Catch (Sutton U Crew #1)

Chapter 1

JETT

“Hey, Ren! I left my tablet here by mistake!” I call out as I enter my boyfriend’s apartment.

It’s Monday morning, the start of the fall semester, and I’m already late for my class.

I’ve been forgetting things for months and it’s starting to freak me out.

It’s so unlike me, since I’m hyperorganized and used to getting shit done.

I grew up on a ranch, so I’m wired to work hard and juggle chores, school, sports, and anything else that comes my way.

Or so I thought.

I’d arrived early to my biochem lecture, but when I opened my bag and started searching, my tablet wasn’t there…

and I was sure I’d left it at Renner’s. Since I can’t work without it, I ran back across the campus to his apartment.

He’s got his own place, and I have to say, it’s nicer than the dorms, but it is a long walk from my lecture hall.

Thank fuck I train year-round as a rower and my cardio is top notch because making it back to my class in time is going to take an Olympic-level sprint. And in cowboy boots no less.

I knock on Renner’s door, but when he doesn’t answer, I use the spare key he keeps hidden under a nearby planter. He won’t mind. After all, he told me where the spare was located in case I ever needed it.

Only, when I enter the apartment, I think Renner’s still here. His bathroom door is closed, but I can hear his voice on the other side. Is he talking to himself? Odd, but whatever.

I’ll just grab my stuff and go. Now, where did I put that fucking tablet?

It’s got to be here somewhere because we’d been watching a movie on it Saturday night.

Correction, I’d been watching a movie with my headphones on because Renner preferred to read in silence.

He’s not a fan of superhero flicks like I am, or movies in general.

Come to think of it, there’s not much I like that he does too, and why am I just realizing that in this moment?

Suddenly, there’s a loud crashing noise that comes from the direction of the bathroom, and then a louder groan.

Shit, did he have an accident?

“Ren, are you okay?” I yell.

There’s no reply. Absolute silence. I stalk over to the bathroom and knock on the door.

“Ren, what’s going on? Are you hurt?”

“What the hell are you doing here?” he shouts back.

Well, shit, I guess he’s alright, then.

I don’t like Renner’s tone, but I try to push aside my unease, that gut instinct telling me something isn’t right.

Nothing I do pleases him lately, and I don’t know why.

He’s been bitching at me ever since I returned for the fall semester.

While he went to Maryland over the summer, I traveled back home to Aura, Nevada, to help my grandparents work their ranch.

I’d invited Renner to come with me, but he didn’t want to go.

Working chores in the desert heat wasn’t on his summer wish list. Also, we’d only been together about a month before the school break, and Renner told me he wasn’t ready to meet the “grand”parents yet…

“I forgot my tablet,” I explain.

I want to ask why he doesn’t come out of the bathroom and talk to me face-to-face, but time is ticking away, and I’ve gotta get back to class.

“Where the fuck is your head at, Jett? It’s probably on my desk.”

Glancing around, I notice a shit ton of stuff piled high on the vintage wooden table—his laptop, a stack of art books, along with takeout bags, and two coffee containers.

Only, one of the coffee cups has lipstick on it.

Huh. He probably had his friend Hailey Jones over yesterday.

They’re in the same visual art program and they study together a lot.

I spy my tablet sitting under the pile of books and reach for it, slipping it into my backpack with a sigh of relief.

“Got it!” I reply as I sling my bag over my shoulder. “See you later!”

There’s no response from the bathroom, which again, is weird.

I turn to take my leave, but something holds me back. My feet won’t budge.

Instead of heading out, I lean against his desk, cross my arms, and wait.

And listen… And wait…

I hear Ren talking again and then a second voice. Prowling across the room, walking as stealthily as I can, I put my ear against the bathroom door and listen.

There’s a lot of laughter, but nothing about what’s happening right now is remotely funny.

And when the moaning starts again, it’s not the painful kind.

But it is for me.

My stomach drops, the way it usually does before a major competition.

Only this is much, much worse, because I feel like I’m actually going to throw up.

I’m humiliated and angry, and so pissed off that all the air in my lungs feels like it’s been sucked out of me.

My blood is pounding hard and my head hurts.

My head, my heart…

Stepping back, I try to control my anger, but it’s too late. The blade’s hit the water. I’m already in motion.

I lose it and pound on the door with my fist.

“What the fuck, Ren?” I yell. “I can hear you. You and Hailey? You goddamn asshole!”

