Chapter 15

I was still pretty livid with Tucker after hearing what happened. Not that I should be surprised. I’d asked him not to, and he’d basically flat out told me he was doing it, anyway. I’d understood him punching out Ryder–what he and Micah had done was so extreme–but I really hated fighting. So much was riding on his future, and it just wasn’t the answer. Not to mention I wasn’t sure how Zane would retaliate.

And something told me he would.

Or maybe I was just tired of the drama.

Whichever it was, it didn’t change my frustration. Basketball season was here, and my brilliant boyfriend had bruised the hell out of his knuckles just a week before practices started.

I watched him down on the court, taking my dutiful place in the bleachers. I’d been feeling off again today, and Leo had promised to cover my tutoring girls for me, giving me a chance to watch Tucker for once.

He and the rest of the team were running drills, while Mateo had gotten reamed out by Coach Larson more than once. But each time, Tucker kept pulling his friend under his wing. He was the definite leader of the team. Strong, confident. His moves clear. Fluid, like he was born to perform on that court.

Tucker looked up at me, and I sent him a proud smile, truly amazed that somehow, I got to call him mine. Even if he did frustrate me sometimes. The drama had died down at school some, thankfully, and I would give it to Tucker that Zane seemed to have backed off. At least for now. Which was a relief for my stress levels.

When the team took a break for water, I slid my phone out of my bag, running my thumb along the screen, debating. I’d been feeling off for so long now. Part of me wanted to ask Mom to take me to the doctor, while the other part of me was terrified, memories of what happened to Daddy and all the signs we’d missed plaguing my thoughts. Nausea twisted my stomach in one lone swoop, a sign of my stress, I was sure. I’d had it all the time back when Daddy was sick. It made sense to have it now.

Too chicken to open Google and type in my symptoms, I messaged Annie instead, asking her how Jet’s practice was going.

It was funny. We were both here at school after hours, yet we were so far apart. I wished she could be here with me.

Annie: Practice is good. What’s up?

Me: Just watching Tucker’s practice.

Annie: No, sis. What’s up?

I winced, sometimes hating our twin vibe. Annie’s had always been stronger. Which was bull crap if you asked me. I sensed things with her, but they were more vague, her emotions needing to be more extreme, but every now and then something small would trickle through.

Me: Just stressed. It’ll pass.

I hoped.

Me: I think it’s the Baste Academy audition coming up. I need my routine to be perfect. My one with Leo is looking good, but I need a solo performance, too.

Which wasn’t a lie. Just not the whole truth. Guilt weighed at my middle.

Annie: I’m sure you’ll get it down. Your choreography is amazing.

Me: Thanks.

She sent me a smiley face, and I tucked my phone into my sweater pocket. It wasn’t my choreography I was worried about. Okay, a little bit, but more so the fact that I kept getting dizzy after just a couple of hours of practice. I was never going to be ready at this rate if I kept having to stop. My stomach swooped again with my stress, and I had to shove back the urge to cry, all of it suddenly overwhelming.

I felt a buzz from another text and glanced at my Fitbit, not bothering to pull out my phone.

Annie: Want me to come over there?

I smiled, my love-hate relationship with our twin vibe flipping back to positive.

Please.

I was just pulling my phone back out to text when I dropped it, watching it bounce to another row of the bleachers. I cringed, hoping nothing had happened to the screen, and headed down the steps to go grab it. I had to search for a minute to find it tucked under the seat and blew the cobwebs off. I’d just stood when a sharp tug struck my chest, like an invisible tether being yanked, and I gasped.

Annie!

My fingers tapped at my phone as I chatted with Izzy. Something was definitely going on, and while I was sure the stress of her audition was part of it, I knew she was holding back. I could just sense it. I just didn’t understand why she didn’t want to share. We’d always shared everything. Mostly.

It’s probably one of those times she needs to think through it first. I tried to convince myself that was it, but I really wasn’t sure. All I knew was that if she wasn’t ready to confide in me yet, it was my job to be there for her.

Sending her a quick text to see if she wanted me to join her, I looked out at the field, hoping to see a little more of Jet’s play time.

Today there had been a lot of practice plays, running through the ones they thought would help best against this Friday’s opposing team. It was the last game before we headed into playoffs, and we’d done so well this season that even if we lost this one, we were guaranteed a spot.

Which was a relief because Jet was still hoping for a scholarship. He was now on the back list for three different universities, just waiting to hear from coaches about whether or not they would have a place for him. None of which were to any of Tucker’s schools.

Being such the patient person I was, I was trying not to get too pissed at Coach Riojas. He’d pumped Jet up so much about going for a college scholarship, swearing he had some connections to reach out to with teams, and while there’d been scouts and recruiters at the games, it felt like we were getting nowhere.

