Chapter 3
JETT
Scoring that goal is a good start to exorcising this morning’s nightmare from my brain. A hard workout is always therapy. It’s been that way since I took up rowing.
My euphoria, however, is short-lived when cheating, lying Renner appears on the sidelines and refuses to leave.
“What part of ‘I don’t want to see you again’ and ‘leave’ don’t you understand?” I call out.
“Come on, Jett. You’re gonna throw our relationship away because of one freaking slip?” Renner counters.
Hudson shakes his head.
“Not here, man. You heard what Jett said, get going. This is not the time or place.”
Renner’s scowl turns to fury.
“Fuck off, Hudson. What this is, is between me and Jett.”
Renner moves suddenly, and I’m not ready for it.
He pushes forward and grabs my bicep in a surprisingly tight grip.
I shove at his hand and try to pull my arm back, but he won’t let go, and shit, the last thing I need is a shoulder injury to start off the rowing season.
Or a fist fight while half the campus is watching us.
I pivot and elbow Renner’s chest with my other arm to get loose, but he won’t let go.
Then I don’t need to do anything.
Suddenly Ethan’s in the mix, stepping between me and Renner, and my arm is free again.
Um, what is happening right now?
“Don’t ever grab him like that,” Ethan growls. “Or anyone, for that matter. He told you to leave, now leave. Or do you want to do this the hard way?”
“This is none of your fucking business, Ethan! Get out of my way!”
I’m in some kind of shock because I stand there like a statue. I can’t move.
Jackson, Hudson, and Archie surround Renner, and the rest of our crew—Iggy, August, Kai, and Wyatt—follow. Not just my crew, but the Cougars too. It won’t be a matter of if my asshole ex leaves, but how quickly he can run.
“Jett wants you gone, so get!” Ethan insists. “And if you don’t move your ass off this field in the next five seconds, my friends and I are gonna do it for you.”
I’ve never heard Ethan use that tone before. Renner, however, doesn’t take the hint and stares at me.
“You’re being stubborn, Jett. It was one fucking time.”
“I doubt that,” I snap. “And I’m going to ask around to be sure.”
“You uptight cunt,” Renner sneers and finally backs away. “Whatever, bitch. Your loss, not mine. You might look hot, but you’re a lousy lay and a shitty boyfriend.”
I flinch, my face burning hot. His hateful words are loud enough for everyone standing around me to hear.
Ethan steps towards Renner again and points to the other end of the campus.
“Fuck. Off. Now.”
Renner finally relents and stalks off.
“The show’s over folks,” I quip, trying to cover up my embarrassment. “That halftime special was brought to you by the Sutton U Drama Club, so please be kind in your reviews.”
There’s a smattering of laughter and then the students go back to their conversations as if nothing happened. My crew surround me and offer hugs.
“I never like that dickhead anyway.” Archie offers me a smile and gives me a pat on the back. “You deserve better, Jett. Are you okay?”
I rub my arm, but it’s nothing.
“I’m fine.”
The guys from the hockey team do the same, asking if I’m alright. Everyone except Ethan, who moves to stand in front of me and studies my face.
“What?” I snap.
Given how Ethan intervened, my current attitude is pissy and ungrateful, but I’m feeling all kinds of vulnerable right now, and I can’t deal with this guy too.
“We still have a game to finish,” he states. “You good to keep going?”
I glare at him.
“It was an argument, not the end of the world. Of course I’m good.”
“It’s okay if you’re not.”
“I was handling the situation, including Renner and his runaway mouth,” I admit, my anger simmering to a near boil. “I don’t need you to come to my rescue, and I don’t need to stop the game.”
I shake my head, looking anywhere but at Ethan.
There’s no way I’m forfeiting. And I want this conversation over with.
The most popular fuckboy on campus has overheard that I’m shit in bed.
He’ll probably take that and run with it, turning me into a joke.
Then again, Ethan isn’t one to make fun of people that way.
He loves to tease and fool around, but humiliating others isn’t his thing.
“Alright, then.” He nods. “See you on the pitch.”
