An arm jabs right into my stomach, knocking the air out of me and sending me doubling over.
‘It’s not fucking happening, bro.’ Jace runs a hand through his damp hair. ‘You’re not taking my baby sister out.’When I straighten, he throws the ball my way, ripping my mind back into the court. ‘Yeah, that’s right. I know about yesterday.’
Shit.
His eyes gleam with threat. ‘The cheer squad was bitching about your little show with Hayley, and I’m telling you now – it ain’t happening.’
Ah. So he doesn’t know Gianna and I spent the whole day together afterward.
Over the years, I’ve witnessed Jace’s protective streak about anyone who’s ever even looked Gianna’s way. It’s a bit strange to be on the receiving end of it.
‘Would you relax?’ I say. ‘I was just stopping your bitter ex from giving her a hard time. But I did say we’d all go to Lucifer’s Dream together.’ I bounce the ball between my legs.
‘Only we won’t be,’ Jace says on the heels of a hollow laugh. ‘I’ve made our plans for The Prank. And you’re not taking my baby sister out.’
Renny joins us, dribbling a ball before he stops next to Jace. ‘Don’t give Ryker a hard time. Little G, huh? She’s eighteen now, you can’t coddle her forever.’ He pauses and makes a show of sucking each of his fingertips on his left hand. ‘Forbidden fruit is so sweet. If you don’t want Ryker as your bro-in-law, I’ll step in.’
Jace beats me to it and launches at Renny, who easily deflects his hands. ‘Relax, amigo.’ Renny pushes the ball into Jace’s chest, patting it once. ‘I like the redhead, anyway. Minha Vermelhinha.’
Coach blows his whistle, pointedly breaking up our chatter, while wheeling over a cart of basketballs.
I turn to jog over to the free-throw line, but Jace gently grabs my arm.
‘Please, bro. I mean it,’ he says with a solemn expression. ‘I told Pa I’d protect her. And the shit that we do, the stuff with the cars, the race meets? She doesn’t need to be involved in that. Besides, we’re leaving next year. We’ll be a long way from Booker Bay.’
I frown at the thought of not seeing Gianna. ‘It’s not too far of a drive, especially with the right playlist.’
He runs a hand down his face ‘Can you just tell me what I want to hear?’
I see the desperation in his expression. As his best friend, I’ve been taking his shit light-heartedly, but my feelings are too strong to ignore now.
‘Humour me,’ I start. ‘What are you so worried about?’
‘I promised Pa.’
‘I know you promised your dad you’d protect her, but what makes you think she won’t be protected with me?’
Jace considers for a moment. ‘I can’t have Gianna involved with The Tropics. Ma already hates on everything Gia does. I’d fucking love to have her there, share the same track, but we can’t.’
‘We don’t have to involve her in racing, man.’
He shoots me a dry look. ‘Are you kidding? That placeisus. And Gia’s getting curious, asking me about it. As much as I want to, I can’t have her there. It would kill Ma.’
I want to be a smartass and tell Jace that it’s not really about his mother’s feelings, because he’s doing the same thing. Mrs B doesn’t want him racing, just as much as she doesn’t want Gianna doing it either. But I know how important racing is to Jace. He and his dad took a car to the speedway every Friday after school. That Mustang, and racing, meant everything to them.
I also know how much it broke him when it all ended. He was home when Mrs B got the call. He found her wailing on the floor with her phone in hand. She and Gianna locked themselves away, so Jace stepped up and took care of them, the house, the funeral. I was here for him – we all were – but he did that shit alone.
‘So you’d rather see Gianna with someone else?’
‘Fuck no.’ He frowns. ‘There’s just … been so much change. I want to keep one thing the same for a bit longer. Which is not having to worry about her.’
‘You know Renny’s right, though? If it were me, we’d be actual brothers one day.’
A small smile teases at the corners of his lips, but he bites it back. ‘That’d be fucking cool. One day. Just not today.’
Coach blows his whistle. ‘Edwards. Brooks. In line.’
Lining up behind some of my teammates, I look back at Jace, who’s still got this look of worry.