The door suddenly swings open, and Renner stands there with his jeans crumpled around his ankles and a condom on his half-hard cock.

“You lying piece of shit!” I scream.

And I don’t care if everyone on this floor, or in this building, hears me.

“This isn’t what it looks like,” he starts and reaches for me, but I’m faster and step out of his grasp.

“It looks like you’re a cheating scumbag!” I shout.

“Renner, you bastard!” Hailey appears next to him, buttoning up her shorts, her face covered in beard burn. She glances at me, her eyes wide. “He told me he broke up with you before the summer break.”

“Nope,” I correct. I’m pissed, but not at her. “But I’m sure as shit dumping him now.”

“Jett, come on—” Renner whines.

“Did you hear what I said?” I point at Renner, and finally he has the decency to lean down and pull up his jeans. “We’re done.”

“Sweetheart, you’re overreacting.”

“You’re really going to go there? With the condom still on? Jesus Christ, I might be forgetful, but I’m not stupid.”

Although I’ve obviously had my head up my ass, since I missed that I was dating a total douchebag.

Then it hits me. Maybe he’s the reason why my concentration’s been off for months.

God knows it’s not like me to be absentminded.

I’m not one to brag, but I got a full scholarship to Sutton U, and my GPA is 4.

0. I’m even graduating a full year early.

My fellow rowers from the Sutton U Crew joke that I’m the only genius jock they know.

But apparently I’m not smart when it comes to the guys I fall for. Guys and relationships. Relationshit is more accurate.

“It’s just fucking; it doesn’t mean anything,” Renner continues.

“You invited me out on a date Friday night!” Hailey screeches.

Her face is purple at this point, and she mutters something about “assholes with tiny dicks” before she stomps past me and leaves the room, slamming the door behind her.

“She’s lying,” Renner continues, running a hand through his chestnut curls. “Look, Hailey and I were only having fun, nothing more, so stop freaking out. This is all your fault anyway. I mean, if my own boyfriend won’t let me fuck him, what the hell am I supposed to do?”

What? He’s really throwing that in my face? I thought he was happy with the way things were between us. Obviously I’m a fool ten times over.

I’m done. With this conversation and with Renner.

“I don’t want to speak to you again,” I snap. “Don’t call or text. Fuck the hell off and leave me alone.”

I’m so angry and upset that I feel tears threatening, so I turn before Renner can see how badly he’s hurt me.

Like Hailey, I stalk across the room and slam the door on my way out.

I’m shaking hard, but I manage to keep moving, racing for the stairs.

My vision is blurry until the hot tears finally let loose and roll down my cheeks.

I’m halfway to the exit when my phone pings.

Fuck you, Renner Whitner.

I swipe the tears away and take a few deep breaths to calm down.

I can do this.

Only, when I tap on my phone, it’s not Ren trying to get hold of me.

It’s worse.

Ethan: You ready for the soccer match? Be prepared to have your smart ass handed to you. Say goodbye to your pretty hair, golden boy.

In a heartbeat, I go from upset to irritated.

Fucking Ethan Walker.

Star hockey forward, frat boy, and the most annoying human being on campus.

I first encountered Ethan at a fundraising event last semester.

I was there with my teammates Jackson, Archie, and Hudson, to represent the college’s rowing crew, and we shared a table with the hockey team, the Cougars.

When the party got going, Archie suggested a friendly competition between the two teams, and I was all in.

Ethan hadn’t shut up—not about his hockey prowess, his hookups, or his parties—so I couldn’t wait to show him that hockey players don’t in fact do it better.

Winning, that is. I don’t care who he fucks or how popular he is, but do we need all the details?

Guys who are all talk are right up there on my shit list, along with liars and cheats.

I’ve been trying to avoid Ethan ever since, but it’s not easy to do, especially when I got roped into helping him with his teammate’s wedding reception two weeks ago.

His buddy Silas married their hockey coach, Damien, and everyone on campus is still talking about it.

Jackson was assigned to keep an eye on things—namely Ethan, to make sure he didn’t turn the reception into a frat orgy—but when Jackson found himself too busy with his work internship, I volunteered in his place.

And I’ve been kicking myself ever since.

I’ve kept my distance from Ethan as long as I can, but today, that’s coming to an end. His text is a reminder of why I need to stop engaging with him.

Then again, as soon as this soccer game’s over, once I hand his ass to him, he’ll stop pestering me.