He walks past me, his teammates following.
I can’t look at him. Instead, I try to take slow breaths to calm myself down.
“Wow, that escalated quick. I thought Renner was a conceited jerk, but I didn’t realize what a shit person he is,” Hudson comments and gives me a pat on the shoulder. “You sure you’re okay, bud?”
I nod. I want to forget about this entire day, never mind that argument.
“Renner’s a lying dick,” Archie continues. “Forget about him.”
“Already done,” I reply even though I know that’s not realistic.
Jackson reaches over and gives me a hug. “You’ll feel better when we win this game and you can shave Ethan’s gorgeous mane of hair.”
“Given the way he charged across the field and intervened, maybe we should make an exception,” Hudson replies.
“We shook hands. A deal’s a deal,” I insist. “And besides, Ethan did what any one of us would’ve done if the situation were reversed. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Never seen him that pissed off before,” Archie murmurs. “Which is odd. I mean, you two don’t get along so—”
“He’s a protective guy when it comes to his circle,” Jackson adds.
I stare at my friend like I don’t recognize him. Are we talking about the same guy?
“What?” Jackson asks, running a hand through his curly hair. “I spend a lot of time with Ethan and the hockey team because of my boyfriend. I know what I’m talking about.”
“I’m not his friend or part of his circle.” I sigh. “Let’s forget about Renner, and Ethan, and talk about something else please.”
“How about we egg Renner’s apartment?” Hudson quips.
I shake my head, laughing at my friend’s suggestion.
“I want to forget about him, not make things worse. Renner’s not worth our time.”
I hear a sharp whistle and look over to see Josiah waving at us. Our break is done.
“Let’s get this game wrapped up.”
“Everyone’s going into town for a bite afterwards,” Jackson suggests.
“Ah, I don’t know—” I start.
Is Ethan going to be there? I don’t want to have to face him again.
“No exceptions, and the beer’s on us. After all, we need to celebrate.” Jackson smiles.
“Celebrate?” I scoff. “What exactly?”
“That you dumped that asshole loser.” Hudson claps his hands together. “And the game we’re about to win.”
“Guys, look, I appreciate the support, but I don’t think I’m up to socializing.”
Everyone knows I’ve been cheated on, and worse, that my sex life is shit. Ugh, maybe I can hide out in my room until the winter break arrives.
“A night out is exactly what you need,” Archie insists. “I know you’re hurting, but hanging out with your friends will be therapeutic. Trust me.”
“Therapeutic, huh?” I ask, still not convinced that I want to be around anyone.
Not even my friends.
“Hey, I know big words too,” Archie quips.
I reach up and mess his dark hair with my knuckles.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I counter.
“I know,” Archie insists with a big smile. He’s the most lighthearted guy in our group, but also the most sensitive. “But I’m still right.”
Another sharp whistle pierces the air, a reminder that there’s a game we need to finish.
“If we win, I’ll hang out.”
Archie throws his arm around my neck and rubs my hair in return.
“That’s more like it.”
We jog back to the field and take our positions.
This time it’s the Cougars’ turn for the kick off.
I notice that Ethan’s doing the honors, and he’s got an intense expression on his face.
With his hands on his hips and his sweaty T-shirt plastered to his broad chest, he stares at me, and it’s unnerving.
For a guy whose attention is always flitting around faster than a butterfly, from one person to the next, it’s strange to have it all on me.
Or maybe I’m imagining things. It’s possible I’m too stressed to think clearly.
Archie’s right: I need a night out and a beer.
Instead of looking away, I meet Ethan’s gaze head on. He’s as determined as I am, but I know that I want this win more. I’m greedy for it. It’s ridiculous, but I have something to prove, if only to myself. I’m not going to let Renner mess with my head any more than he already has.
And I’m not going to let Ethan distract me either.
As if reading my mind, Ethan unexpectedly blows me a kiss. The hell? What an annoying fucker. Everyone’s staring at us, and I feel my face heat again. I kiss my middle finger and offer it up to him in return. There’s laughter in the air until Ethan winds up and makes a run for the ball.
