Jane's Team: A High School Reverse Harem Romance Read online

  Contents

  Welcome to Jane’s Team

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  Epilogue 2

  32. CONFUSED?

  Also By Janie Marie

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2020 by Janie Marie

  All rights reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This work is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and besides the author herself, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales are entirely coincidental.

  ASIN: B085BXR5SD

  Paperback ISBN: 9798611465448

  Cover Design:

  Janie Marie

  Editing:

  Jessica Su, [email protected]

  Sarah Wright, www.TheLittleReadingNook.com

  Kalah Melaine Scott, [email protected]

  Proofreading:

  Sidney Smith, [email protected]

  Created with Vellum

  For Jessica

  April 1st has been such a painful day since your passing all those years ago. I’ve not let myself find any joy in April Fools’ Day, and I cry because you should be here.

  But, dear cousin, I think you’d like me to change this horrible tradition of further mourning you. I think you’d like me to smile and remember your incredible spirit and beautiful soul instead.

  So, I dedicate this story to you. It’s a totally inappropriate story, but I’m at peace because I can see your smiling face in my mind. Your innocent little cousin wrote a naughty story that would have our mothers blushing and our fathers furious, ready to lock us away from sexy bad boys forever.

  I think you’d adore Jane’s free spirit and the love around her.

  So, I send her to you this April Fools’ Day. Well, technically, it’s the 2nd because I want to respect your family. Still, all will see where your memory is within these pages.

  No jokes. No pranks. Simply my love.

  When it’s my turn to join you in the stars—that second one to the right—you can tell me how hard Jane and her boys made you blush.

  Until Eternity,

  Janie

  Welcome to Jane’s Team

  While this story is an alternate reality with the characters from Janie Marie’s Gods & Monsters trilogy, you absolutely do not have to read the trilogy. It’s a complete standalone, merely made more entertaining if you choose to meet the gang in every universe I have dreamed up for them.

  So, if you want to see their origins and smile at the Easter eggs I’ve planted, visit my Amazon profile (before or after . . . it really doesn’t matter).

  Additionally, the behavior and acts of the characters within Jane’s Team are not guidelines for anyone, especially teenagers. This book contains strong language, sex, prejudice against lifestyles, assault, abduction, and of course, a reverse harem relationship. Reverse Harem is 1 girl and 3 or more males.

  While I do encourage everyone to love and embrace positive love and healthy, honest relationships, I do not encourage minors to drink, do drugs, have unprotected sex or careless sex. Nor do I encourage anyone to disobey their parents.

  This is a fictional story and should be viewed as such. My only goal was to allow Jane another chance to embrace herself, her men, friendships, and her family.

  Now, welcome to Jane’s Team. I hope you enjoy the ride.

  xx

  Janie

  One

  David Leodegrance and Ryder Godson . . . Jane was the luckiest, unlucky girl of Black Hills, Oregon, because of them. With their height and lean, muscular bodies, they towered over many of their fellow freshmen. Some of the upperclassmen, too.

  Their bodies were only part of their power. When you added their handsome faces, killer smiles, black hair that sometimes covered their gorgeous eyes—David’s sapphire blue and Ryder’s mesmerizing emerald pair—no guy stood a chance with the ladies.

  Hell, even the exposed skin along their arms, David’s golden and Ryder’s a sinful bronze, had every girl jealous of the players who they tackled on the football field.

  So, how was Jane the luckiest and unluckiest girl? Well, it was simple: these sexy man-boys were her next-door neighbors. And, even though they could pass for brothers or cousins, they weren’t related. That meant she had one on each side.

  Yep, the universe could’ve picked anyone, but when she moved to town at five years old, it had chosen to sit her between them. Every day for eleven years, she got to see them. A single glance could fuel the fantasies of every girl in town for months, and with Jane’s window overlooking the Godson’s backyard, including their pool, she got a lot of glimpses. Quite the lucky girl, many would say.

  Not Jane. To her, it was brutal and unfair.

  Why? Because David was the best guy there ever was. He was good, kind, and he looked out for everyone. He was everything she wanted in a boyfriend. Only, the universe had screwed her over by making him her best friend instead.

  To make matters worse, he and Ryder had hated each other for as long as she could remember. Because of that, Ryder treated her like she was the enemy. It wasn’t like she cared about him any other way though. David was the bestest and no one compared. Not even the godlike boy with green eyes and a smile that manifested in her head at the most inconvenient times.

  “You’re drooling,” Wendy said, wiping under Jane’s chin.

