He hadn’t punched me in the face yet, so that was great.
We exited the locker room, a normal occurrence for a Wednesday night. We had special teams practice, and it was our last tough workout before game day that weekend. We nodded at our teammates before Dean led us south, like we’d walk back to our house.
“Are you leaving after this season?”
Wait. “Is that your… is this what we’re talking about?”
He stopped and frowned. “Yes. Why what—no. Don’t distract me. I know you need money for your grandma, but Lo told me how much money has come in with her project and… Luca. I want to play another year with you. I love playing with you, man, and our team is the best it’s ever been. We could have another season like this. I hate asking you this because I know what it means for you.”
“How much money… she hasn’t told me.” I swallowed, a prickle of annoyance at that fact. “What did she say?”
His shoulders lifted to his ears. “That they’ve made about twenty thousand dollars from donations alone and that schools and businesses partnered with them for repairs. Her work transformed that place. I even follow their accounts. Your grandma? Hilarious.”
Three things struck me hard and fast. The first—I missed talking to Lorelei. With our new arrangement, we had crazy, amazing, life-altering sex that went on for hours. We’d pass out after, and she’d sneak away, or I would. Were we just a booty call now?
The second—if what he said was true, why hadn’t she shared that with me? It hurt to learn it from Dean. Was she not comfortable telling me? Did my grandma know? I itched the back of my neck, my skin too hot and tight for the winter air.
The third—if this was true… was there a possibility of me staying one more year to get my degree and… enjoying life? Could this thing with Lorelei continue? Could I have another year playing with Dean and the guys?
“So, what do you think? You’re more quiet than normal. I overstep here?”
“No.” I rubbed my lips together, trying to nail down a response. “I honestly don’t have an answer. I didn’t know about the money. It might change the situation.”
“I understand if it doesn’t, but we could make a Bowl Championship this and next year. That’d be huge. We could leave a legacy here.Ifyou wanted that.”
I did. But a change of plans was hard for me. The goal had always been to leave after junior year, but lately, staying sounded better.As long as my grandma is okay.
“Look, you don’t owe me a thing. You do what you need to, but as your friend, hell, brother, I wanted to bring it up. Call me selfish, but I like having your big grumpy ass around.”
The guilt grew twice in size. I had to tell him. Or end it.
Both options were not ideal.
“I appreciate it, Dean,” I croaked out, my voice giving away my inner turmoil.
He sighed, patted my back. “I know emotions stress you out, so I’ll leave.”
I didn’t correct his assumption. I let him think that was why I was emotional, confused. He walked away but I remained, letting the wind whip across my face and numb me for a few seconds. The cold felt good. Wanted. Needed to knock sense into me. The cold could push away the anger brewing.
Of everything he’d said, the thing that bothered me the most was that Lorelei hadn’t told me about the money. I thought everything was good between us, amazing even, but this seemed like a big deal? It meant her project was successful. It hurt. It more than hurt that she’d hid this from me. She wasn’t cruel, so if she chose not to tell me, there was a reason. But what? My mind spiraled, my emotions ping-ponging more than I was used to dealing with.
Sweat broke out on my forehead, my heart racing with all the reasons why she might’ve kept it from me.
Shit.I’d been so caught up in the chemistry between us that I hadn’t checked in about the project, her internship, Eric…god.Was I a complete asshole? Did she think I just wanted her for her body? I wanted her for her mind, smile, eyes,andbody.
With a renewed energy to change this immediately, I hurried back to the house and stopped in my tracks. Lorelei sat on the couch, Callum a few feet to her right. She wore a hoodie that was too large for her and had the hood up and strings pulled tight so only a small part of her face showed.
“Oh fuck, oh shit, oh shit.” She buried her face in her hands. “What’s going on? Why is this happening?”
Callum laughed and hit her knee. “Just watch.”
“But he’s going to kill them!”
“It’s called Slasher 300, what did you think would happen? Knitting hats?”
“I don’t know! I wanted an adrenaline rush but not like this!” She stuffed her face into a pillow and Callum inched closer to her. She ducked her head against him, letting out a very high-pitched squeal.
Horror movies were my favorite. I loved Halloween. I watched all of them the week up to the holiday, and seeing her watch one with him caused a storm of anger through me. First, she told her brother about her project, then this? My head throbbed, and I fisted my hands at my sides.
