“Have it your way. Now get your asses home and rest. Valdez, keep an eye on him, and if I get wind that you or Chavez are on the field with him these next three days, I’ll make you both run so many drills you’ll be begging to be benched, do I make myself clear?”
Rome nods. “Crystal.”
“Good. Get out of here.”
Coach stalks off the field toward the locker room and we head the opposite direction toward the parking lot. “You good, man?” Roman asks once we reach our vehicles.
I nod. “I’m good.”
He hesitates, which isn’t like him, so I spit out, “What?” only to see him frown.
“What was up this morning?”
“What do you mean?” I open my door and lean against the frame. I have a feeling I know where this is going and I don't like it.
“With Baby Henderson. If she’d asked us to help her move in, we would have. The girl’s one of us but …” he trails off and shakes his head, running a hand through his sweat-drenched hair.
“You’re reading too much into it,” I tell him, hoping he drops it.
He doesn't. “Nah. I don’t think I am. Where’s your head at these days? I know you had a thing for her back in high school, but—"
I cut him off before he has a chance to finish. “It’s not like that. She’s Aaron’s little sister.”
Roman snorts. “Which meant fuck all when we were in high school and you gawked at her ass every time she walked by.”
“Like I said, you’re reading too much into it. That was three years ago. Things change.”
“Exactly. Have you seen her lately? Kasey's is all grown up and she's filled out in all the right places. Don't pretend you haven't noticed.”
I lift a single brow. “Allie know you’ve been checking Kasey out?”
He chuckles. “No cabrón, because I’m not. But I’m not blind and neither are you. The girl has grown up. A lot. Tension with you two has always been thick, but lately …” He trails off, giving me a knowing look.
I shake my head. “Nah, man. Things between us are not like that. I can barely stand the girl so, no, I don’t fucking like her. Not the way you’re suggesting. Whatever you’re picking up on is just our usual shit. We get under each other's skin. That’s all.” I might have the occasional fantasy about fucking her to see if it would make her more tolerable, but I don’t let my dick dictate my decisions.
“I was just helping Aaron out. You and E didn’t have to come,” I add, needing to end this conversation before he gets any ideas.
He gives me an incredulous look. “Really? That’s the bullshit you’re gonna try and feed me right now?”
“Drop it, man. I’m telling you, I’m not interested. Sue me. I get a kick out of riling the girl up. I saw an opportunity and I took it. That doesn’t mean I want her.” Though I wouldn’t mind her on her knees for me, mouth open and—Fuck. Drop that line of thinking before you get your ass in trouble.
Roman levels me with an incredulous look. “I’m one of your best friends, cabrón. I’m not buying what you’re selling. I know you better than that.”
I let out a tired breath. “Ro, she’s just a kid, not even eighteen yet. And you know how I am with females. You really think I'm gonna fuck myself over by trying to get a piece of her?" I shake my head. "I'm not that dumb. Allie, Bibiana, and Monique would all have my ass if I fucked things up with Kasey."
“So don’t fuck it up, then. Give shit a real try. bro. You two have been going at it since senior year. You know there’s something there. Everyone else can see it. Why can’t you?”
“Because there isn’t anything to see.”
His stare is penetrating as I wait for him to concede the point.
“Is this because of Aaron?" he asks. “You know he’d come around.”
“No, fucker. This is because of me. What part of ‘I’m not interested’ do you not understand?” He opens his mouth to argue but I cut him off. “I don't want hearts and rainbows with any female, let alone Kasey-fucking-Henderson, okay? You’re wifed up and I’m happy for you, man. For E too. But I’m only interested in a tight piece of ass and a hot lay and Kasey isn't who I plan on getting that from." I make my words especially crude, hoping he gets the point. “So stop pushing. If shit changes and I decide to fuck her, I'll make sure you're the first to know."
His face hardens, and I can see the second we go from conversation mode to lecture mode. “Don't even think of going there," he warns.
"I'm not,” I grind out. “You’re the one suggesting—“
