I rolled onto my back, wishing like hell I could just lie there and bake into the ground. Coach’s whistle blew and he shouted at a few of the offensive players before barking at me.
“Hayes! Get your ass up and run it again!”
I groaned and attempted to roll to my feet, but a hand reached into my field of vision. I grabbed it, allowing whoever it was to yank me up even though my ribs protested the movement.
“Hey man, you alright?” Corvin asked. All week I had managed to ignore him during practices. It had been awkward as hell to see him again, especially with visions of him and Theo together screwing with my sanity.
“Yeah, just got the wind knocked out of me,” I rasped, coughing from the effort. My side was on fire and I could almost feel the bruise developing.
And yet that will still hurt less than being this close to the guy who had his mouth around Theo’s—ugh, fuck. Now I’m gonna be sick too. Fucking delightful.
Corvin’s brows zipped together and when he opened his mouth to say something, I rushed to cut him off.
“We better get back to it before Coach flips out. Thanks for the hand up.”
I hobbled over to the line and got back in position. My head was already a chaotic jumble without hearing what he had to say and I needed to get my ass in gear before Coach reamed me out.
By the time practice ended an hour later, I was soaked through with sweat and a headache pounded in my skull. I kept my head down in the locker room, avoiding any attempts at conversation and taking the world’s fastest shower, more than ready to head home and pass out for an hour or ten.
Of course, the universe chose that moment to give me an enthusiastic middle finger as I was leaving the practice facility.
“QB, wait up!”
I contemplated acting like I didn’t hear Corvin, but my less dickish side prevailed when he caught up to me.
“What’s up?” I asked as casually as I could.
“I’ve actually been meaning to talk to you for days, but kept chickening out. I owe you an apology for what went down at your house.” He fiddled with the strap of his gym bag, shoulders hunching up around his ears. I forced myself not to bolt even though there was no topic on earth I’d rather discuss less than this.
“Don’t worry about it, man.”
“No, seriously,” he pressed. “I’m a huge jackass. I know shit happens at parties and whatever, but I wouldn’t want anyoneboning in my room either. That wasn’t right of me to disrespect your space like that. We’ve always gelled well on the team and I don’t want to screw that up. I’m really sorry, Hayes.”
I blinked at him, my brain shorting out. He thought I was upset that I’d caught him in my room? I mean, it wasn’tnotan issue, but that was microscopic next to the fact that I’d caught him with Theo. My fucking Theo.
Not your Theo. Not then and still not now. How’s that for a nice slice of reality with a scoop of “fuck you” on top?
“Thanks, Corvin. I appreciate that. We’re all good,” I forced out through a tight smile.
The tension left his shoulders and his features relaxed into an easy grin. “That’s good to hear. You got any plans this weekend?”
“Other than a lot of sleep and a slightly torturous ice bath, not much. You?”
“I think me and some friends are gonna hit up a few bars on Sixth Street. It’s always a pretty good time. Why don’t you come with us?”
As nice as his extended olive branch was meant to be, I had no desire to be in his presence longer than required. I forgave him because I didn’t need the drama, but I was only human. There was still a part of me that wanted to go allMiseryon his ankles for touching Theo.
“Thanks man, but I’m exhausted. Maybe next time?”
“For sure. Hey, this is probably weird, but do you know if Theo is back on campus yet?”
The question was a blitz attack, hitting me so abruptly I nearly tripped over my own feet. “Uh no, not yet. Why?”
“I thought I’d text him and see if he wanted to come out with us, but it’s cool. I’ll text him later. See you at practice tomorrow, yeah?”
I nodded in a daze as he took off in the opposite direction. Knowing Corvin had a line to Theo was a sour reminder I didn’tneed. I wondered if Theo would take him up on his offer. Corvin had already triggered his manic urges once before. What if it happened again? I was the one who’d said he needed time, but did that mean Theo would wait for me or would he want to explore his options? What if I was only the comfortable option? The safe choice?
My mood plummeted and my brain kicked up a maelstrom of anxiety. Nate was with his family and for some reason I didn’t really want to be alone like this. I tugged my phone aggressively out of my pocket and shot off a text.
