Chapter 7 The Catch
The Catch
Harper
The guy tugs on the doorknob but I lean all my weight on it. I won’t be able to hold it long though. The door opens a crack. Fuck!
“This is the girls’ locker room. What are you doing in here?” an outraged girl says loudly.
Hallelujah! I’m saved.
“Something that belongs to me is here.” Caden’s voice is fucking music to my ears. Even better.
When the doorknob releases, the door shuts and I sag with relief.
“Fuck, are we playing hide and seek, little nympho?”
He’s here. Oh, my God! The weight falls off me.
Tears burn the back of my eyes. I open the door and fly across the room, launching myself at Caden. He’s in his uniform with full pads on, looking even bigger than he normally does. He catches me against him as a sob escapes me.
“I’ve got you.” He lifts me up against him and carries me out of the locker room. I don’t care where he takes me as long as it’s far away from here. I bury my face in his neck, not caring about his sweat, just needing to be close to him.
My heart races like a scared bunny’s, threatening to break out of my chest. What if he hadn’t come for me? My everything trembles, but Caden’s arms are around me. I can breathe again.
Doors open and close and then the volume increases. Masculine voices blend with the sounds of lockers closing. The smell of sweaty socks and boys surrounds me, but I don’t care because I know where I’m safest.
In Caden’s arms.
“What happened?” Jack.
“Is she okay?” Nico.
“Why was she in there?” Eli.
A soft touch on my back. “Hey, princess.”
I release my breath. I’m safe. They’re here, and I’m safe. He didn’t get to me. Tears keep welling and running down my face.
Caden sits down on the bench, but I don’t release him. I can’t. My arms tremble from holding the door for so long, but I can’t let him go.
Caden’s hand strokes over my hair. “She was in a fucking closet.”
“Was she locked in?” Luke.
“Not when I entered, but the door to the laundry room was closing like someone might have run out right before I got there.” There’s anger beneath Caden’s words, but I’m not the target.
“All right, guys,” an authoritative voice calls out. “It’s time to head back out. Let’s huddle up.”
My grip tightens on Caden. He has to go. He has to leave me.
“Fuck,” Caden sighs, but his arms don’t even loosen. “Tell Coach I’m sick. I’ll get her home and take care of her until you guys can get there.”
“I can—” Luke’s words are cut off.
“No. You need to play. I’ve got her. Go.” Caden’s hands tighten on me like someone might pry me away.
Luke brushes his hand over my hair. “Later, princess.”
He kisses my head.
“Kitten.” Eli touches my back and kisses my head.
“I can go.” Jack touches my shoulder. The shaking hasn’t stopped, but his hand is warm.
“No, go play. I’ve got her.”
Jack kisses my head.
“I’m going with you.” Nico.
“I have a decent backup on the field. You don’t. We’re not losing tonight. Go play.”
“Fuck.” He kisses my head. “Fuck.”
His disappointment is tangible. I don’t have the strength to remain angry at them right now.
The coach yells, “Where’s Caden?”
“Sick,” Luke says.
“Huddle up.”
Caden sighs and holds me as the coach gives a rousing speech that hypes the players up. Soon they shuffle out of the locker room, leaving Caden and me alone.
“I need to change, little nympho. Then we can go home.”
My breathing has returned to normal. My tears stopped during the speech. The nervous energy drained out of me, leaving me exhausted. “Okay.”
I loosen my grip and sit back on his lap. He cups my cheek and searches my eyes.
“Want to talk about it?” His green eyes are kind and caring.
This isn’t something I can hold back. It won’t protect either of us. I slide off his lap to sit on the bench beside him. He squeezes my hand and stands to take off his football gear.
“Sidney spilled perfume on Luke’s jersey, and it kept making me sneeze, so I went to the bathroom to try to wash it a little. Kenz and the others were so excited to watch the game, and I wasn’t going anywhere people weren’t, so I went alone.”
Honestly, I felt safe. The stadium is overflowing with people, so how could something possibly happen? All the other times I was alone. Alone at my house. Alone after school. Again at my house but with Kenz.
