We’re all at our best this year, well-conditioned and completely focused. Every practice, we’re showing improvement. In the very least, we’ve got State semifinals on lock, which will definitely up the ante for college next fall.
With NCU’s star quarterback set to graduate next spring, this is guaranteed to put me in the running for their QB-1 slot. With any luck, my soon-to-be coach, Coach Wells, will allow it.
“So, Pandora got it right, huh?”
The question jars me from my thoughts, and as I glance over my shoulder, I catch Austin’s nosey ass waiting for a reply.
“What are you talking about?” There’s a clear lack of interest in my tone, as I toss my helmet into the locker with the rest of my gear. Somehow, he misses it. Slipping off my jersey, I’m down to just pants and ready to shower.
“She says you and that new chick are into each other,” Austin clarifies, filling me in on what the queen of gossip has had to say about my run-ins with Southside.
“What’s her name again?” Trip asks. “Blue or something?”
“It’s weird, but she’s hot enough that I don’t really care.” Now Ryder’s getting in on this, too, and things are quickly headed in the wrong direction.
Up to this point, only my brothers and Parker and her girls know Southside has a target on her back, but now I’m thinking I should’ve cast a wider net. Should’ve known my boys couldn’t look past a set of nice tits and an ass any one of us would happily eat a meal off of.
But that’s beside the point.
“So, you hitting that or what, West?” Austin finally gets to the point he’s been trying to make all along.
This conversation might take a while, so I get comfortable, lowering to straddle the bench.
“Depends,” I say calmly. “There a reason you’re asking so many questions?”
When I peer up at him, it looks like he regrets bringing it up. Only, now, there’s nothing left to do but follow through at this point.
“Just saying, it’d make sense that she knocked Parker on her ass today in gym. You know, if you two have a thing,” he explains.
The fact that he wasn’t even there, and yet already has the play-by-play isn’t a surprise. Not at this school. Not in this city.
A frustrated sigh leaves my mouth. I’m tired, drenched in sweat, and this idiot wants to gossip like a couple grannies sipping tea on the porch.
“I mean, cause let’s just put it out there,” Trip jumps in again, “chick’s sexy as hell. There’s all kinds of fun I could have with a body like that,” he adds. “You know, if you’re not already hooking up with her, that is.”
That’s his attempt at showing respect if, in fact, I do confirm that Blue and I are a thing.
There are muffled laughs floating from every direction when he finishes and then zones out, imagining some of those ‘fun’ things he’d like to do to Southside, I’m guessing.
I hadn’t taken this into account, that some of the guys might see Blue and think she’s an option. But there’s no way in hell I’m letting them get near her. The last thing I need is her getting inside any of my boys’ heads, thinking my people are candidates for becoming her allies. As it stands, the only reason I haven’t shut down the whole Lexi Rodriguez thing is because the girl’s damaged goods. That train wreck self-destructed a long time ago.
“She’s off limits,” I grumble, not bothering to meet anyone’s gazes.
Without even turning, I feel Dane and Sterling’s stares, wondering what the hell is up with me. They wouldn’t understand, though. Not without revealing things about our father I’ve kept to myself since I was a kid. Things I confirmed hadn’t changed when I found that pic in the safe.
That I can’t control. But nothing goes down at Cypress Prep without me allowing it. To start, Southside needs to know a line’s been drawn in the sand. Added to that, my people can never become her people. She needs to know where their loyalty lies.
With me.
There’s a noticeable silence among my teammates as my declaration lingers in the locker room.
“So, does that mean the answer’s yes? You fucked her?” Austin presses.
I peer up to glare at him again and want to smack that smug grin right off his face.
“It means you need to mind your damn business,” is my only reply.
I’m sure he still doesn’t know what to make of the situation, but he retreats and I’m good with that. The guys disperse and, unfazed, the topic of conversation changes quickly. Before I know it, they’ve moved on to discussing some kid on the basketball team who, allegedly, knocked up an underclassman’s mom over summer.
Twisted shit.
I stand to grab the small bottle of body wash from the top shelf of the locker, but my brothers block my path before I can take another step. Sterling grills me with a look but doesn’t say a word. It’s Dane, though, who steps up to speak his mind.
“There’s obviously a lot you aren’t saying,” he starts. “Don’t you think it’s time to tell us what’s up between you and this girl?” There’s a brief hesitation before he says more. “I hate to bring her up, but does this have something to do with the whole … Casey situation? Are they connected in some way?”
First, the question makes me wince, and then it turns into a scowl, adding to the tension already locked in my shoulders after a tougher-than-usual practice.
“No, it’s not about that,” I respond, vaguely addressing the latter part of his question. “But it sure as hell isn’t what everyone thinks it is, either. You know that,” I remind him. “My response to Austin wasn’t some weak-ass attempt at cock blocking. I just need the lines to not get blurred. Southside has to understand she’s alone here, as far from home as she can get. If the guys start moving in for the kill, the whole plan falls apart.”
They’re both quiet now, which I wasn’t expecting.
“And you’re … sure you want to keep this going?” Sterling asks gravely, keeping his voice low so the words don’t go beyond us three.
I’m tempted to tell them why this girl isn’t deserving of this sudden onset of pity but refrain. It’s bad enough I have to live knowing what I know. I can’t justify filling their heads with this shit, too.
Never could.
“I’m sure,” I answer through gritted teeth. It’s all I can do to keep my cool as I push between them, finally moving toward the showers. They don’t try to stop me, but it’s not lost on me that they want to.
This little conversation has made several things clear. If left to their own devices, my teammates will bone anything that moves, which means I have to be hyper-vigilant to keep them off Southside.
Literally.
But this convo also showed me something else. That my brothers aren’t all the way in. Generally speaking, they’re good guys, mostly because they haven’t seen the things I’ve seen. Haven’t become so jaded. Their good nature is causing this mission to take its toll on them already. I won’t force them into being a part of my plan if they want out, but there’s one thing I will not bend on.
Come hell or high water, I will see this thing through.
Even if I have to blow up Southside’s shit on my own.
@QweenPandora: Football practice was explosive! With this being the final season for many of our rising stars, you can bet they’re going to bring their A-game every time. Most believe nothing can stop them from making it to States this year, but I hear South Cypress has a secret weapon. Friday will be the first showdown and, trust me, you don’t want to miss it.
Later, Peeps.
—P
