Chapter 39 #2
“No. Don’t.” Mason’s voice drowned the hammering of my heart. “Stay here. Or better, stay inside. The fucker doesn’t deserve your help. He’s leaving. Unless he’s looking to get his ass beaten by the rest of the team at practice on Monday.”
“Mase, watch out.”
I winced as Nichols landed an uppercut to Mason’s chin. My boyfriend stumbled backward, and his teammate seized the moment, shoving him aside before jumping on his back and pummeling the side of his face with punches.
“Mase.” Without thinking, I jumped in and started hitting Nichols on the back. It worked because he let go of my boyfriend and planted his feet on the ground.
Mason pivoted and regained the upper hand.
Nichols drew his arm back, ready to slam it into Mason’s right shoulder.
No way was I letting him hurt Mason’s good arm.
His future depended on the right side of his body, and his shoulder had already been harmed enough times in the past. I wasn’t sure it could survive another hit.
If he sustained more injuries, he would have to disclose what had happened the summer before senior year, back in high school—something I knew he wasn’t ready to come clean about.
And he probably would have to admit to his past drug use too.
They’d kick him off the team, he would lose his scholarship, and the university would send him packing.
Nah, I wouldn’t risk it. I had to protect him.
Without thinking, I jumped onto Nichols' back, just like he had on Mason seconds ago. I yanked at his hair, distracting him so he couldn’t throw another punch.
“Mel, let go of him. I can deal with it. Go back inside.”
“Mase, he insulted me. He called me a bitch and a cunt. No way are you hurting yourself over a guy like him.”
Before I could secure my grip around Nichols’ neck, he shook me off, and I crashed onto my back. He kicked me, his heel landing square on my stomach just as I started to get up. The impact stole every ounce of air from my lungs. Breathless, I raised my arms to shield myself.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as pain radiated through my abdomen.
“Mel. Fuck. You hurt her, man.” Mason shoved his teammate back with both palms splayed across his chest. “What is wrong with you? Only a sick bastard would hit a girl.”
Nichols lunged forward, his hands forming claws, ready to grab Mason by the neck. Mason struck him straight on the nose.
Nichols wiped his bloodied face with his sleeve, smearing it everywhere. “You broke my nose,” he cried, charging forward, but missing my boyfriend by an inch when he dodged him. He swiveled to the left and headbutted Mason in the chin instead. “Your bitch told everyone I was a dick sucker.”
“What? First of all, she’s not a gossip. Second, who cares what you do with your dick or your mouth?”
“I do. I fucking care.”
Mason raised a hand, as if to say Stay back, and kneeled next to me.
“Nichols, I’m done here. Go find trouble elsewhere.
” He turned to address me. “Don’t move, okay?
” He lifted my sweater to inspect my stomach, and I winced when his finger brushed the skin there.
“You need ice and to see a doctor. Can you sit? Or maybe you shouldn’t move at all—”
From behind, Nichols crept up on us and locked Mason in a chokehold.
I tried to move, but the pain was so intense I was glued to the ground, helpless.
Tears welled up in my eyes. Mason’s face was crimson, his chest heaving as he struggled for breath, and I could do nothing while he was being strangled from behind.
“Stop. Let him go. Please.” My pleas weren’t heard, my voice cracking.
“I didn’t tell anyone about your sexual preferences.
Why would I care about your sex life anyway?
” This entire thing was a big misunderstanding, and it would end badly if I didn’t find a way to put a stop to it.
My heart was a staccato mess inside my chest.
Evan Nichols wasn’t listening to me. His face was a mask of fury as he wiped his bloody nose on his shoulder.
A manic laughter escaped him, freezing the blood in my veins.
In that moment, I knew nothing I said would make him walk away.
He wanted revenge for something Mason and I weren’t responsible for.
Powerless, I watched as Nichols tightened his hold around my boyfriend’s neck in a power struggle, while Mason tried to punch him from above his head. They tumbled to the ground, Mason landing on his back on top of Nichols, who had wrapped his legs around my boyfriend’s body to keep him still.
I tried to scream, but my voice was gone.
As if summoned, Craig and Devin arrived in Craig’s Jeep, parking haphazardly in the street.
“What’s going on here?” Rutherford asked as he rushed to free Mason.
Nichols doubled down on his bone-chilling laughter. “I’m here to teach Pierce’s whore a lesson. Just need to kick that ego out of Pierce first so I can finish the job with his slut.”
Rutherford held Nichols back as he tried to hit Mason again, while Craig helped his brother to his feet after making sure he was okay.
The scene looked like one from a movie. Blood was splattered across the freshly fallen snow.
My boyfriend’s face was a dark red-purplish shade. He rubbed the column of his throat as if to bring back oxygen to his lungs.
Amber, whom I hadn’t noticed in the commotion, rushed to me, helping me sit. “I called the cops. They’re on their way.”
Mason joined us, pulling me into his arms and wiping away my tears with a finger. “I’m taking you to the ER.”
“No. Gimme a minute. I’ll be fine.”
“No way. He fucking hit you in the stomach, Shepard. You need to get checked out. Also, you’re sitting in the snow. You’ll turn into a popsicle soon.”
I hiccupped between sobs. “What about our camping night?”
“I don’t care about camping right now. I only care about you.”
“Go,” Devin said. He and Craig were still holding a very angry Nichols, his hands restrained behind his back.
Mason lifted me in his arms, honeymoon style, and pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“I’ve got you.” Fishing his keys out of his pocket, he unlocked his car and lowered me onto the passenger seat.
“Watch her,” he instructed Amber. “I’ll go grab her jacket and change my shirt.
” His lips found my forehead again for a long second, and he dusted snow off my sweater. “I’ll be right back, love.”
My eyes found Nichols’s, and he started screaming at me.
“You’re just a fucking bitch who deserves everything coming to you.
You ruined my life. And my reputation. My dad wants nothing to do with me anymore.
Are you happy, you worthless piece of shit?
You destroyed me, and I’ll make it my mission to destroy you too. ”
I blinked. Someone had ratted him out, but it was definitely not me.
I swallowed, forcing some strength into my voice.
“I never said anything about you to anyone, not even Mase.” More tears streamed down my cheeks.
“Your secret was safe with me.” I grimaced.
My body was sore everywhere now. “You beat up the wrong people. My friends and I never told a soul about that night either, for that matter.”
Realization flashed in his eyes. His lips quivered. Some of the fury in his eyes waned. He kept his jaw locked tight and his fists clenched at his sides. “You’re lying.”