Caden takes his shoulder pads off, putting his chest on display. His eyes settle on me when I stop talking. I swallow and continue.
“A JV cheerleader and her friend told me I should use the girls’ locker room because there’s a washer and dryer there.”
My words trail away as Caden takes his pants off. Every inch of him is hard muscle. The safety I feel in his presence makes me want things that aren’t logical right now. I want that connection, but at the same time, I just want him to hold me again.
“I need to take a shower.” His words are gruff.
I follow him to the shower, staying outside of it, but needing to see him. To know he’s right here. I wrap my arms around myself.
“Keep going, little nympho.” He scrubs his body. It’s normal for me to watch him shower now. It’s relaxing and a little arousing, but I’m not focusing on that. I lean my head against the wall.
“The color guard girls were in the locker room, including Rachel Hayes. She told me where the laundry room was. I washed his jersey on quick wash and figured it was good enough, but when I went to the door, it was locked or stuck or something.”
The water rinses away the soap on Caden’s body. It’s hard not to get distracted, but I’m trying.
“I figured someone would eventually let me out, so I stuck his jersey in the dryer and waited. When I put on the jersey, the door opened and a guy in black came in and shut it behind him.”
“What?” Caden stops drying himself and comes over to where I stand.
He seems unconcerned about how naked he is. The smell of soap and Caden fills my senses. His heat draws me in, and I want to touch him to feel how real he is. To make sure this isn’t a fevered dream and I’m still trapped.
“Just like last night. A guy dressed in all black. I raced into the linen closet and held it closed.”
Caden tips up my chin and searches my eyes. “For how long, little nympho?”
“I don’t know,” I whisper. “Long enough for you to come save me.”
He curses under his breath and pulls me into his arms. My face rests against his chest. He just holds me. My arms wrap around him, needing the closeness. Needing him.
Kissing the top of my head, he draws away and takes my hand, leading me back to his locker. I sit on the bench, put my feet up, and wrap my arms around my knees while he pulls out his clothes and gets dressed.
I try to remember everything.
“He talked to me. Called me darling. He wanted to help me get rid of my virginity. Steal what you guys want from me.” I laugh. “Apparently I still seem innocent. I didn’t tell him I wasn’t a virgin anymore.”
Caden’s green eyes capture mine. Anger burns in there but also concern and something softer that has always drawn me to him. I need to get the rest out though.
“He wanted revenge on you guys. Told me he’d take me out some time to make me feel better about giving it up to him. He did offer to make it good for me, but when I told him no thank you. He was going to— He wanted to—”
Caden picks me up. His arms wrap around me, and I bury my face in his t-shirt. He curls around me like he can protect me from the world. Right now, I believe he can.
I’m not sure how long we stand there, but eventually he puts his shoes on, and we head out to his car. Oh, shit, Kenz.
I pull out my phone and text her I’m leaving with Caden.
“Are we going to the party tonight?” I ask him once he’s in the driver’s seat.
He grunts. “The party is coming to us, little nympho.”
Kenz:
Where are you?
Why aren’t you in the bathroom?
Are you getting any of these texts?
If I have to go into the boys locker room to get your guys, I will
Okay, the assistant coach wouldn’t let me in, but I’ll wait
Jack said Caden had you
You okay?
Me:
Yes, but no. Talk later. At party?
Kenz:
*heart emoji*
I lean my head back on the headrest. I’m so tired suddenly, but I have to make an appearance tonight. That asshole can’t win or know he’s shaken me.
It’s bad enough Sidney probably thinks she won when I disappeared during the first quarter.
The noise of the stadium vanishes into the background. The streetlights guide the way to Caden’s house. It’s quiet and dark. The silence is soothing. When he pulls into the garage, he turns the car off, but doesn’t move to get out.
“Do you remember anything about him?”
I turn my head to him. “He seemed about Luke sized and proportioned. Otherwise, he was covered head to toe in black. I saw him for a second before I dove into the closet. I might be able to pick out his voice. We talked for a while. I figured it would keep him busy and tell me where he was in the room.”
“Come on, we’ll get something to eat in the kitchen. Maybe tonight would be a good night to get drunk.” He blows out a breath.