I had to stay positive, though. For Jet. Because if I was being honest…I doubted he’d care much about going to college next year if it didn’t involve him being on a football team. Which for me meant this scholarship thing was everything.

I didn’t even care too much about me getting one. Like Tucker said, my education was basically going to be covered, but Jet had so much potential. I wanted everything for him.

Wondering what was taking Izzy so long to text back, I looked down at the field. They’d just lined up for another play, and I watched as the ball was hiked to Jet. He pulled back, ready to make a pass, when suddenly number thirty-four came running from out of nowhere, slamming into Jet’s side just as he threw the ball. My heart jumped, sticking in my throat, and when Jet didn’t immediately start to move, I leapt up, rushing down the stands as a flare of panic struck my middle.

“Everyone move back!” Coach Riojas’ voice boomed over the field to the players that gathered. “Hernandez, on the bench!” I’d never heard him so livid.

I ran down the ramp, sprinting through the gate as Coach kneeled at Jet’s side. I could see he’d started moving, but he wasn’t getting up. No. No, no, no. I practically flew the rest of the way to the forty-yard line, falling to my knees at my man’s side.

“Jet.” My breath gushed out.

“Hey, sweetheart.” He grimaced as Coach slowly moved his arm away from where he clutched it to his chest. “My wrist.” He looked at the coach next.

“I can see.” Coach Riojas frowned. “Move your fingers for me?”

I watched as Jet’s fingers wiggled slightly at the tips, a momentary rush of relief filling me until Jet said, “They’re tingly and half numb.”

Coach cursed, both of us watching as Jet’s wrist continued to swell. “We’re going to hope this is just a bad sprain. Annie, can you call his parents for me? He’s going to need a trip to the emergency room.”

“I’ve got your painkillers here and a few of your favorite drinks,” Mom said, pulling them from the plastic grocery bag she was holding. She set them on the end table next to the couch where I was sitting. “You can take another pill in about two hours. Are you sure you don’t want to go lay in your bed?”

“No, Mom. I’m fine.” I smiled up at her. She squeezed my shoulder before heading off to the kitchen.

“Colton! Get back in here and finish your dinner!”

My little brother sighed, pushing himself up off the floor to trudge over.

“Here, I’ve got you some Tylenol. The doctor said you could take these with the other meds if you need it.” Annie emerged from the kitchen as Colton disappeared. She pulled a leg under her bottom to sit next to where Izzy was curled in Tucker’s lap at the other end of the couch and leaned into my side, resting her head on my shoulder before holding them out. I popped the pills in my mouth, just for good measure. My arm really was starting to ache. I must have been getting over the hump of the good part of the pain meds.

My dad came in, taking a spot on the loveseat next to Harper. I was starting to feel like a side show with everyone’s attention on me. Dad rubbed his ball cap over his slightly salt and pepper hair before sliding it back on. “So, how’re you feeling?”

“Been better,” I grumbled.

My wrist was officially fractured. I was out of the game for at least a month. If not longer. Which meant my chances at snagging a scholarship were pretty much null and void at this rate. Unless by some miracle we make it to state championships with our second-string quarterback.

Yeah. I was screwed.

“Well, at least it wasn’t your throwing arm,” Dad offered, and I nodded. There was that.

“Daniel’s been doing pretty well this season during practice, though.” Annie rubbed her hand comfortingly along my good arm, like she’d known just where my thoughts had gone. “You can’t lose hope. You’ve still got the possibility of those three schools, too.”

Yeah, with a broken wrist…Those chances were going down the drain. I spotted a look across Tucker’s face that told me he was thinking the same thing.

“Let’s not think about it. It’s not gonna help to dwell.” Izzy gave a half smile, her head resting on Tucker’s chest.

“What I wanna know is what your coach is gonna do about that guy that slammed into you,” Dad cut back in, anger crossing over his usually passive face.

“Zane,” Annie replied. “It was Zane.”

“Izzy’s ex? Zane that worked at the shop?”

“Yeah. Pretty sure he went after Jet because he was pissed at me.” Tucker grimaced. “Sorry, man.”

I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. He took a cheap shot. Neither of us could have predicted he’d retaliate that way.”

“I could.” Annie clenched a fist on her thigh. “Or at least I’m not surprised by it.”

“See?” Izzy lightly swatted Tucker’s arm. “This is why I said I was mad about what you did.”

“Yeah. Noted,” Tucker grumbled.

I could tell he felt like shit that I’d gotten the brunt of the payback, but I really didn’t blame him. I was pissed. Disappointed that I was out of the game, but I’d known damn well that Zane had an asshole side when I agreed to be Tucker’s backup.

“Well, he won’t be working at the shop again if it was on purpose. Come on, bed, squirt.” Dad ruffled Harper’s hair. She was half asleep against the arm of the sofa. I laid my head back, feeling pretty worn out myself, and listened as the others moved around me.

