"They're tears," he growls.
I choke on a laugh, and then cling to him, crying and laughing. There's a weight missing now, an explanation where there never was one before. And for the first time in my life, I feel like maybe I've always been enough. Maybe not for her, but maybe that doesn't have to be my problem any longer.
Maybe, for once, it can just be hers.
Chapter Ten
Sidney
Ispend the entire game worrying about Hattie. The fact that she's in the box with her mother stresses me the fuck out. I know it's stressing Tye out, too. Enough that he actually spoke to me long enough to tell me what was up. I'm grateful as hell for that.
Every time he drops onto the bench, his eyes are on the box. He isn't the only one. I keep looking up there, trying to set eyes on her.
I don't manage it again, which just pisses me off. I try to channel my irritation into the game. I catch a few good passes…and end up being knocked flat on my back twice.
"Jesus Christ, Hawkes," Marco mutters, hauling me back to my feet after the second time. "If this is what falling in love does to your game, the rest of us are fucked."
I just glare at him.
He chuckles and jogs away before Coach calls me back to the bench.
Tye is already there, mopping his forehead with a towel.
"I've had about enough of the two of you and your shit," Coach growls, glowering at us. "Fix whatever the fuck the drama is and get your heads out of your asses. If you don't, I'm benching you both next game."
"We're good, Coach," Tye mutters. "Just having an off night."
"You've got five minutes left to make it an on night," Coach snaps. "Win this goddamn game, or I'm making your life hell when you're back from Bye Week."
Fuck my life.
"Yes, sir," Tye and I say at the same time.
Coach shoots us one more withering look before stomping away.
My gaze immediately drifts toward the box.
"Why do you keep looking up there?" Tye growls at me. "It's pissing me off."
"You know why. Your mother is up there with Hattie."
"Jesus Christ." He tips his head back, cursing up at the sky. "She left before the game started, Sidney. Briggs ran her off."
I turn my head to look at him. "And you're only just now telling me this?"
"Didn't realize our business was your business," he says.
"You thought wrong," I snap. "Everything about your sister is my business."
"Why? Because you're sleeping with her?" He shoots me a dark look. "Fuck off, Hawkes."
"I'm in love with her, you idiot!" I growl. "And maybe if you opened your fucking eyes for two seconds, you'd realize that she feels the same way about me."
I don't care if she's said it yet or not. I don't even care if she's realized it yet. Iknowshe's in love with me. It's right there on her face. I can wait until she figures it out to hear her say it, but I won't stand around and allow Tye to try to push us apart while she does it. To hell with that.
He rocks back on his heels, stunned.
"She doesn't need you to protect her from me, man," I mutter. "If you knew me at all, you'd know that I'm not that fucking guy. The last thing I'll ever do is hurt her or let anyone else hurt her. That includes you. It absolutely includes your bitch of a mother. She's mine to protect, and I will kill for her. So…just back the fuck off already."
