Never His Girl (Kings of Cypress Prep #2) - Rachel Jonas Page 0,91

that was a fucking lie.”

I’ve often wondered why he’s so responsible when it comes to using protection, more than most guys our age, but now I know. He’s seen firsthand what can happen when two people aren’t careful.

“I’m sorry,” is all I can think to say, which draws a quiet laugh from West.

“What the fuck are you sorry for?”

I shrug and search for what I’m trying to express.

“I mean, you didn’t even know what was happening until a decision had been made. That must’ve been hard in some way. Guess I’m just sorry you had to experience that. Either of you,” I add, acknowledging what Casey must have felt as well.

He stares for a moment, just sitting there quietly as his thoughts consume him. I’m not sure why, but I lean forward and take his hand. Maybe because, if I were him, I’d need someone to hold mine right about now.

“Was that the end of it? You two just went your separate ways after that?” I ask.

“No,” he answers with a sigh. “I met up with her the next day. You know, just to talk shit out, make sure she was okay. But it was during that face-to-face conversation that we both realized something.”

I’m intrigued, listening harder now.

“Back then, she wasn’t following Pandora all that closely, which is why she completely missed who I was the night we hooked up. Actually, if one of her friends hadn’t randomly showed her a post about me, it might’ve taken her even longer to make the connection.”

My brow quirks. “What connection?”

Sighing, West shakes his head and I realize the story is about to take yet another sharp turn.

“The ‘W’ she added when saving her name in my phone stands for ‘Wells’,” he shares. “As in, she’s the daughter of Adam Wells. The same Adam Wells who’s head coach of the NCU football team. The Adam Wells I’m supposed to be playing for next year.”

West’s hand warms in mine and the pieces are falling into place.

“As I’m sure you can imagine, knocking up my soon-to-be coach’s daughter isn’t exactly the first impression I want to make. Having this fucking secret hanging over my head is the reason I push myself so hard, the reason I needed one last flawless season under my belt. I didn’t just want to be the best of the best… I had to be,” he explains, bringing the entire picture into view for me.

“Wow,” is all I can say, which I’m certain isn’t exactly helpful, but damn. Talk about irony.

“Still, even with everything I have riding on this, it’s bigger than that,” West adds, and while I don’t say it out loud, I can’t imagine what could possibly be bigger than flushing his entire future down the drain.

“The few times Casey and I have talked, she’s adamant about us keeping what happened under wraps. She insists that her dad can never know, and up until now that’s been in my best interest, too. It’s just that… I can’t keep doing this. Can’t let Parker slip through the fucking cracks,” he says. “There’s also the fact that I hate what this probably looks like to everyone else, from the outside looking in.”

“Hate what … what looks like?”

He peers up at me before answering, “Us.”

I laugh a bit. Can’t help it. “What the hell are you talking about, West?”

“Makes me sick to my stomach knowing people actually believe I’d post that fucking video of us. And I’m sure they have opinions about you being with me after that.”

I had never mentioned it out loud, but it does burn a bit, knowing how weak and stupid I must seem for forgiving West after sharing something so personal with the entire city. Only, they don’t know the truth. That I’m no one’s doormat and never have been. But most importantly, they don’t know West’s truth.

That he isn’t guilty.

I squeeze his hand again, feeling his heart in this conversation more than I imagined I would. Yes, he’s got a lot to lose if this all blows up in his face, but he’s also trying to look out for Casey. Trying to look out for me.

“She agreed to meet me tomorrow night, so I’m planning to make the drive to her campus after school,” he shares. “I know that’s kind of a weird thing to do—meet someone I used to be involved with for coffee—but I don’t want to say what I need to say over the phone.”

I nod, agreeing. “No, you’re right. Some situations require