James was eating a sandwich while Jackson wasted no time giving my hair a judgy look, causing me to adjust it right away. I was confused by how they could behave so calmly in front of a showering Will, but then I remembered something basic: that they were men and didn’t give a damn about being naked in front of each other.
“You left your backpack in the car, Will, and I came to give it back to you,” Jackson told him as Will left the shower enveloped in a cloud of steam.
I turned around again to avoid seeing him naked, and I noticed James staring at me with eyes as dark as the night.
“What is it?” I asked, crossing my arms indifferently.
“You want some?” he asked, waving the sandwich in front of my nose. As if I could say no to a midnight snack.
“Yeah.”
I tried to keep my gaze upward and not look at his bruise-riddled chest, but he slowly walked to me. He waited until I opened my lips an inch away from his stupid sandwich only to pull it away from me.
“Well, you’ll have to wait. But you’re used to it, aren’t you?” he sneered, biting it again.
I balled my hand into a fist, repressing the instinct to slap him.
Since when do you always think of the most extreme thing to do, June?asked the little voice in my head.Since you began hanging out with these degenerates!my mom would’ve replied.
James finished eating, then leaned against the windowsill and turned on a vape pen. Will joined us with a towel wrapped around his waist.
Jackson and James exchanged an understanding look, until the latter gruffly said, “Why don’t you get out of here?” staring me right in the eye.
“What’s your problem? Why are you sending her away now?” demanded Will.
“Jackson wants to talk to us. Can just the three of us talk for one fucking time?” he spat, looking first at me, then at William, menacingly.
“Why are you freaking out so much? I’m leaving. I’m always happy to stay far away from you,” I exclaimed.
But something caught my attention when I left the bathroom. Jackson’s voice was serious. Really serious. I leaned against the door so they wouldn’t see me and listened.
“Don’t ask me how I know, but it’s from a reliable source. The coach wants to drug test the entire team.”
Will started coughing. The sweet smell coming from inside itched my nostrils. They were probably smoking a joint.
“Who the fuck told you that? When?” James was obviously the most concerned.
“I’ll tell you as soon as I know more. So, Will? Have you calmed down now?” asked Jackson.
“Yes,” I heard him murmur.
“Did you bang her?”
James’s voice left me speechless.No, what are you talking about?That was what Will should’ve said.
“What if I did?”
I was floored by his response.
“In five minutes?” teased James, as Jackson giggled.
“So what?” William’s tone was weirdly belligerent.
“Yes or no? It’s not a hard question, Will.”
“Even if we did, what the fuck do you care?”
“What an asshole.”
