13. Chapter 13

Chapter 13

ISABEL

"I can't believe we lost." Emma sighed after the game. We were gathered around the side of the gym with our parents, waiting for the guys to come out.

"It was still an amazing game, though. Mateo really pulled it out in the second half," I offered, remembering how she'd been worried.

She grinned. "You're right. He's going to be in such a good mood."

"I just hope Tucker's in a good mood. I can't believe what that asshole did." Annie clenched her hands into fists at her sides.

Jenna shot her an admonishing look as Chuck said, "I'm sure he's fine. The coach wouldn't have put him back in if he wasn't."

"No. I know that . I'm just worried about how the Ridgeside Coach is going to look at it."

Jet frowned at her comment before looking away to talk to Nic, and Annie's brow creased. I didn't blame her, confused at the reaction myself. She ducked her head to talk to Emma, and I took a few steps off to the side, needing a moment to breathe. Sometimes, just the presence of others was overwhelming, and right now, all I wanted to do was curl up in my bed with Tucker.

"Hey, Izzy?"

I blinked, surprised to see Harper beside me. "Hey, what's up?"

"Just, if my parents ask, let them know that I'm going to be over there with some friends."

I looked where she was pointing to a group of girls and a couple of boys, most of them familiar faces I'd seen her with before. "Sure. Just make sure you stay where we can see you."

Harper rolled her eyes. "I would've just talked to my mom if I wanted you to act like one," she snapped before walking off.

I swallowed hard as the hollow ache in my chest throbbed in response. Not at the attitude, but acting like a mom ? I didn't see how the ache was ever going to go away. It hadn't gotten any better in months, just festering there inside me, waiting for moments to come out and rob me of breath.

"Ah, look. There's Tucker," I heard Nic say from behind me, and I quickly tucked away the pain before he could see.

When I looked up, he was coming through the doors, that sexy grin of his spread across his entire face. I took another moment to bury the ache so I could smile back. This was his moment.

"You got it?" Annie asked, running up as everyone gathered, and Tucker's smile somehow grew wider.

"The coach wants to make an offer. He's going to come by to talk to all of us sometime next week," he said to his parents, and his dad clapped him on the back, a proud smile in place as the moms rushed up to give him a hug, pushing Chuck out of the way.

Chelsea and Vicky squealed in excitement, and Colton and Archer broke out into a happy dance, making the girls giggle.

Tucker shared a fist pound with Jet once he escaped their moms, and Annie and Emma attacked him with hugs.

He was eating it up, loving the attention, but the whole time he was watching me, and I was afraid at that moment that I'd let the mask slip because the pure happiness radiating from Tucker's gaze shifted into compassion.

As soon as he was free, he came over and wrapped his arms around me. "Hey, princess." He pulled back to caress my cheek with his thumb.

"I'm so proud of you." I smiled up at him, watching questions flicker in his eyes. He was holding back, and I prayed it wasn't for the same reasons I was. My pain didn't need to be his, but his was mine.

"You okay, whiskey?"

"I'm fine." The look quickly disappeared, fleeting, but I'd seen it.

I took hold of his hand and held it gently between both of mine as I brought it to my lips, kissing the sore and swollen knuckles I knew had to bother him more than he'd ever admit. "I was so worried when you fell."

"I'm fine," he repeated. "You don't need to worry." He pulled me close once again, giving me a chance to breathe him in, the tension relaxing from my body before Chuck, Stefano, and Jet broke in, asking for details about his conversation with the Ridgeside U coach .

I slipped away and went to stand by Nic, enjoying his silent company, the two of us in earshot as Mrs. Kooper said goodbye to Emma.

"I've called and told your dad that you'll be out with Annie and Izzy to celebrate Tucker tonight. Tell Mateo he played well for me when he comes out, alright?"

Emma beamed. "Thanks, Mom. I will."

"Have fun," her mom said before heading out the doors, and the rest of our parents and siblings followed right after.

Nic turned to me as our friends started discussing how to go out and celebrate. "So, Emma's mom's okay with Mateo?"

"Sounds like it. That's at least something good for them."

"Mmmm. I suppose so."

"What does that mean?"

He shrugged. "I just find it strange that they're a couple in the first place. They don't seem like a very good match. But what do I know?"

I stared at him, watching his look harden with his eyes once again. "Okay, explain."

"Forget it, Izzy."

"I just want to understand. Talking about it might help."

"You mean like you talk about your problems?"

My eyes widened. "I talked to you, remember?"

"But it obviously didn't help, did it?" He stared me down before I could argue, and my chest clenched, guilt swirling in my middle, realizing he'd seen the pain I'd tried to hide only minutes ago.

Is there anything he doesn't pick up on ?

When I didn't say anything, he added, "You need to talk, but not to me. I can't say anymore to help you."

"What about you?" It was bullshit for him to insist I talk if he wasn't going to.

He gave me the gravest look I'd seen cross his face yet. "My pain's different. Some things are better left alone."

Before I could even begin to comment on that, he walked off to join the rest of the guys. My whole body fumed, heat striking my cheeks to travel down my neck and chest. He didn't have to talk, fine. He could bottle it all up, but he didn't have any right to tell me to talk if he wasn't going to.

Everyone had been affected enough without me bringing up my daughter's death again, and I would not put Tucker through that anymore. He was doing so much better than I was, and I refused to bring him down with me.

I startled with Emma's shriek and spun to find Mateo lifting Emma up from behind, everyone laughing as she turned bright red.

"Hey, baby," Mateo grinned as he set her back down, and she reached up to smack his arm. "Don't do that. And what took you so long?"

He rubbed his arm where it stung red. "Sorry. It was hard to get my parents to let me go after I told them the news."

"That's no excuse," she fumed. "Tucker's been out here a while, and— Wait, what news?"

"Another recruiter was at the game." He grinned proudly. "UT wants to make me an offer!"

"UT? UT?! Really?!" Emma clapped her hands together.

"Yep. We're going to school together, baby! "

Emma shrieked, making the rest of us wince as she leaped into Mateo's arms, kissing him long and hard, the rest of us just standing there grinning at our friends.

"EMMA LEIGH KOOPER!"

We all froze. None of us had to turn around to know whose voice that was.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" her dad yelled. "Let go of my daughter!"

Mateo slowly lowered Emma to the floor, and her dad yanked her back by her arm. The guys flinched, holding back at the way he'd handled her.

"I knew it. I knew you were still seeing this boy, but you kept telling me no. You assured me over and over again that you weren't. Well, you're busted, young lady!"

"Dad, please." She whimpered.

"No! I've had enough of your lies! I can't trust you at all! Go get in the car!"

"Dad…"

"In the damn car, Emma!" he bellowed.

"Emma, wait." Mateo reached out for her, and she looked back just long enough for everyone to see her tears before she ran outside.

"And YOU!" Mr. Kooper spat as he turned back around. "You don't ever get to touch her like that again! You hear me?!"

"Yes, sir." Mateo jerked his head.

"No wetback gets to be with my daughter that way. No boy of any color gets to be with her that way. I tolerate you because you're just a friend." His gaze shot to Jet. "But you …" He turned to Annie. "You should be ashamed. You're just tainting our race."

He stormed out of the gym doors then, and Mateo ran off out the other side. Other than the sound of the metal latch clicking back into place, the gym remained quiet, all of us in shock.