I Have Lived and I Have Loved - Willow Winters Page 0,76

friendliness, in my opinion, and it’d be a long day in hell before she and I became anything other than civil to each other.

After seventh period ended, Ryan caught up to me at my locker. “Are you sticking around during practice?”

I switched out my books, putting the ones I needed for homework into my bag. “Yeah. My mom and dad are going to a counseling session tonight.”

“So we can hang out afterward?” He moved in as I closed my locker, tugging me close so I was almost resting against him. I felt him through my jeans. He was already hard, and I knew what else he was asking.

Feeling my body warm, I grinned at him. “Oh yes.”

“Yeah?” His eyes were teasing, a twinkle in them. He tugged me closer, closer, closer until every inch of my body was plastered against every inch of his.

I could feel his breath against me, and I murmured back, “Hell yes.”

I felt him smiling before he kissed me.

A loud slam sounded right next to us, and Ryan’s head jerked up. His hands tightened on my waist as he growled, “What the fuck, man?”

The guy grinned at us as he bounced a basketball. He threw it at the locker on our other side, moving down the hallway. “Want to make sure you’re coming to practice,” he called over his shoulder.

“Now I might not.”

The guy caught his basketball and stopped in his tracks. “You serious, man?” His fingers tapped on the ball.

I didn’t know who the guy was, but it wasn’t a stretch to guess he was a senior. No junior would’ve talked to Ryan like that.

“I’ll come when I come.” Ryan pushed away from my locker, standing in front of me. His shoulders were rigid, and he kept a tight grip on my hand.

Kirk and Nick materialized from behind us, moving in to flank Ryan.

Kirk’s hands shoved into his pockets. “What’s the deal, Wachowitz?”

“My deal is Jensen. He’s more interested in getting laid than getting to practice.”

A low growl came from Ryan, and he started forward.

Nick held his hand up, halting Ryan, but he was speaking to Wachowitz. “You might want to watch your words. Ryan hasn’t missed one practice this week, and he’s already captain. You know he has a say in who gets nominated.”

“Team nominates the co-captain.”

Nick’s grin went wide, and his head cocked to the side. “But Ryan gets final say. If he doesn’t like you, he isn’t going to pick you.”

Wachowitz’s stance grew less intimidating. His head lowered, and he stuffed one of his hands into his pocket. “You serious?”

Ryan released my hand. He passed both his friends, moving purposefully. He went up to Wachowitz and shoved him against the locker. “I don’t give a rat’s ass if I’m captain or not. You come at me like that again, and I’ll get your ass kicked off the team.”

Kirk and Nick pushed forward, standing close behind Ryan.

Wachowitz swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, and he moved his head in the same motion.

“Yeah, man. I apologize.” He held his fist up, but Ryan ignored him.

Meeting my eyes, Ryan spoke to Wachowitz, “Do it again, and we’ll have more than fucking words. Got it?”

Wachowitz’s gaze jumped to mine, and he swallowed again. He didn’t say anything else, only turned and disappeared down the hallway. He didn’t bounce the basketball against any more lockers.

“Well, that was fun,” Kirk said as Ryan came back.

Ryan was still holding my gaze. I had darkness in me, but so did he. There’d been a few glimpses over the last couple months, but this was the first time I’d really experienced it. It was a window into how he’d been before I showed up.

A shiver went down my spine as Ryan bent to kiss me.

“I’ll see you later?” he said softly.

I nodded, feeling all sorts of flutters in my chest.

He stepped back and clapped Nick on the shoulder. “Let’s go. Wachowitz is going to have a hard practice today.”

Nick’s grin was almost evil. “Hell yes, he is.”

They took off, but Kirk lingered behind.

“Basketball isn’t your thing?” I asked him.

He laughed, shaking his head. “Sports in general are not my thing. I love to watch, bet on the game, hit on chicks in the bleachers, but that’s it. You?”

Me?

Come on, Soccer Superstar.

I heard Willow calling me that again and found myself saying, “Soccer, actually.”

“Really? It’s a spring sport here for us. You going to play?”

I heard myself saying, “Yeah. I think I am.”

I wasn’t sure who was shocked more, him