Toxic Games: Destroying His Brotherhood

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My boyfriend, Hayes, was currently passed out stark naked on the sofa.

I pushed open the door to the VIP booth, and the air hit me instantlya thick, nauseating cocktail of stale booze and sex.

Beside him, his two childhood best friends were just as bare. The three of them were tangled together like a heap of raw, pale meat.

But the thing that burned my retinas was Tiffany. The groups "innocent mascot," the girl whose single frown could shatter these mens hearts. Right now, she looked like a shameless white viper, coiled naked amongst them.

Her eyes snapped open. There wasnt a shred of shame in them. Instead, she shot me a smile that dripped with toxic victory.

"See that? It doesnt matter how hard you try to steal them. At the end of the day, they always fall asleep next to me."

Chapter 1

"You might be my girlfriend, but Tiffany will always come first."

Hayes didnt even blink as he said it.

"If you want to be with me, you have to respect her. Protect her."

My roommates looked like they were about to explode. Tessa actually lunged forward, mouth open to scream, but I clamped a hand over her lips before she could unleash hell.

I nodded, eyes crinkling into a sweet, compliant smile.

"Of course. Your friends are my friends. Im sure Tiffany and I are going to be besties."

Tessa nearly choked on her own rage seeing me act like such a doormat.

"Are you serious, Zara? Youre the campus queen. Why are you debasing yourself for some frat boy and his toxic little clique? Youre going to regret this."

My roommates stormed off, fuming at my lack of spine. I didnt even watch them go. I just looped my arm intimately through Hayess.

"Lets go. We shouldnt keep your friends waiting."

The moment we pushed into the private dining room, my eyes landed on the girl sitting dead center.

She was wearing a simple white dress. Clean, cute features. The kind of non-threatening "purity" that makes guys lose their minds.

Two handsome guys flanked her, sitting way too close. The body language was suffocatingly intimate.

I expected this legendary "mascot" to be a brat.

Instead, the second she saw me, she bounced up and grabbed my hands with aggressive enthusiasm.

"You must be Hayess new girlfriend! Wow, youre gorgeous."

She dragged me toward the table.

"This is Brody and Jude. Guys, dont just stand there like idiots. Welcome the new member!"

She was doing the introductions, acting like the hostess.

I felt it immediatelya wave of hostility rolling off the two guys.

Jude, the one with the glasses, gave a tight, fake smile. His palm touched mine for a microsecond before he snatched it back like I was contagious.

Brody, the guy with the buzz cut, didnt even bother faking it. He sat with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at me with unfiltered dislike.

I licked my lips, letting my smile widen just a fraction.

Tiffany was still holding my hand, chattering away. "I cant believe a beauty queen like you actually fell for a dork like Hayes. Are you blind?"

Hayes sighed, a fond, helpless look on his face as he ruffled Tiffanys hair. Then, he took off his jacket and folded it onto the hard wooden chair.

"Youre on your period. Sit on this, its warmer."

Tiffany froze. She shot a nervous, deliberate glance at me.

"Hayes, dont. Zaras going to get mad. Youre trying to drive a wedge between us, arent you?"

The room went dead silent. Hayess brow furrowed instantly.

I raised an eyebrow. My voice came out smooth, unbothered.

"Why would I be mad? Hayes told me all about you. Youre the groups mascot."

I beamed at her.

"Now that I see you, I get it. Youre so cute. No wonder they all treat you like a little sister."

The tension in the room snapped. The three guys visibly relaxed.

Tiffanys smile stiffened for a split second before she recovered, looking pleasantly surprised.

"Youre so different from the other girls. Hayess exes always tried to compete with me for no reason. It was so weird. I always wanted to be friends, but they just hated me."

She let out a shy, self-deprecating laugh.

"It got so bad the guys stopped dating just to protect me from getting bullied."

Chapter 2

She paused, pivoting to look at Hayes with a gaze full of calculated resentment.

"I never actually thought youd be the one to lock Hayes down. You must have some serious tricks."

I gave a noncommittal smile, pretending the double entendre flew right over my head.

The servers started bringing out the food.

My radar pinged. Tiffany was winding up for a pitch.

I stayed still. Waiting. I wanted to see what kind of game she was playing. Hopefully, it wasn't amateur hour. I hate being bored.

Suddenly, a high-pitched shriek ripped through the room. A bowl of soupbarely lukewarmsplashed over her dress.

Her face twisted in pain.

I stepped forward, feigning concern. "Oh my god, are you"

Impact.

Hayes shoved me.

Hard.

I hit the floor, the breath knocked out of me.

Brody was on his feet, practically vibrating with rage. "I knew it! All you girls are the same. You act all high and mighty, then the mask slips the second you get jealous."

Jude pushed his glasses up his nose, his voice flat and cold.

"We swore to protect Tiffany for life. No one touches her."

He looked down at me like I was trash. "Youve known us for five minutes, and youre already hurting her because youre insecure? Hayes, you better fix this."

Hayess face was a thundercloud. Dark. Dangerous.

"Zara. Apologize to Tiffany. Now."

Tiffany shrank into the protective huddle of three men, shooting me a look of pure, unadulterated smugness.

Most girls would have flipped the table and walked out. Being bullied by a boyfriend and his frat-boy clique? Hard pass.

But I wasn't most girls.

I summoned the tears instantly. They welled up, trembling on my lower lashes, refusing to fall.

Perfect vulnerability.

My voice came out thick, choked with a sob.

"Im so sorry, Tiffany. I didn't realize I didn't realize you were trying to serve me soup."

I tilted my head, exposing the delicate line of my neck. Submissive. Broken.