My cheeks heat, thinking about the last time I was drunk at a party. “Maybe.”
When we get inside, he makes us sandwiches and carries our plate into the theater room. He starts Zombieland and draws me into his side as we eat. When I finish, he takes my plate and wraps his arm around me.
This is what I need right now. I snuggle into him.
Caden
Her soft snores make my heart ache. There’s all this rage and anger, but right now, I’m just offering her peace. The way she flung herself at me and clung to me...
Fuck, what if I hadn’t checked my phone to see where she was? What if I’d gone out and played the second half, not knowing she was in danger?
How long could she have held that door shut from someone like Luke? My fingers dig into her soft skin, but I ease up.
She’s curled against me. I never want to let this girl go. She’s mine, and I’ll fight anyone who tries to take her away, including Harper herself.
But Jack’s right, we need her to trust us, and we need to trust her.
I’m sure she and I still have shit to work out, but I’m here for it. I’m here for her.
The movie ends, and I shut off the screen. For a few minutes it’s just me and her. I rest my eyes, knowing she’s safe here.
The door opens, and I turn. Luke, Eli, Jack, and Nico walk into the room. They’re quiet as they sit and stand around me and Harper.
By now, the party is in full swing downstairs, but I didn’t have the heart to wake her. I just wanted to hold her a little longer.
I take a breath before looking at all of them.
“She said it was a guy in all black again. She trapped herself in the linen closet, and he tried to coax her out. But when that didn’t work, he was going to do it the hard way.” I pull her tight against me. “He wanted to take her virginity.”
“Anything else?” Luke sits with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped.
“He was about your size.” I glance down at her peaceful face, brushing her hair behind her ear. If I had my way, I’d take her up to my bed and curl up around her. Hide her away from the world.
“She needs to be seen tonight.” Eli glances at all of us. “If this guy is here, she needs to appear unaffected.”
“She needs a toothbrush first.” Harper lifts her head off my chest. “And I agree. This asshole wants me scared.”
Her eyes meet mine. She hasn’t completely forgiven me for the other night, and I’m still unhappy with her keeping shit from me, but right now, we have an uneasy truce.
“Now that the betting pool no longer exists,” Jack says, “if he was after her virginity, we should make it clear that’s no longer an option.”
Harper flinches. “You’re right. But when I asked him why he thought I was still a virgin, he said I’m innocent and wouldn’t give it up that fast.”
My fist clenches, but her hand smooths over it. When I loosen it, she slides her fingers into mine. My heart lodges in my throat as I lower my gaze to meet hers. She gives me a smile I haven’t seen in too long and my pulse jumps.
“A demonstration—” Eli starts.
“What the fuck?” Nico straightens. Harper shifts her gaze to Nico with a curious tilt to her head. “What kind of demonstration are you thinking? You want to fuck our girl in front of the masses? I’m down for a lot of shit, but I’m not degrading Harper for those entitled assholes.”
“Even if it protects her?” Eli points out. He can be a cold bastard, but he doesn’t like this anymore than the rest of us.
“Someone would film that shit.” Nico runs a hand through his hair. “It always gets out.”
“We’re not fucking Harper in front of everyone.” I pull her in closer to me and she rests her head on my shoulder. “I don’t think we have to take it that far.”
“A few well-placed rumors would probably be effective.” Jack meets Harper’s eyes. “How does anyone know we fuck anyone? Someone talks. They always talk.”
“Rumors may not stop this guy.” Luke hangs his head like he’s fucking exhausted. He turns to look at Harper. “Princess, what do you want to do?”
Her mouth drops open. “What?”
Luke straightens, holding her gaze. “You’re ours, but we’ve agreed to be yours. This affects us all, but mostly you right now, since you’re their target. I’m more than willing to prove to everyone that you’re mine, but you should have a choice.”
“Oh.” She straightens and her eyes are wide as she meets all of ours. Her fingers tighten in mine. “Jack is right. I don’t like it, but everyone knowing will at least stop them from coming for that. If the rumors come from a legitimate source, they might be enough.”
“Like one of us?” I ask.
Her brown eyes lift to mine. “Like me.”