Page 79 of Campus Heat

Cam folded his arms over his chest, and I didn’t really need him to explain any more. His attitude was clear, and so was his line of thought. “Your head has been somewhere else the whole season. I guess this explains why.”

I met his gaze calmly. “All my head has been doing is trying to win games.”

“Well, you could’ve fooled me,” he snorted.

Dylan stepped closer, and his expression tightened. He was the one person I thought would understand, but it seemed like I was wrong.

“You’re quitting the team,” he said, his voice still laced with disbelief.

“I’m telling you where my heart is at. If you can’t make peace with that, then there’s nothing I can do.”

“That’s still the same thing,” he said.

I could feel my irritation rising. I had expected some resistance, maybe even a bit of an argument, but this definitely wasn’t on my list of expectations.

“Would you prefer it if I lied to you instead?” I snapped.

“I want you to stop messing around and actually start giving a damn about being here.”

I laughed under my breath. “Do you think the program gives a fuck about us and what we’re trying to achieve?”

Dylan stepped back and frowned. He looked like he had been struck, but I could also see a hint of understanding in his eyes. If I could just get him to hear me out, there might be a chance for the rest of them.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Dylan asked.

“It means that Harris never really wanted this team. He’s just trying to push us through because he’s in an even worse boat.”

The words hit each of them like a grenade. Mouths fell open and hands concealed shocked faces, but there were some who were still in disbelief.

Malik blinked rapidly. “Where the hell is all this coming from, man? You were fine, and now all of a sudden you’re going against everything we stand for.”

“I overheard a discussion between Harris and Pine at the prep rally,” I said cautiously. “He admitted to all of it.”

Dylan’s eyes narrowed. “You’re making that up. Coach wouldn’t just drag along a team he didn’t have faith in. He’s been trying to make us better, not drag us down.”

“I’m not making anything up. I’m just telling you the truth.”

Neither they nor Elizabeth wanted to accept the truth, and that really had me wondering if they were just too stupid to see it or if I was missing something. I couldn’t be the only one who was willing to accept it.

“If you’re not making it up, then you’re looking for excuses,” Dylan snapped.

“Come on, guys. Is it really that hard to believe?”

Dylan shook his head. “I should tell Coach that you’re planning on bailing.”

I shrugged, not really caring about the threat. “Go ahead.”

That confused him even more. It was like he was still waiting for me to confirm that it was some kind of joke, but sadly I couldn’t do that because it wasn’t. I had begun to care for these guys, so I just wanted them to be prepared because I didn’t know what would happen once I was gone.

“What?” Dylan asked.

“Tell him,” I said calmly. “Let him hear all of it so that maybe he stands a chance to defend himself.”

“Why the hell would I do that?”

“So you can see how little he cares.”

That did it. It was all that was needed for Dylan to snap. He shoved me harder than ever before, and I stumbled into the lockers with a metallic crash.