"I just love Hayes so much, and I really want to be friends with you. Youre so kind surely you can forgive a clumsy mistake, right?"

Tiffany froze. Her body went rigid against the guys.

She was cornered.

She forced the corners of her mouth up. A glitchy, painful smile. "Of course. Guys, don't blame Zara. She didn't mean to."

I launched myself into Hayess arms, burying my face in his chest. I looked up at him through wet lashes, eyes wide and pleading.

For the first time, a flicker of guilt cracked his anger.

He wrapped his arms around me, opening his mouth to speak

"Lets just eat fast and go swimming!" Tiffany cut in, her voice sharp and desperate. "Hayes, you promised to teach me. I even bought a new swimsuit."

The dynamic shifted instantly.

Tiffany had spoken. The court obeyed.

Nobody asked if I was hungry. They dropped their chopsticks and stood up.

"Let's go."

They surrounded Tiffany, moving like a single organism, ushering her out like she was royalty.

I was left trailing behind. A ghost.

Hayes glanced back at me once.

Tiffany immediately leaned into him, her voice sugary sweet. "So, about the breathing technique"

Brody scoffed, shouldering in. "Im a better swimmer than Hayes. Let me teach you."

Tiffany giggled. "Take turns! Youre next."

We hit the pool deck ten minutes later.

Tiffany emerged in a modest, floral one-piece. It was cute. Innocent. She clung to Hayess arm like a barnacle.

The second her toe touched the water, she screamed and leaped into Hayess arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.

I walked out of the locker room just in time to catch the show.

"Hayes? I cant swim either. Can you teach me?"

The three men turned.

Their eyes locked on me.

Silence slammed into the pool deck.

If you want to be a top-tier manipulator, you need the hardware to back it up.

I saw the hunger snap into their eyes. Raw. Immediate.

Every other guy in the pool stopped what they were doing to stare.

Hayess face went dark.

Positively possessive.

Chapter 3

Hayess grip on Tiffany loosened. Instinctively, his body turned toward me.

Tiffany didnt let that happen. She clamped onto his bicep, digging her fingers in, and flashed me a smile that was all teeth.

"Sorry, Zara. Hayes is booked for the day. Hes mine."

Hayes hesitated. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking everywhere but at me.

"I did promise to teach her first. Just hang tight."

They waded into the water. Tiffany was a disaster, splashing and flailing, using every "accidental" slip to glue her wet body against his chest.

I watched from the edge, face blank.

"Hey gorgeous."

A shadow fell over me. A guy leaned down, giving me a once-over that wasn't subtle.

"You look bored. Want a real swimming lesson?"

From the middle of the pool, Hayess head snapped toward us. His expression darkened instantly.

"Shes my girlfriend, man. Back off."

Chad looked at Hayes, then at Tiffany, whose legs were currently wrapped around Hayess waist. He gave a look of pure disdain.

"Seriously? Youre wrapped up in one girl but claiming another? Thats just greedy, bro. Learn some loyalty."

Hayes bristled, water churning around him. "Watch your mouth. Tiffany is like a sister to me."

"Like a sister. Right. Is that what were calling it now?"

Chads tone was dripping with sarcasm. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

Hayes looked ready to drown him, so I stepped in. "Thanks for the offer, but Im good."

Chad shrugged, but before he walked away, he dropped a card on my towel, loud enough for Hayes to hear.

"Heres my number. Call me when you dump the cheater."

Hayes swam over to the edge, scowling. "That guy was just trying to get in your pants. You need to be smarter than that."

I widened my eyes, letting my lip tremble just a little.

"I know but sitting here alone is so lonely. And since youre so busy with Tiffany"

I looked past him to the two guards on the pool deck.

"Why dont Brody or Jude teach me? You guys are brothers, right? They wouldnt try to take advantage of me. Theyre safe."

Brody, who was sitting right there, scoffed. "Who wants to touch you? Dont flatter yourself, princess."

I smiled, ignoring the barb. "Great. Its settled then."

They were trapped.

Reluctantly, Brody and Jude slid into the water to guide me in.

"Hayes! Focus!" Tiffany whined from the other side of the pool.

I glanced over. Our eyes locked.

Hayes wasnt teaching her anything. He was staring at me. Every time Brodys hand brushed my waist to steady me, Hayess jaw tightened. Tiffany was practically invisible to him, and she knew it.

I blinked, feigning a wince.

"Ow!"

I let my body go limp, collapsing forward directly into Brodys chest.

"Cramp! My foot cramped!"

Brody froze.

He stood there like a statue. My wet skin was plastered against his bare torso. I could feel the rapid thud of his heart against my cheek. He didnt push me away. He didn't move at all.

"It hurts," I whispered right against his ear, letting my breath ghost over his wet neck.

I looked up, shooting a teary, wronged glance at Jude. "It's all my fault, I forgot to stretch."

Jude hesitated for a beat, then took a breath and ducked underwater. His hands found my calf. He started to massage the knot.

"Brody!"

Tiffanys voice shrieked across the water. High. Piercing. A command.

Brody flinched like hed been tasered. He shoved me away, hard, scrambling toward Tiffany.

"Im coming!"

But he forgot I was dead weight.

Without his support, I sank like a stone.

Water rushed into my nose. Panic, cold and primal, seized my chest. I thrashed blindly in the blue silence.

I hit something solid.

Jude.

Survival instinct took over. I wrapped my limbs around him, clinging to him like an anchor. My lungs burned. I needed air.

I pulled his face to mine and sealed my mouth over his.

I didn't kiss him. I stole his oxygen