If it was one tire, I could make up some story about getting a flat or running over a nail or something. But four of them sliced open at the wall? There’s no denying that it was intentional, and that will lead to her worrying about me and how I’m…reacclimating.
Not to mention the financial burden. I can’t even begin to accurately guess how much it will cost to replace four tires. Eight-hundred bucks? A thousand? She won’t talk money with me—says that’s not a kid’s business to worry about finances—but I know we’re struggling. Grey is going to one of the best colleges in the country, and it’s not like he has a scholarship. Living in Sawyer Point isn’t exactly cheap either.
“All right, ladies,” Coach calls out, bringing me out of my thoughts. “That’s it for today. Once again, good job last night. Let’s carry that same energy through the season. Enjoy your day off tomorrow, then we have a game against Mountain View on Thursday.”
I throw my ball into the bin, and when I turn around, I see Holden sitting on the bleachers on the other side of the gym. What the hell is he doing here? Has he been there this whole time? I roll my eyes when I notice Taylor spot him at the same time, a flirty grin spreading over her face as she saunters toward him. He stands, walking toward her.
“Hey, sexy,” she says coyly, once she’s a few feet away.
Holden notices her, seemingly for the first time, and barely acknowledges her with a flick of his chin before he walks right past her. Taylor’s face is beet-red with what I’m sure is a mixture of anger and embarrassment. The only thing worse than rejection for a girl like that is public rejection. Because her little friends, along with the entire team, just witnessed the whole thing.
“Hey, baby sister.”
“For the last time—” I say, glaring at him.
“Yeah, yeah, you’re not my sister. The sound of it just gets me hot, what can I say?” He takes my bag, then puts a hand on the small of my back as we walk through the gym.
“What the hell are you doing?” I whisper.
“Thayer said you’d need a ride.”
I snort. How gallant. “Not from you.”
“I thought we were past this,” he says, sounding bored.
“You don’t even realize what you just did, do you?”
“What?” His eyebrows pull together, genuinely confused, and I shake my head, amused at how oblivious he can be.
“As if I wasn’t already on her shit list, that just made me an even bigger target.”
“Who, Taylor?” he asks, glancing behind us to see her standing there, seething. “Fuck her. She’s not my girlfriend. We fucked like two times.”
Wow. These Ames boys sure know how to treat a girl. Not that it’s news to me. Holden has never had an exclusive relationship in all the time that I’ve known him.
“Okay, first of all, gross. Second of all, it doesn’t matter. She thinks I’m what’s standing in her way.”
“And you care because?”
I stop to look at him. I…I don’t know. Why do I care? It’s not like I’m afraid of her. I just prefer to avoid her if I can help it. “I don’t care. It seems to be her mission in life to make my life hell, so I’d rather not hand her the ammunition.” And she slept with your brother on the night of the funeral. Not that I can really fault her for it. It’s not like she knew about Thayer and me. Still, Taylor has always been a mean girl through and through.
“I’ll fix it,” he promises.
“No—”
“I’ll fix it,” he cuts me off, his voice firmer this time, then he takes my hand in his. “Come on.”
Reluctantly, I drop it, even though I know his idea of fixing it will no doubt make it worse. It’s like when the nerdy kid’s mom calls the school to tell them they’re being picked on, and they only end up getting it ten times worse. That’s just how bullies operate.
Once we’re outside, I stop dead in my tracks, noticing my car is gone. Valen picked me up for school this morning, and it was still parked when we got there.
“Dammit!”
“What’s the problem?” Holden frowns.
“My car got towed.”
He shrugs, probably not understanding why I’m upset. And why would he? Money isn’t an issue for him. But all I can think is how that’s going to be another hundred or two added to the list of expenses.
Holden unlocks the