Then Mack speaks, quietly and carefully, like he’s trying not to break anything else.
“Jake… you and Hugh should go,” he says. “We need to…he needs space.”
That’s when it hits me. Really hits me. The finality of it. The way this isn’t just an argument or a messy night. Because the way that Griff is staring at me like I betrayed him is…final. There’s not a good way to come back from this.
My eyes burn as I stand, Hughie rising beside me without a word, his presence steady but heavy.
“You can get the fuck out too,” Terry snaps, his voice sharp and unforgiving as his glare cuts straight to Sabrina.
She huffs like she’s been inconvenienced and storms toward the door without another word. The sound of it slamming shut feels obscene in the quiet that follows.
I move slower. Every step feels like I’m dragging something behind me. When I pass Griffin, I stop for half a second, my entire body aching with the need to fix something I can’t.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, the words barely making it past my throat.
He doesn’t look at me.
Not even once.
And that hurts more than anything else tonight.
28
The Texts
Jacob: Griffin, please talk to me.
Jacob: I’m so fucking sorry. I should have told you.
Jacob: Coach said you’re sick. Are you okay?
Jacob: Please stop ignoring me. We can talk about this. I never meant to keep it from you.
Jacob: Please…
Jacob: Are you feeling better?
Jacob: I’m losing my mind over here. I just want to talk this out.
Jacob: If you want to be done with us then I understand but don’t you think you should hear my side of it?
Jacob: I’m so fucking sorry…
29
Griffin
“Coach asked how you’re feeling.”
Mack’s voice is soft and careful. It feels like he is trying to decide if it’s safe to be around me. Like I’m some kind of feral fucking animal.
I’ve been playing hooky, claiming some bullshit flu, and blowing off practices. And hell, I even missed a goddamn game which is seriously not like me.
I don’t bail. I don’t chicken out. I don’t hide behind lame excuses when the team needs me.
So sitting here, holed up like I’m contagious, is more than just unusual for me.
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” I say, voice flat as ever.
