Chapter Sixteen #2
“Like she’s your next target,” I accused roughly.
Finally, I allowed myself to look at him.
He was already eyeing me, staring with an expression so blank that I couldn’t read it. Was he clueless? Or just testing my limits? I couldn’t fucking tell.
“It’s not fucking happening,” I growled. “So, you’re better off getting it out of your head now, unless you want to explain to Coach why you have a broken nose.”
I could physically feel how psychotic I was being. But the jealousy made me nuts. The protector part of my DNA made me animalistic. And it was all creating a perfect storm in my bloodstream, pumping through my body with lightning speed.
Keith’s turquoise eyes dimmed to a dark green like an eclipse. His jaw ticked once.
He wanted to hit me. But he wouldn’t. Not if he knew what was fucking good for him.
Taking in a hostile breath, Keith clicked his tongue. With a slow nod, all he said was, “Alright.”
I’d never threatened one of my friends before like that. But it had just tumbled out. I’d been keeping my mouth shut for weeks now about this. I needed to set the boundary now, firmer than before.
I’d always been careful to ensure I wasn’t controlling who El could date or sleep with, but Keith was an ass when it came to women. There was no way I was letting that happen, even if El wanted it this time.
I painted on a smiling face for El for the remainder of our time at Pitcher Perfect, draining two more beers before we parted ways with TJ and Keith, who headed to Stallions next.
The crowd at the house had died down. Relief slithered through my veins when Lizzie was nowhere to be seen as I led El to my room.
She sat on the edge of my bed, slipping her black bootie heels off. She was still wearing my flannel, and I didn’t want it back. I wanted her to keep it. “You okay, Mattie? You seem tense.”
“Yeah, I—” I froze like a coward, gulping. I felt tongue-tied listening to the battle inside my head.
Her gaze was so pure, and it only caused my heart to thump harder against my chest. Mouth running dry, I dropped my head as I sat beside her.
If I let out the words that were begging to slip, everything may become fucked. She scooted closer, watching patiently. With a deep breath, the scent of roses engulfed me, and suddenly, my mind was made up.
“I have something I wanna tell you,” I said.
Her eyes met mine, all her attention glued to me. “Okay,” she said gently. “What is it?”
I’d thought about this moment for years— what it would be like if I told her, what I’d say. I swear I’d rehearsed it a million times, but right now, all of that was out the window. No amount of preparation could’ve prepared me for the real thing.
My turmoil was bone deep. What I was about to say was either going to change my life for the better or throw me to the wolves. No in-between.
“I want you to know—”
“Matt?” a fist banged on the door.
I ignored it, huffing as I turned back to El.
“Matt? Open up!” Jett yelled.
“Hold on,” I murmured to El, angrily striding over and yanking the door open. “What!”
“Just an FYI— your sister’s here and she’s drunk off her ass.”
Hands folded atop my head, I sighed as my jaw twitched beneath my skin. Fucking great.
“Where is she?” I gnarled.
“Living room.”
Shouldering past him, I felt like I was going to explode.
Scowling over everyone’s heads, I searched for a short head of black hair.
Jade stood next to the doorframe to the living room, and Jett hadn’t been lying. With one look, I could tell she was obliterated.
Now that I thought about it— stood might not have been the right word. Really, leaned desperately against would’ve sufficed.
She kept replacing her footing, struggling to stand upright, eyes hazy until they lit up when they saw me.
“Big brother!”
I spoke with an edge in my voice. “Jade. How did you get so drunk?”
She shook her head with the velocity of a tortoise. “I’m not drunk.”
I snatched the empty bottle in her hand. A shooter of Rumple Minze. “Where the hell did you get this? Who gave this to you?”
“I’m not snitching.” Suddenly, she turned pale, blinking rapidly. “I might throw up though.”
“Jesus.” I scooped her up and ran her into the bathroom.
Unfortunately, the closest bathroom was the one with the broken lock.
I helped Jade position herself in front of the toilet.
Then, I grabbed a hair tie that El had left here and tied her hair up before standing in front of the door, guarding it.
I crossed my arms, immersed in my own vexation as Jade yakked her brains out.
“No more drinking,” I commanded.
She answered through a heave. “No problem.”
“You’re gross,” I said.
A small tap rang behind my back, vibrating against me.
“Matt?” Jett voiced. “Does she need anything?”
Of course, the Team Nurse was on it.
Jett was the only person on our team, and quite frankly, the only person I knew, that was a nursing major.
He had a whole cabinet dedicated to medical supplies, and all the guys took shit from it on a weekly basis, especially after a gnarly practice.
Jett didn’t mind though now that he was captain. He was a natural caretaker.
I cracked the door open. “Can you grab Liquid IV and some food? Something easy on her stomach?”
“Yep.”
Within minutes, Jett was back with a water bottle mixed with Liquid IV and a pack of crackers. When I turned back around, Jade looked passed out, resting her face on the toilet seat.
Nasty.
After forcing some of it down her throat, I carried her half asleep to my room, expecting El to be waiting impatiently, or maybe even angrily.
But instead, she was snuggled up in my bed, a Cedar U t-shirt hanging loosely to her skin that she must’ve taken from my closet.
I laid Jade beside her. Setting the Liquid IV and crackers on the nightstand, I brought a small trash can on Jade’s bedside for the second time since she moved here.
Once the rest of the house cleared out for the night, I retreated to the couch.