I shove free from Jamie’s grip, storming toward the locker room. My gloves slam against the wall as I rip them off, the clang echoing through the room. The bench screeches when I kick it, wood splintering under my boot.
Jamie follows, shutting the door behind him. He leans against it, arms crossed, watching me like I’m some caged animal ready to tear through the bars. “You wanna tell me what the fuck that was? Because you just went nuclear on your own teammate.”
I pace, dragging both hands through my sweat-damp hair. My chest is heaving, blood still pounding in my ears. “It’s Chloe,” I mutter finally, the name tasting bitter on my tongue.
Jamie tilts his head, curious. “Chloe? Who the hell is Chloe?”
I stop pacing, staring at him like he’s lost his mind. “The girl. The blonde. With Bella. The one you can’t stop fucking staring at.”
His smirk fades, replaced by dawning realization. “Wait. Wait a second. The girl with the—” He gestures vaguely to his chest. “The boobs?”
I glare at him. “Yeah. That girl.”
He whistles low. “Okay, Chloe. What’s the deal? Why are you losing your shit over her?”
I take a breath, steadying myself before stepping closer, lowering my voice. “Remember that car I had you get rid of?”
Jamie blinks. “We’ve gotten rid of a lot of cars, man. You’re gonna have to be more specific.”
“The red one.” My voice drops even further. “The night you brought Chipotle to the warehouse. The night I wasbabysitting.”
Jamie’s eyes widen, recognition dawning. “No. No fucking way.”
I nod, jaw tight.
“Holy shit,” he mutters again, dragging a hand through his hair. “That’s the girl? The rich girl you had stashed in the warehouse?”
“Yeah.”
He lets out a low laugh, half disbelief, half nerves. “What the fuck is she doing here? At our school?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, the words raw. “And I don’t fucking like it.”
Jamie studies me for a moment, all traces of humor gone. “Does she know who you are?”
I shake my head. “No. She was too out of it, and I was careful. There is no way she saw me or Rico. But it doesn’t matter. I don’t want her here. I don’t want her anywhere near us.”
Jamie nods slowly, piecing it together. “Okay. I get it. She’s a problem. But listen—me and you? We’ll figure out why she’s here. I’ll find out what the hell’s going on. But you—you gotta get your shit under control, man. Coach benches you, we’re screwed. You can’t afford to keep losing it like this.”
I sink down onto the bench, elbows braced on my knees, sweat dripping down my face. “I know.”
Jamie claps a hand on my shoulder, firm. “Then get it together. I’ll handle Chloe.”
I glance up at him, a sick feeling settling in my gut. “Don’t get too close to her.”
He smirks faintly. “Relax. I’ll just… ask some questions. That’s all.”
I nod, but unease coils tighter in my chest. Because if Chloe being here is a coincidence, it’s the worst fucking one I’ve ever seen. And if it’s not? Then we’re all in deep shit.
Jamie hands me the blunt like it is nothing, like we are two idiots hiding behind the bleachers instead of men with more sins than years under our belts. The flame from my lighter sparks against the paper, and I inhale deep, lungs filling with smoke that burns sweet and low. It spreads through me like heat under myskin, calming, slowing the pulse that has been hammering since practice.
I lean back against the hood of his car, exhaling into the late afternoon air, the gray haze curling upward. The silence between us is familiar, easy. Jamie’s grinning, like he knows something I don’t. Which, to be fair, he usually does.
“I haven’t seen you all day,” I say, handing the blunt back. My voice feels rough, like gravel against my throat. “And now I know why.” I shake my head, a low laugh breaking from me. “I can’t believe you had to fuck the principal’s assistant.”
Jamie throws his head back, laughing loud enough to draw looks if anyone else were around. His grin is pure mischief, mouth quirking as he drags on the blunt again. “It was all for you, brother. You better be thankful. That woman’s stamina is not to be underestimated.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Unbelievable.”
