I spent the last two quarters playing worse than I had in High School. My teammates and the coach were roasting my ass, but I couldn’t shake that feeling that something was off. What was she doing there? I would have assumed Alex had badgered her into bringing him, but that wasn’t it.
Thankfully, my teammates carried the game with little support from me, and we won 28-24. The crowd was going wild. I usually soaked that shit up, but not right then. All I could think about was finding out what was going on.
The post-game celebrations and Ala Mater shit seemed to drag on, but I plastered a smile on my face.
Once it was all over, I glanced across to where Harper had been standing, but she had left. No doubt the girls would be waiting for us out front, so we could walk to the beach where the after-game party was being held. I needed to send a message to say I’d meet her there.
Both Hudson and Reed bounded after me as I made my way to the locker room. I needed to shower and dress ASAP.
“What the fuck, bro?”
“I know, I blew it, OK. Alex turned up, and I got distracted.”
“As in, your half-brother, Alex?” Reed questioned.
“Yeah.”
The team was euphoric after our win, the locker room full of singing and joyous banter.
Grabbing my bag, I slid my cell out and found Alex’s number, firing off a text to find out where the fuck he was at. I then hit the showers at record speed, but the hot jet streams were less than soothing.
“What’s with you today, Brutal?” Sanderson belted with a cocky look as he appeared buck naked beside me. His big, hairy chest puffed out, the frigging ape.
I gave him a hard look. “Fuck off.”
My comment amused him as his eyes danced over my face. “Hey,” he replied, backing up an inch, before lathering his body in soap. “Shake it off, dude, we all have bad days.” God, I hated the prick. I remembered how Hudson had pounded on him last year after a practice game.
“You’re not helping dickhead,” Reed added from my six.
I rolled my eyes as more pumped-up players walked into the communal area surrounding me. When we won a game, the guys rarely used the stalled showers; it stilted their ability to brag about how well they thought they’d played. So, there I was, surrounded by my teammates in the showers, all hyped up at our success, when I felt like shit. Steller.
I ignored the usual banter. Well, that and them blowing smoke up Reed,the star player'sass. Major dick sucking was taking place, and that just added to my annoyance, considering how poorly I’d played.
After ignoring all their bullshit attempts to make mefeel better, I rinsed off and went to my locker, towel drying myself before tugging on my jeans and a tight black tee. I didn’t even bother with underwear. As I shoved all my stuff into a free locker, I grabbed my wallet, house keys, and cell phone and swiped open the screen. Alex had replied to my text.
He said his mother was meeting someone at the stadium, but he wasn’t sure who.
Where is your mom now?I thumbed in as I left the locker room, deodorant stinging my eyes.
The meeting’s in an office next to where the stadium personnel work.
“Nix!” I heard Hudson call out. Raising my head from my cell, I saw him by the main doors with Molly. “You coming to the beach?”
I scratched my jaw. I should have shaved earlier. “Yeah, I’ll meet you there,” I called over. “Where’s Harper?” I added as I noticed she wasn’t with them.
“Looking for you,” Molly replied with a coy smile. “She was by the stand a minute ago.”
At that moment, Storm walked into the corridor from the field. “What the fuck was your deal today, Brutal?”
Micah appeared behind her, also jumping up my ass. “You sucked ass, bro.”
“Blow me,” I grunted as they passed by. Reed had just left the locker room, and they all came together.
“Fix your shit and then get your ass to the beach,” Hudson bellowed over as they all prepared to leave.
I snorted with a headshake and glanced down at my phone again as I left the building. I needed to find Harper and tell her to wait for me at the beach. The need to know why my mother was at the game was giving me proper anxiety.
Are they in the Press Box? It should say it above or on the door.I messaged as I walked.
