to sit back and watch you ruin your perfect damn image.”
Perfect image? I guess he’s the last to hear about my past.
“Why do you give a shit if I’m in love with someone? I don’t give a shit if you contract five STDs. It’s not my business. What is though is when you hurt my girlfriend’s friend. If you don’t want to keep it in your pants, then don’t start fucking relationships.”
“What? You’ve known Jen since school started? You don’t even get us.”
“I understand that some bitch whom you’re also fucking beat the shit out of her. Guys like you give us a bad name.”
My bat bag drops to the floor as he approaches me, obviously ready to fight.
“You’d better watch your mouth.” He steps up, but I’m at least three inches taller than him, so I easily stare down, waiting for the first punch to be thrown.
“Whoa, whoa.” Derek rushes out, separating us with his bat.
“Shit, King. Let Lynch beat the shit out of Saucey,” Ollie says.
Saucey flips his face Ollie’s way, and his mouth is hanging open.
We’re inches away from one another, our chests pressed to the bat. Both of us know, if we get caught fighting, we’ll be benched, and as tempting as it is to be benched for the charity event, I won’t go out that way.
“You’re not worth it.” Saucey backs up and turns on his shoes to get his bat bag.
“Do me a favor. Keep out of my relationship, and I’ll keep out of yours.”
“Deal,” he says, never facing me.
“And Ella is none of your business. Her name is never to leave your lips again.”
He shakes his head and remains quiet. I take that as an agreement.
I exit the batting cages and head to my truck.
By the time I reach my truck, my blood is boiling, and anger is overtaking my vision. I’m not sure what the hell Saucey was talking about in reference to Ella’s freshman year, and it’s none of my business.
I pull my phone out, needing to know why she’s been with Brax all day.
Me: Hey, where are you?
The three dots come up immediately, showing that she’s responding to me.
Ella: I just got to your house. Where are you?
Me: I’m leaving the field house. I’ll meet you there.
Ella: Can’t wait.
My engine hesitates slightly but turns over. Driving back to my house, I replay the argument with Saucey. I don’t want to be at odds with a player on the field, much less my roommate. That only hurts the entire team, so I mentally make note to talk to him later.
Only the family room light is glowing out the window, and it’s rare to see our house this quiet. Some foreigners to Ridgemont might assume it’s a family home with two-point-five kids tucked in their beds.
I swing my keys around my finger as I step through the door, finding Ella and Brax sprawled out on couches, watching television. I glance at the TV on my way to her, finding their usual—some reality television show with tons of drama. They love this shit.
“What’s up, Cros?” Brax asks.
I nod my head, not thrilled that he took my girl away all day and I don’t know where.
Ella’s look of elation reforms to narrowed eyes. I don’t stop my footsteps until I lay my body over hers. She straightens her back along the couch and wraps her arms around my neck. I kiss her long and hard, letting Brax see that she’s mine.
“Let’s go upstairs,” I whisper. I bite her bottom lip.
She shakes her head, and I release my hold on her lip.
“Nope. This is the last episode.”
I groan.
She smiles.
I groan again.
She sighs.
I groan once more.
She pushes me up, stands, and then holds her hand out for me to take.
Bingo.
“You must be one hell of a horse in bed to pull her away from this,” Brax mentions. His ankles are crossed, and the remote is in his hand. He’s the epitome of a laid-back college kid.
“Oh, I am.”
We’re on the way upstairs when I stop.
“And, next time you want to borrow my girl for the day, don’t.”
He laughs.
I don’t.
Ella shakes her head.
“As if you’d be jealous of me!” Brax hollers back.
Ella pulls me up the stairs.
He has no idea how badly I wish we’d all followed him that night instead of getting in the car. For that fact, I’m jealous of him.
It’s game day, and instead of my normal excitement, I wake up in a cold sweat with my stomach in my throat.