“Annie, maybe you should go home.” I heard Mom whisper what felt like just minutes later, but the screaming in my wrist said that more time had to have passed.

Annie sighed. “You know how much I wish we were older right now, so I didn’t have to go?”

A few quiet seconds passed before Mom replied, “Is your mom home tonight?”

“No. But Izzy’s with Archer.”

“Then I’ll say stay. For now. I know he wants you here. You can help get him to bed before you go.”

“Really?”

Mom snorted slightly through her nose. “Please. I’m sure you’ve seen way more of my son in these later years than I have. Better you than me helping him get his pants off tonight.”

My expression twisted in disgust, and Mom laughed, ruffling my hair. “Thought you might be coming to. Goodnight, y’all.”

Annie’s fingers ran through my hair, and I rolled my neck along the back couch cushion to meet her gaze. I winced, stiff after however long I’d been in the awkward position.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Just stiff.”

“How’s your arm?”

“Hurting like a bitch, actually.” I grinned, making Annie give me a small smile.

She reached over, grabbing my bottle of pain pills, and shook one out into her hand. “Here.”

“Thanks.” I took it from her, reaching over to grab one of the drinks Mom set down earlier. I stared at the cap, and Annie quickly twisted that off, too.

“Did you hear your mom?” She went back to running her fingers through my hair along my brow, and I wanted to purr from her touch.

“That you get to stay?”

“For now.”

“Hey.” I gave her a sly grin and lowered my voice to a whisper. “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. I’ve got a window you’ve snuck out of before.”

“Not after all night.” Annie smiled back. “But it does sound tempting.”

“I’ve got plenty of T-shirts you can wear…”

“I’ll text Izzy.”

We headed to my room a little later, after my pain pill kicked in some, and after the fun of trying to get my own jeans off, Annie gave a little push to my chest. I fell back to the bed, and she tugged them from my feet.

“I was getting it.” I laughed.

“I know. It’s just more fun if I do it.” She turned around, looking all business as she pulled open my dresser drawer. “Now, what do you want for bed?”

“You.”

She gave me a look over her shoulder. “Yeah, we’ll talk about that in a bit. You’re hurt.”

“Not that part of me.”

She shook her head, and I could just picture her eyes rolling up. “What do you want?”

“I really don’t care.”

“Sweatpants it is, then.” She grabbed a gray pair and went to rifle through my closet.

“I don’t need a shirt.”

“It’s for me, remember?” She pulled a black one that I knew was a soft material from the hanger and began to strip. I was instantly at attention, and Annie smirked. “Now, that’s something I want to see in those sweatpants.” She jerked her chin at my dick.

“Is that a real thing?” I asked, remembering some memes on social media about guys in gray sweatpants.

“Oh. It’s a thing.”

She shimmied out of her jeans and tossed her bra before pulling my T-shirt over her head. “I love this one.” She fingered the bottom hem.

“I love you.”

She walked over and leaned down with a smile to press a kiss to my lips. “I love you, too.” Her hand found my dick through my boxers, and I groaned.

“Just leave the sweatpants off. You can keep me warm tonight.” I pulled her down onto my chest, and Annie braced herself with her hands to not land too hard. Her ponytail spilled over one of her shoulders, and I pulled the band free, running my fingers over her scalp. She moaned, her eyelids drooping.

“You have no idea how good that feels.” She leaned down to kiss me, slowly. It was tender. Sweet. The moment between us more chaste than I ever imagined if I was going to get her in my bed for the whole night.

We crawled under the covers, and our kisses never stopped, our hands exploring. Well, one of mine. I slid it up under the T-shirt to gently caress her breasts, and Annie sighed into my mouth. My cock was rock hard, screaming for her, but I couldn’t bring it in me to break the moment, just loving the feel of her and the pureness of emotions we were sharing. It was Annie eventually that pushed me onto my back.

She gently tugged down my boxers, and I kicked them to the foot of the bed as she grabbed a condom. Slowly rolling it on, Annie moved her panties to the side and slid down my length. She sighed, and I wrapped my fingers in her hair, gently tugging her lips back down to mine as she rode me.

It was slow. Intimate. Like she was reaching in and touching my soul. Brushing against all of my insecurities and disappointments over what happened today and soothing them over, assuring me that she was there. She had me.

Just like I would always have her.

When she finally cried out against my lips, I kissed her, smothering the sound. My hips pumped upward, faster to take care of myself now that she was done. She slid her hands along my neck, cupping my jaw, whispering words of love and everything she felt, encouraging me to finish. Just a few more thrusts and I was there, shattering inside her.

Annie brought her lips to mine with some lingering deep pecks and then crawled off. She reached for a tissue by the bed, tossing the condom aside, and I pulled her down, tucking her into my side so her head laid on my chest. Everything we felt still pulsing in the air around us as we fell asleep.