Chapter Thirty

Zach

As the final whistle blows, I clench my fists and yell so loudly that my mouthguard pops out. South Point! South Point! South Point!

The crowd chants, and teammates slap my helmet in congratulations. Taking several long breaths, I close my eyes and commit this moment to memory. Turf spiking at my cleats, cold air rushing against my skin, and the crowd chanting our name because of me. This is it. This is what I live for.

We won the state championship, and even though it's the third time, no win compares to this. The final one in my high school career and the first step for my performance at St. Michael's.

My heart races as the adrenaline pumps through my veins. Throwing my helmet off, I look at the crowd and grin. For the first time in my career at South Point, my parents are standing front row, cheering with Ella and Tiff. I wave, offering them a smile as I celebrate with my team, but there's one thing stopping me from being as happy as everyone else.

Honey. She's not here, and it's my fault. I still haven't talked to her. I've been selfish. Tiff and this game have been my priority, but she's always been on the back of my mind, and I know I need to make it up to her somehow.

As I walk past Jamie, he shunts my shoulder hard.

I plan on ignoring it, but when he pushes me from behind, I see red.

"What's your problem?" I yell, standing nose to nose with him. Jamie doesn't seem fazed; he stands defiantly with a horsey grin.

"There's no problem. But I gotta know, how does being a Rent Boy feel?"

"What are you talking about?" My mind immediately races to Honey, but he doesn't know about our deal.

"You're only here winning because my family is paying you for the privilege. You're nothing but a low-life kid from the wrong side of town, and I can't wait to steal some money back from you."

"And how do you plan on doing that?" We are drawing attention, and I have to hold back on what I really want to say.

"The bet. You've already lost."

"Bet's not over. We still have a couple weeks, and Honey's still mine." I say it with unwavering confidence, but inside, I'm not so sure. I assume she still wants me to take her to the debutante ball and prom, but I don't know.

"Oh, believe me, the bet's over. Honey's not interested in you and your baby drama."

"So you think that means she'd be interested in you?" I raise a curious brow, biting back the word. "Trust me, Jamie. You've got more chance of screwing Zendaya than Honey again."

Without another word, I stalk away from him. I refuse to let him ruin my night. Even though my parents are too caught up in their own excitement to notice my interaction, Tiff watches beside them with a concerned brow.

"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart." My mom smiles and draws me into a hug. Tears pool in her eyes because she knows what this means to me. I've accomplished everything I wanted.

"Thanks, Mom." I kiss her cheek, feeling whole when she hugs me. Things are coming together for our family, and knowing that we're almost through the toughest part makes this win all the more sweet.

I glance into the celebrating crowd, hoping I'll see Honey. No luck.

"I'm proud of you, son." My dad clasps my shoulder, smiling at me approvingly. "I knew you could do it; I'm just sorry it took us so long to come out and see you win."

"Za Za," Ella calls, and I chuckle at her little voice.

"Hey, baby," I coo, taking Ella from Tiff and hugging her while I do it. Whispering so only Ella can hear, I say, "I did all of that for you." She giggles as I nuzzle my nose into her cheek, leaving a kiss behind.

"Congratulations, Z," Tiff says, slapping me on the back. "I'm so proud of you."

"I'm proud of you too," I reply. I still can't believe she decided to come tonight, but when I tried to convince her to stay at home, she refused. "Are you okay?" I ask with hesitation. She closes her eyes briefly, then smiles. "Yes. I needed to see everything for myself."

"Did it help you gain some clarity?" I talk cryptically because I know someone might hear us.

"I think so. I'm still not sure how to move forward, but I'll figure it out."

"Good." Chewing her bottom lip, she looks around. "Why do you look like someone tried to steal your Froot Loops this morning?"

She doesn't laugh, just replies with an awkward smile. "I think I did something bad."

Immediately, I'm ready to take action, and start looking around the stadium. "You didn't confront him, did you? I already told you we should wait until I've got a little more money in my pocket for a lawyer before we do anything."

