36. Chapter 33
I t’s long past the time I should be out of Charlie's dorm and in bed. I need to get into game mode. Tomorrow’s game will be a tough one, as we’re playing a team that hasn’t lost all season. The team and I have watched some game footage, they’re a strong team, solid in defense and practically unstoppable in offense.
“I think you should tell Henry that we aren’t actually getting married,” she says after swallowing down the rest of her pizza that we ordered an hour ago.
“No,” I shut it down. “He’ll ask questions, and even then, we don’t know if this plan of yours, which you still haven’t fully explained to me, is going to work.”
“It will,” her face is set in hard lines. Determination is written all over her features. “It has to.”
“Are you going to let me in on the plan, ever?” I ask. It’s been bugging me since she told me back home that I almost went to Creed.
“I’ve got it covered,” she stands up from the bed to grab a napkin from the desk.
“I want to help.”
She smiles, but it’s not a happy one. “I know.”
“My family could be useful,” I try again. I don’t want to walk into anything without being prepared.
“I need to do this on my own,” her voice is full of conviction, but I can sense the apprehension there.
“Charlie,” I’m not going to beg, but after spending the past few weeks together, I’ve grown fond of her. I’d never forgive myself if something happened, and I could have prevented it.
“You don’t need to save me, Pretty Boy,” she says as if she can read my mind.
“I don’t want to save you, I just want to help.” The words surprise me at the truth behind them. I do want to help her. What she’s told me about her father makes me want to kill him too, and from what little I know, I’m surprised someone hasn’t already. “I could ask Creed–”
“You can’t tell your dad or Creed,” she snaps, stepping up to where I’m perched on her desk. Her eyes are hard, focused as if she’s trying to converse with me without using words to show how much she means it.
“If I think you’re in danger, I won’t hesitate,” I tell her honestly. “I won’t have another death on my hands.”
“I know what I’m doing. You just have to trust me, okay?”
I nod, praying that whatever she’s got planned will work and she won’t get herself killed in the process.
“Don’t you need to do some football ritual before tomorrow?”
Laughter bursts out of me, and I almost choke on my water. “Great subject change,” I squint and get up, letting her off the hook. “I should get going, big game tomorrow. You’re wearing my number, right?”
“I’ll be the blushing fiancé cheering the loudest,” she promises. “And, Pretty Boy?”
Pausing at the door, I turn back to look at her.
“You’re a good one,” she smiles a sad smile and continues. “Too good to be mixed up in my problems.”
“What are fake fiancé’s for?” I give her a half smile and walk out.
Whatever she’s planning, I want to be a safety net. She’s burrowed her way under my skin as a friend, someone I could see myself trusting.
My gut tells me to call Creed and tell him what I know. Maybe we can help her. I know he won’t do anything to ruin her plans. He’s too smart for that. They all are.
We won, and the team is going wild. The locker room sounds like a club with the music blasting, guys singing at the tops of their lungs. Patterson hollers that they’re going into town to some western bar that’s open late.
I’ve been meaning to talk to Jax to mend our friendship. If last night with Charlie taught me anything, it’s that I miss him. I miss having him to talk to about football, relationships, and possibly even mama.
Redressed, I wait in the hallway for him to get out. Nerves prickle my skin. I’m not sure how to start the conversation, but I know I need to.
Raised voices catch my attention, pulling me in their direction. There’s yelling, but I can’t understand it. It sounds like someone’s talking too fast, slurring their words so they all come out at once.
“–one job!”
The sound of a slap is unmistakable, and I pick up my pace. Hearing the voice that responds makes my heart drop in my chest.
“I’m s–”
The sound of another strike greets my ears as I round the corner leading to the academic buildings. Two men are in my face before I can get to Charlie. Her cheeks are red, and her eyes are filled with tears and fury.
“Don’t you fucking touch her again,” I growl, I don’t give a damn how important her father thinks he is. If he puts his hands on her one more time, I’ll kill him right here.
“Mind yer business, boy,” he dismisses me with a flick of his wrist. The two men have me by my shoulder, and I shake them off. Sprinting to Charlie’s side, her chin’s held high, yet she still finds a way to look down at me when she turns.
“Last time I checked, Charlie’s my fiancé, so if I tell you not to put your goddamn hands on her, I’d better not see so much as a scratch.”
He laughs, snapping his fingers. The two brutes come to his side, and my body goes rigid with anticipation. My dad’s here, and I know Nile’s around somewhere with Toby. If I needed them, I could tap my phone, and they’d find us.
“Yer treading dangerous waters,” her father starts and coughs. When he finally clears his throat, I hear my dad’s voice. He’s in the hall where the locker room is. When he can’t find me, he’ll come this way.
“I could say the same to you,” I level him with a stare. I won’t be intimidated by a man that hits a woman.
He looks at Charlie, pointing a finger in her direction, and turns around to leave. Dad exits the hall into the breezeway, where Charlie and I watch her father retreat.
“What’s going on here?” Dad’s voice is deadly calm, he clocked Mr. Romero walking away. I have no doubt that he also noticed the red handprints on Charlie's cheeks.
“Nothing,” Charlie grits out and attempts to storm off. Grabbing her bicep, I hold her in place and nod to Dad. He nods back and walks back into the hall.
“What the fuck is going on, Charlie?” I ask, making my voice as soft as I can. I want her to trust me enough to let me help her.
“You should have stayed out of it,” a tear traces a path down her cheek, and I want to wipe it away. Instead, I pull her into my chest and hold her. She doesn’t need me to push right now.