My phone buzzes against my thigh and my therapist purses her lips. She’s older than my mother. In her late fifties, with a very negative outlook regarding the use of cellphones in the office. She has at least three signs I can see from my seat that say,Please silence your phone during your session.Technically, I am following her rules. My ringer is off. Her signs say nothing about vibration.
Glancing at the screen, I read the message that came in.
Gabriel: Evening swim? Coach suggested I try activities that utilize a full range of motion.
Heck yes! I type out a quick response, ignoring Dr. Walker’s very pointed cough.
Me: Meet in 30?
Gabriel: See you there.
Checking the time once more, I tuck my phone away and gather my keys to stand up. “School is fine. I’m passing all of my classes. I particularly enjoy my Diversity and Historical Oppression class. Oh—“ I point to the clock. “Our time is up. See you in two weeks.” That should satisfy her for now. It’s more than I’ve given before.
Rushing from her office, I jog down the stairs and escape outside. Gabriel is right. I need to find someone else. I suck in a deep breath of warm fall air and as I exhale, it’s like a mountain of stress slides off me. Even coming to that one small decision is such a relief.
CHAPTER 23
GABRIEL
“Everything good?” Julio asks.
“Yeah.” I shove my phone in my bag and tear off my sweat-soaked T-shirt. Julio does the same, stripping down to his boxer briefs and rifling through his locker for clean clothes. “I’m meeting her at the pool. Gonna get some laps in.”
“Since when do you know how to swim?” he asks.
“Since we were kids, asshole.” I jab him in the chest as he pulls a fresh shirt over his head.
“Is that what you call it? I didn’t realize the doggy paddle was an official stroke now.”
“Hilarious.” I close my locker, only to jerk back when I’m greeted to Felix’s face only inches away from mine. “What the hell? Where the fuck did you come from?”
“I’ve got the story.” He ignores the question, but after a response like that, I don’t even care. It’s been two weeks of trying to figure this shit out and my patience is thin.
Just then, Holt and a few of his lackies pass by, and both our groups go quiet. Holt’s eyes lock with mine, flashing. Parker Benson, Logan Chambers, and Rion Pru follow alongside him,matching hisI smell shitexpression. My beef with Austin has the team divided. But the division is Holt’s own doing and when Coach called us into his office last week to sort this all out, I told him as much. He’s the one with the problem. If you ask his buddies why he and I have issues, they’ll tell you it’s because I stole his girl. It’s bullshit and everyone here knows it. Cecilia was never his, not even for a second.
But that’s the story he shovels to Coach and anyone else who’ll listen. He plays the role of heartbroken suitor. Meanwhile, I know he’s getting his dick wet every chance he gets, and the fucker isn’t discreet about it. He’s even hooking up with one of Cecilia’s former friends, so why anybody would believe his story is a mystery. You don’t pine for a chick only to fuck her best friend.
“Herrera—” he bites out. “I hear you’ve been poking your nose in my business.”
Folding my arms over my chest, I lean back against my gym locker. “You heard wrong. What reason do I have for giving a shit about anything that has to do with you?”
His jaw tightens and a vein pulses in his forehead. Careful, pretty boy. Someone needs to get a tighter leash on those anger issues. Holt takes two steps forward, puffing out his chest.
Julio and Felix step in on either side of me. Austin’s eyes narrow. “You’re not the only one with friends,” I remind him. In case it wasn’t obvious.
Our team is split down the middle as far as taking sides is concerned, but only the boys with Zeta Pi are actively involved in our shit. Holt doesn’t have as many allies as he thinks. Anyone with a half a brain knows it’s not worth the risk just for this asshole’s approval. A lot of the guys have scholarships to worry about. Futures to protect.
Austin steps into my space. “I don’t know what she told you?—“
With two hands, I shove him away from me. “Back up, man.”
His nostrils flare. I can see it in his eyes. He wants to hit me. I wish he would. It’d give me the excuse I need to beat some sense into him. But Rion Pru has a firm grip on his arm and whatever he says, his voice low for only Austin to hear, does what it needs to. Shaking Rion off, Austin storms out of the locker room, Benson and Chambers hot behind him. Rion lingers, tracking his friends until they’re out of the room.
“Have something to say?” Julio asks.
Rion sighs. “Yeah. A warning.”
Felix scoffs. “We’re not worried about that asshole.”
