Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
24
Noah
The game has barely finished when I race back to the locker room, whipping my helmet off and throwing it down into my pile of shit. I tear off my uniform before having the quickest shower known to man. I’m just stepping out to get dressed when the rest of the team pours in through the doors, booming about our epic win, but honestly, I’m not feeling the celebration tonight.
I haven’t been on a team that’s lost a game since middle school, and we only lost because most of us had been severely hit with a bout of food poisoning and couldn’t run more than ten minutes without almost shitting ourselves. It’s not exactly a night I think fondly of, but Linc never let me live it down. The thought brings a smile to my face.
“Yo,” Liam says, striding over to me, clapping me hard on the back. “Did you see that? We fucking thrashed ’em, bro.”
I don’t bother responding because he’s already gone, talking shit with the next guy he sees as I quickly get dressed and grab my phone, wallet, and keys from my locker. Before Coach Martin can even get in here to give us the after-game talk, I’m already heading for the door.
“Where the fuck are you going?” Lucas Maxwell says at my back, gaining the attention of nearly every fucker in the room.
I glance back, not bothering to slow down. “Got shit to do.”
“Wait,” Liam says, looking at me as though I just grew a second dick right in the center of my forehead. “You’re bailing? What gives? We just won the first game of the season. Don’t you want to celebrate? We’re throwing a party at Landry’s place.”
I shake my head. “Like I said, I’ve got shit to do.”
Liam grunts. “This doesn’t have anything to do with that bitch . . . What’s her name?” he questions, clicking his fingers as he tries to figure it out. “Ummm. Zoey. We all saw you skipping out on the halftime game prep to talk to her, man. Trust me, she’s not worth it. Landry’s been trying to score with that for months. She’s a frigid bitch. I thought I told you that.”
My jaw clenches, and as I meet his stare, he backs up a step, knowing damn well he just crossed a line. I don’t even need to tell him to keep Zoey’s name out of his fucking mouth. He just knows. “It’s got nothing to do with Zoey,” I grunt, my hands balling into fists at my side. “It’s about—You know, it’s none of your fucking business.”
“Alright, whatever,” he says, throwing his hands up in surrender, knowing when to back down before he gets his ass handed to him. “Just hit me up when you’re done doing whatever it is you gotta do. We’ll have a few shots. Maybe get a little fucked up and take some girls to bed.”
Yeah. Unlikely.
I give him a nod, knowing damn well he’s not going to stop until I’ve given him some indication that he gets to be my special little guy, which is one of the many problems with having to move schools so often. Everyone wants to be my best friend, everyone wants my attention, and most of the time, not a single one of them can take a hint.
Finally having no one at my back, I race out the door and to the parking lot before throwing myself into the driver’s seat of my car and tossing my shit on the seat next to me. I could hardly focus on the second half of the game after seeing the accusation in Zoey’s eyes.
She didn’t blame me. I know her too well to know that she was just trying to let off steam. She was angry, and rightfully so. Hazel was hurt because of the bullshit I allowed to happen, but what it comes down to is that Zoey was right. I unintentionally painted a target on Hazel’s back. I should have known better than to give her a jersey with my name on it, especially considering how hard the cheerleaders have been going for Zoey’s throat just for being seen with me.
I have to know that Hazel is okay and make things right with her, but on top of that, I need to know that Zoey doesn’t hate me for this. She can take a lot of shit when it’s between just me and her, but where her little sister is concerned, she’s not taking any chances.
When I saw her up in those stands with the widest smile on her face as she looked down at me, cheering for me like she used to . . . fuck. Her eyes were so full of happiness that it almost brought me to my knees.
Hitting the gas, I peel out of the still-packed parking lot, and floor it all the way to Zoey’s place. Only unlike last time when I barged my way through here, I head straight for the door and knock like a normal human being.