Read Online Jaided by Ashley Rose - Free Book Online Page A

from him and pulled out a doughnut. "Maybe. What'd you tell him to do?"
    "You know the drill. I told him to give you a little platonic company in your bed."
    "Then yes, he did. But he doesn't need to. I can handle it myself these days. It’s not like before."
    "I know you can, but that means no sleep and you need sleep for soccer.” He reached for her doughnut. “And no doughnuts before practice."
    He tried to grab it from her but she took a big bite and evaded him. "Here, have an orange too, at least. I got some more stuff for you out in the hallway."
    "Well, what are ya waitin’ for? Get it in here." She laughed and he pushed her onto the bed before throwing an orange at her.
    "Yeah yeah, be quiet." He disappeared into the hallway and came back with a micro-fridge, which he promptly set down and plugged in. "Compliments of Dad. And ...“ He went back out in the hallway and reappeared with a stereo and a huge brown suitcase.
    She stood to take the stereo from him before setting it on the desk. They both turned to look when the bathroom door creaked open and Blaize's head peeked out.
    "Yes?"
    "Uh ... I forgot clothes."
    "So?"
    "Uhhh."
    "Come on, Blaize,” Jaide teased. “It’s nothing I haven't seen before. It’s not like you’re naked. Besides, you saw me in a towel. It’s only fair."
    He blushed, but the rest of his body appeared with a towel around his hips as he hurried to his dresser and then back to the bathroom in record time, lugging his soccer gear.
    Jaide just shook her head when the door was shut again. "That kid ... I swear ... Ooooo, goodies!" She had unzipped the suitcase on her bed. She pulled out a box of her favorite truffles but Tremaine whipped them away from her. "Not before practice. It’s your first scrimmage."
    "Meh, meh, meh," She mimicked him with a sour expression.
    Blaize emerged from the bathroom fully clothed, as Jaide pulled out a pair of jeans from the suitcase. "More clothes?"
    "You know Dad. He packed some other stuff, too. Your camera, bathing suit, books, some music and a refill prescription of your little pink boxes."
    "Oh, good. I was running low."
    Blaize was confused. "Little pink boxes?"
    "Yeah, you know,” she said, “little pink pills in a little pink box."
    He gave her a dubious look. "Right ... little pink pills."
    "Never mind Blaize, don't worry about it." She smiled and he just shrugged.
    An hour later, all three of them were garbed in practice gear and headed outside. They met up with the rest of the team and the coaches and a momentous Saturday scrimmage ensued. Players switched sides and Tremaine roamed free among the younger boys, blocking shots indiscriminately for whichever side the coach assigned. Jaide highlighted the action when she flattened Matt with a slide tackle.
    Tremaine had managed to score two balls past Bhrade, but made a point of complimenting Bhrade for his goalie skills in front of the coaches. Jaide thought it was all great fun until Tremaine took her out to dinner that night. She assured him she would be fine at Exeter but then, after Tremaine dropped her off, the Blaize problem became real.

Chapter 9

    J aide found Blaize squatting on his bed, earphones snapped around his head, his body rocking gently to whatever piped through his electronic gadgetry.
    "Ok, Blaize baby, we need to talk ... now!”
    She crawled onto his bed and sat cross-legged in front of him. "How come you got so mad at Leith? And don’t ask who told me. You threatened to beat him to a pulp, I heard.”
    "I dunno. He’s a player, Jaide."
    "I know he's a ladies' man, Blaize, but he's still a good guy."
    "I’ve seen him giving you the once-over. He shouldn't have been staring at you like that. It’s disrespectful."
    "It's no big deal though, Blaize. Really, I'm used to it. Guys are just that way."
    "I'm not. Or at least I try not to be."
    "I know and that's why you're cool and so comfortable to be around. You make a great roomie for me. I appreciate it. I know you're a