The kick isn’t perfect, but he hits it hard.
Then there’s no more time for silly antics. My body springs into action, racing for the ball.
Dane and Axel are all over me, so I take it as far as I can and then pass it to Jackson. My teammate starts to bring it up the field, but I see Ethan in my periphery, chasing Jackson, and I race after them.
Unfortunately, I’m so focused on the ball that I don’t realize I’m suddenly too close to Ethan. We collide at the halfway line, and both of us tumble to the ground, Ethan falling on top of me.
Worst of all, his face is only inches from mine.
“Watch it,” I grumble as I scramble to push him off me.
“You watch it,” he snarks as he rolls off me. “You ran into me.”
“No way. You’re the one at fault.”
He stands up and offers his hand to help me up, but I ignore it and get myself set to rights.
Suddenly, Ethan backs away like I’m threatening to piss on him, and it’s not a moment too soon.
I’m a second away from losing my temper, again, but I rein myself in.
I glance around and wonder why Josiah didn’t call a penalty.
Then there’s no time for me to question it, because Jackson’s got possession of the ball and he’s getting closer to the net.
Only, Kayden and Finn are closing in on him.
I run as fast as I can, trying to find a spot that’s within striking distance.
I feel Ethan hot on my trail, and I can’t shake him.
Everyone’s attention is on Jackson, and when he turns quickly and passes the ball to me, I ignore everything around me and burst into action, running it up the rest of the way to take my shot.
Ethan crowds around me, his steps as lightning quick as mine, but I’m sneaky and manage to escape his grasp.
All it takes is one moment.
I kick the ball with everything I’ve got and then some, imagining that it’s Renner’s crotch I’m aiming for. Unfortunately, Maddox’s reaction time is faster than my attempt, and he blocks the goal with one foot, sending the ball flying back into the field.
“Fuck!” I snarl in frustration.
Josiah blows the whistle and calls out a foul.
What? What did I miss?
Josiah makes the signal for holding. On our side. Are you freaking kidding me?
I put my hands on my knees and bend over to catch my breath, then glance around. Jackson jogs up to me.
“What happened?” I ask.
“Iggy.”
I turn around to find Iggy gesturing wildly as he exchanges words with Dane. Iggy’s shaking his head, and Dane’s pointing at his arm.
“Better luck next time!” Ethan calls out behind me.
“At least I got near the net!” I clap back.
“Bad aim, though.” Ethan cackles.
“Better than you last Friday,” I quip and take off running again.
“Hey!” he yells after me. “Not fair, I was drunk.”
I can’t help but laugh at the memory. A week ago, me and the other guys in the Crew crashed one of Ethan’s frat parties.
Well, Jackson invited us, but I went along for the ride.
After a couple of hours of partying, the entire group headed to Lake Kinnear for a bonfire.
Only, Ethan decided to skinny dip and gave everyone an eyeful of his junk.
The cold water plus the cool night air meant he was less than his usual cocky self when he emerged from the lake.
Not that he seemed to care. But when tipsy Ethan decided to take a piss, he missed his aim and hit the fire instead of the bushes.
I laughed so hard that I snorted beer up my nose.
Even still, the guy is impressive, and way too hot for his own good. But I will never, ever, let him know that. Bad enough I thought it, never mind telling him and feeding his ginormous ego.
Ethan shrugged off the incident as only the most popular guy on campus could.
Teasing bounced off Ethan like he was made of Teflon; nothing affected him except winning or losing a hockey game.
And yet, whenever I bugged him about it, it set him off.
There was something strangely addictive about being the one to burrow under his skin.
Does that mean fuckboy has depths?
“Jett.”
Jackson’s voice breaks me out of my weird headspace.
“Sorry.”
“Free kick for the Cougars, remember? We gotta line up.”
I follow my teammate as we line up and form a wall in front of our net. Dane is at the sideline, waiting for Josiah to give the signal.
When the whistle blows, Dane lets loose, and the ball flies high.
The game isn’t over yet.