we talked.”

“
Oh, I don’t know if I can do
that.” Marco shook his head and smiled.

Dammit, he’s shaking me down, the jerk.
“Fine.
Here.” She handed him a twenty dollar bill. “Now will you keep our
talk between us?”

“
You got it!”

Paige spun around and grabbed Rylee. “We need to
leave. Now.”

Marco called to her as they left. “I’m sure I’ll see
you again.”

“
What was that about?” Rylee said,
when they were in the car. “I couldn’t hear what he was
saying.”

“
Not making things any easier,
that’s what it’s about.”

CHAPTER 19

“Tyler, can I get you anything else?” Marco cleared
away his empty bottle of beer and refilled the bowl of beer nuts.
“Did you eat tonight? I can have the kitchen make you some
dinner?”

“
No thanks, I’m good. I’m heading
out. My sister and her husband are coming over for a late dinner.”
Tyler handed his money to Marco. “Keep the change. See you later,
Marco.”

The air wasn’t as chilly tonight as it had been.
There was a warmth in the air. He’d brought a jacket in case the
changeable Pittsburgh spring weather turned chilly again, but he
didn’t need it tonight. He threw it into the passenger seat of his
Aston Martin and sped away. They had a few days off, and Sam and
Trina were coming over for a late dinner of pizza. He didn’t live
far from Mannie’s, so it didn’t take long to get home.

He walked up his steps and saw that Trina and Sam
were already inside. Opening the door, he was greeted by their
dogs. “What the hell, Tri? I didn’t say you could bring the
mutts.”

“
What was I supposed to do? Leave
them home alone?” Trina fired back. The dogs retreated to a corner
of the living room. “Look how cute they are all curled up over
there. They’re not going to bother anyone.”

“
Yes, Trina, cute. But contrary to
what you think, they
can
stay home alone; they are dogs, not
kids.” Tyler wasn’t a huge fan. Belle and Toby weren’t bad dogs,
but he just never saw the attraction of slobbery kisses and fur all
over the furniture. Unfortunately, Trina didn’t really care what he
thought.

“
Well, maybe someday…” Trina said,
as she sat down on the couch next to Sam and grabbed a piece of
pizza.

“
Huh? Someday what?” Tyler plopped
down on his leather couch, and scrunched up his face in confusion.
She put down her slice of pizza, and placed her hand on her stomach
and smiled at him.

“
What?” It took Tyler a moment to
compute what she was talking about. “No way!”