"No. I'm not that stupid." Leaning in on a whisper, she says, "But I did something that I don't think you'll like."

"Spit it out."

"I told her."

Tiff winces, waiting for the blowout, but I draw a blank. "Told who, what?"

"Honey," she says simply and confidently. My stomach curls.

"Honey? She's not here." I search for a set of whiskey-colored eyes among the celebrations, but I know she's not there. I can feel it.

"No, she's not. But she was. She was watching the game until about ten minutes ago."

All I feel is regret, because Honey was here to watch me. She waited for me like I asked but didn't stay long enough to celebrate.

"I can't believe you told her I was your girlfriend." Tiffany wretches, and Ella giggles at her mom's facial expression.

"I didn't. Jamie did." Her lips purse and she quiets. "What did you tell her?"

"The truth. That you're my overbearing and overprotective cousin and that Ella is my daughter, not yours. No wonder she was running from the game, crying like a heaping mess when she saw me."

"She was crying."

"Yes. I thought it was because she missed you, so I chased after her, thinking I could help you guys out. I didn't realize it's because she thought she was a homewrecker."

"That's what she was crying about?" Tiff nods. As if she couldn't make me feel worse. I know I've been a bad fake boyfriend, and I should have explained everything, but I didn't think she cared. I thought she only saw me as a wad of cash.

Turning to my parents, I say, "I'm sorry to cut the celebrations short, but I need to see someone, so I'll see you back home."

They barely bat an eyelash as I make my way to the parking lot, looking for Honey's clit-pink car to see if she's still here.

Throwing a leg over my bike, I drive to Honey's house, hoping she'll be there.

An hour and a half later, I relax my foot against the street opposite Honey's estate. She only lives fifteen minutes away from school, but I didn't know what to say when I first arrived, so I took a detour. I rode around the area, looking at all the ostentatious buildings before finally realizing I needed to tell her the truth.

I stare at her room, noticing that the climbing hydrangea bush is gone. I've never been the type of guy to consider scaling a house to sneak into a girl's window, but Honey has changed all of that. Too bad the bush has been trimmed to make that an impossibility.

Shaking my head in amusement, I watch as I scuff my boot across the concrete. What has Honey done to me? She's got me fake dating her, offering to take her to snobby balls, and confronting her jealous ex. All so she'll kiss me again.

Rolling my foot against the path, I stare through the gates. I will have to ring that bell if I want in, but who's going to answer?

As I garner the courage to walk over there, I spot Jamie's Range Rover sitting in the drive with his jersey number vinyled on the back. He's here to win her over; why else would he be here so late after a game? Or maybe he already has.

I can make out the faint shadow as he walks up the path to the house, and I watch intently as he rings the bell. Checking the premises, I shuffle into a bush, wondering if the security cameras are picking up on my eager ass.

Honey's mom opens the door with a surprised smile, inviting him in. Just like that, he's accepted. No questions about what he's doing there so late or why he cheated on Honey. Like he's said before. He doesn't have to do a thing to be invited into their home. He may be an asshole, but her family thinks he's perfect for Honey and will do anything for that to happen.

And then there's me.

The tattered, poor boy wishing to be part of a life he should never have had access to. We're like oil and water. Our paths never should have crossed, and I never should have tried to take what wasn't mine.

Stepping back, I adjust my leather jacket over my shoulders and go to my bike. Her parents won't stop forcing Jamie down her throat, and as much as I like to believe Honey is a renegade, she will not go off script for me.

Everything I planned to say to Honey goes from my head. Am I too late?

Jamie designed the bet knowing I'd never win. This life isn't mine, and maybe I should stop thinking otherwise.

Sighing, I whack the kickstand with my foot and drive home. Honey and I need to talk. We're still dating for all intents and purposes, and I need to know where I stand before this ends, but I won't talk to her tonight because I refuse to come second to Jamie.

Talking will, unfortunately, have to wait.