“The guy’s going to say sue, I just know it,” I spoke to Jett, andhe nodded in agreement. “Aw, man, her old man’s going to blame me.” I groaned out loud, and I saw Jett’s amused grin.
“Are you three girls done?” Coach barked from the open door to the meeting room. “Were weboring you?” he asked snidely.
“Sorry, Coach,” the three of us all spoke at once as we headed back into the room.
Once we were settled back in, I returned the hostile stares from some of my teammates and the curiousAre you okaylooks from the others. Thankfully, there were more of the latter than the former; however, I saw Ash taking note of the ones who were pissed. Hiding my smile, I nudged Jett, who looked up and noticed too. Ash was always mistaken for the friendliest of us, which is why he caused a bit of a shock to some when he punched them in the face.
Or slept with their girl.
Or both.
Ash wasn’t keen on boundaries. I guess I knew that better than anyone, but still, he was a force to be reckoned with when you pissed him off, and some of our teammates had just pissed him off.
Coach went over the game plan for tomorrow,for the benefit of those in the back, and I caught Jett’s hand before he flipped him off. Ten minutes later, Jett showed me his screen.
Onyx:I’m here. So’s the dean, she’s fine as far as I can see. Her victim, not so much.
I grinned at Jett as he passed the phone to Ash, who snorted out a laugh and failed to cover it as a cough quickly enough.
“Are you three serious?” Coach Bowers barked at us. “Do you want to be back at campus instead of here with your teammates?”
The fact my immediate answer was yes worried me. What the fuck? Football was life. Wasn’t it? I’d told Quinn she was more important, and I hadn’t lied, but that’s because I knew she understood my ambitions as much as anyone.
I tried my best to focus on the game plan, the pep talk, the team spirit.
All I could think of was her. Was she okay? Was Onyx being civil to her? She had been scared. My entire being was itching to leave, to drive back and be with her, but I couldn’t. I shouldn’t. My team needed me here; this is where I had to be if I wanted the NFL. Quinn knew this. Accepted it.Encouragedit.
“What’s wrong?” Jett asked me quietly, his voice pitched low enough that even Ash couldn’t hear.
“I’m slipping,” I said honestly. “This? Here? Isn’t my focus.”
“It is.” He cast a sideways look at me and raised an eyebrow. “We’ll talk.”
Finally, Coach stopped talking, and I refused after-meeting refreshments and headed to my room to check in with Onyx and Quinn. Jett followed me, and Ash, once again, took one for the Devils as he stayed back to chat with our teammates.
Inside the room Jett and I were sharing, I immediately texted Onyx.
Me:Sorted?
There was no answer, and I decided he must still be negotiating. That was basically what it was: a negotiation to see how much the dick wanted to shut up and fuck off. He could press charges, and her future was ruined. Even I knew her claims of harassment would be thin. He had a strong case, and I needed the enigmatic persuasion that was my older brother to convince the fucker otherwise.
Plus, Dean Porter had to be dealt with. I hoped he listened to the harassment side more than the authorities would.
“So, what’s going on?” Jett asked casually as he took two bottles of water from the mini fridge.
“I don’t think I want to be here.”
“Tomorrow’s game or the team?” Jett queried as he handed me a water and then sat in the other seat in theroom.
“Both?”
“Bullshit.”
I blinked. “Wow, glad you listened.”
“Shut up andyoulisten.” He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as he regarded me solemnly. “You love the game, it’s in our blood. The last few weeks have been hard, really fucking hard emotionally. You’re reeling. She’s your girl, and she’s been hurting. You’ve both been hurting, and I know, you want to be with her now to know she’s okay, to see for yourself. And when she’s back at her apartment tonight and is FaceTiming you, you’ll feel better.”
“Yeah.” I nodded as if I agreed with him, but didn’t meet his eyes.