  “Shut up.” Jane grinned, shoving Wendy’s hand away before returning her attention to the football field. Tryouts were today, and she was there to cheer David on. He wanted to keep his position as the middle linebacker, and she hoped he’d get it.

  “Ryder looks bigger than last year,” Wendy commented. “Tougher.”

  Jane bit her lip, her gaze tearing from David as he spoke with the coach.

  Ryder guzzled down water from a water bottle, some of it spilling out the side of his mouth. It should’ve been gross, but it wasn’t.

  Green eyes suddenly locked onto hers, catching her looking. A faint smile stretched into a wider one, and he winked right at her.

  “I would hate you if that boy did it for me,” Wendy muttered, chuckling.

  “How does he not?” Jane tried to act casual even though her cheeks were burning. It wouldn’t be just Ryder tormenting her for looking. He was the firstborn in a set of quadruplets, and he had two older brothers, one of which was the varsity quarterback.

  Wendy shrugged. “I like me some good ole country boys. Cocky jocks always go for che
erleaders anyway.”

  “Yeah.” Jane scanned the cheer team. They were getting all the attention, and they got to be close to David . . . and Ryder.

  “He’s still looking at you,” Wendy whispered.

  She darted her eyes to David and frowned. “No, he’s not.”

  Wendy grabbed her chin, turning her toward a different group. First, her eyes locked with the taller blond. Luc Godson, the star quarterback their entire town worshipped.

  Her cheeks warmed when his gaze briefly stopped on her, but she nearly gaped upon realizing Wendy meant Ryder. He was staring at her while his brothers talked to him.

  Wendy giggled, fanning Jane. “Cool off, girl. You’re making it too easy.”

  Jane blinked, shaking her head. Ryder wasn’t interested in her. He was mean to everyone, even his brothers. He was rude to her, too. No, if he was looking at her, it was to upset David.

  David was protective of her, and he made sure no one messed with her. So, that’s all it could be. Ryder was looking for a weakness. In David.

  She swallowed and looked back at David. He didn’t look happy, and she realized he would take it badly if she gave Ryder any attention. Ryder was after David’s middle linebacker position, and he’d been killing it in tryouts today. He did look better than David for the position, but what did she know? David was the best, and the defensive team he’d led all through middle school had secured championships because of him.

  God, she was a horrible friend. Waving, she only smiled when he did.

  “Poor girl,” Wendy said, chuckling again.

  “What?” Jane held her breath as the coach called David and Ryder together, his finger going between them.

  “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Wendy patted her hand. “I think the coach is testing them against each other.”

  “God, why is Ryder trying to take David’s position?” Jane felt like pacing as both boys got on opposite sides. At first, Ryder was on the offense as a tight end, while David maintained the defensive middle linebacker spot.

  “I think Ryder’s always wanted it.” Wendy blew a bubble, smacking her gum after. “He likes to be aggressive, and they always say the middle linebacker is the quarterback of the defense. I’m sure his brothers expect him to be in that position, with Archer locking the quarterback position.”

  Jane sighed. “When did you become a football expert?”

  “When you made me come to all of David’s practices with you.” Wendy blew another big bubble.

  Archer yelled play-calls as David did the same to the defense.

  “David’s gonna blitz,” Wendy said as the ball was hiked to Archer.

  Sure enough, David read the play and found a gap. He rushed through, right toward Archer, but he got blocked by Ryder, giving Archer time to throw and complete the pass to a receiver.

  David shoved Ryder, yelling, but Savaş, the largest Godson brother, broke them up.

  The coach whistled, calling Archer over. This time, he sent in Luc and the varsity team. And, this time, Ryder filled the middle linebacker spot.

  Jane and Wendy scooted to the edge of the bleachers. Hell, everyone watched in silence as David joined the varsity team as a tight end.

  “Varsity won’t go easy on them,” Wendy said softly.

  “I think that’s the point.” Jane darted her gaze to Ryder. The coach wasn’t going to chance Archer throwing the play, and they knew Luc was just as mean as Ryder. He would destroy Ryder if he had to.

  The calls were shouted out, and Ryder looked ten times scarier and more confident than David as he ordered the defense into position. Another blitz.

  The ball snapped, and four of Ryder’s defensive team rushed Luc. Even though they were varsity, Ryder got through them all. . . even David. Then he sacked Luc. Brutally.

  The freshman team cheered, and the coaches clapped as Ryder helped his brother up. David didn’t celebrate though.

  When Jane stood, Wendy gripped her arm and said, “Don’t.”

  She yanked her arm free, her eyes on David as he said something to Ryder. Ryder smiled, and his reply had the whole team laughing. David didn’t laugh. He glanced at her, but so did Ryder.

  The punch David threw happened so fast, and Ryder’s reaction came even faster.

  Before she knew it, she was on the field, screaming when Ryder slammed David down. He punched him again and again, and the team cheered the whole time. The coaches weren’t breaking it up. No one was going to stop Ryder.

  “Easy.” A strong arm wrapped around her, and she was pulled against a football player. Luc. His gray eyes gleamed as he stared down at her. “It’ll hurt less if you stay out of this.”

  She thrashed, not caring that the most gorgeous upperclassman was holding her close. “Stop them or let me go!”

  He darted his eyes to her tears, then sighed. “Stay here.” He let go, pushing his way through the crowd. He yanked Ryder off David. “Enough.”

  David sat up, pushing Archer away when he tried to help him up. Ryder locked angry eyes with her, and Luc shoved him in her direction. She had no idea why it seemed like Ryder was going to talk to her, and she didn’t stick around to find out what bullshit he had to say about David.

  “Asshole,” she said before he could reach her, and she shoved him aside to make her way toward David. He’d embarrassed David on purpose and taken the spot he’d earned over the years—the position David loved. Now, he’d goaded David into a fight, and it was probably going to cause him even more problems.

  The whole world fell away when she finally reached David. Blood dripped from his mouth, but he seemed to be okay. She didn’t want to embarrass him by worrying over his wounds, so she wrapped her arms around his waist, smiling when he hoisted her up so that she had to switch to hugging him around the neck.

  “You okay?” she whispered against his hot skin.

  “I am now,” he said, turning and heading off the field.

  Jane sniffed, clinging to him as he adjusted his hold so that his hand cupped her ass. Well, that was new, and she wasn’t going to complain. If he wanted to move from the friendzone to boyfriend, she’d gladly go there.

  She smiled, squeezing him tighter, but she also noticed Ryder watching them.

  Luc had him by the shoulder, holding him in place as the coach congratulated him on becoming the new middle linebacker.

  You’d think he’d be smug, but absolute fury roared in those emerald eyes of his. Why on earth he was mad for stealing David’s spot, she didn’t know. Yeah, David punched him, but he probably had a reason for it. David wouldn’t do something like that for losing his position alone. So, she glared at Ryder and flipped him off.

  Luc caught sight of it, and he forced Ryder to look away from her. The words she’s not worth it on his lips hit her hard.

  It shouldn’t have hurt to see Ryder nod and look away from her, and it shouldn’t have hurt to see the other Godson brothers, Tercero, Archer, and Savaş—the three remaining quadruplets—shake their heads before they followed their big brothers off the field. But all of it hurt.

  “Sorry you had to see that,” David said, his lips brushing against her neck.

  Jane sighed and closed her eyes as her hand ran through his sweaty hair. His touchy-feely moments had only started up a few months ago, but they’d been nothing as blatant as a hand on her ass. “You deserve another chance,” she told him. “They had too much time to prepare for the blitz. And Luc probably let Ryder sack him.”

  His lips, still against her skin, curved upward. “When did you learn what that was called?”

  “Watching you play, of course.” She shivered when he gave her ass a little squeeze. Oh, hell, she was in trouble if he thought this was their new norm as besties.

  His lips moved to her ear. “You like watching me, huh?”

  “You’re the bestest.” She grinned, hoping she was putting him in a better mood. Because he was putting her in the best damn mood ever.

  “Bestest?” He chuckled, nuzzling her
neck. “I think you’ve called me that before.”

  She didn’t think she had, but she’d definitely said it in her dreams. “Well, you’ll always be my favorite football player.”

  “I better be.” He leaned away, giving her that David Leodegrance, panty-dropping smile. “I have to finish practice.”

  Jane realized he’d carried her back to the gate where his dad waited.

  “Dad, will you take her home?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I want to finish watching.”

  Mr. Leodegrance awkwardly gestured for David to put her down. “Manners, son.”

  David yanked his hand away as if it had been burned and lowered her to the ground. “I’ll see you later.” He kissed her cheek before he turned and ran back to the team.

  Kingston Leodegrance sighed, his strong hand touching her shoulder. “Come on, sweetheart. Your mother actually sent me to bring you home.”

  She wanted to argue, but she saw the other players were already teasing David. They shoved him and some of the guys looked her way, which seemed to cause David’s anger to spike. He roughly bumped a few of them and even shoved another.

  So, she nodded to Kingston. “Okay.”

  The whistles sounded again, and the clash of players met her ears again.

  “Damn boy,” his dad muttered.

  She flinched, glaring up at him. “They weren’t fair. Don’t you take it out on him for losing his spot.”