Chapter 57
The Maneuvers
Harper
Jack stands with me and Kenz behind the school in the teachers’ parking lot. I’m nervous because even though I’ve seen Coach Turner before, I didn’t know he and Jack had a thing. It’s bringing up complicated feelings about his sexuality.
That feeling of not being enough for him.
Jack and I are good though. I believe him when he says I’m enough. That he doesn’t want more, but I’m not sure I’m giving him everything he needs. Tomorrow we’ll have alone time, and we can figure out what we need from each other. Jack will be honest with me.
“So how exactly do you dig up dirt on people?” Kenz raises an eyebrow at Jack.
He smirks. “I don’t give out my secrets.”
A disgruntled noise comes out of her, and I smile, looking off into the distance.
“I’m a good friend, and that’s all you’ll find.
” Kenz wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“Just because I was the only one to notice Harper’s awesomeness doesn’t mean I’m some sort of.
.. plant? I mean, who would even do that?
We’ve been friends for over six years. Man, I must be planning the long con. ”
She rolls her eyes, and I snicker. It is a little ludicrous to believe my friend of so long could be working to take me down.
“Girls change.” Jack rocks back on his heels, staring out at the parking lot. “Six years is a long time. Harper could have done any number of things to piss you off. Maybe someone you liked liked her more. Maybe you’re jealous of all the sudden attention your friend is getting.”
Jack turns and looks her up and down. “Maybe you’re jealous of the dick she’s getting.”
Kenz laughs. “Yeah, that must be it. I want to have a dick offered to me at every turn. I’m not sure how my girl handles five of you. And all of you pompous, arrogant assholes to boot. Brandon is enough for me. You all are not my cup of tea.”
Jack nods, but he seems a little distant. I’m glad he included Kenz or I would have had to ride with Coach alone, which would have been even more awkward. When I take Jack’s hand, he looks down at our hands and then smiles at me.
A little burst of warmth spreads through my chest. A lot of what we have is chemistry, but there’s hints of caring in there. Jack has shown that he cares for me.
He draws me out from under Kenz’s arm.
“Hey,” she says.
He pulls me into his arms and hugs me. “You worried, sweetheart?”
“Not really.” I rest my head against his chest. His strong heart beats beneath my ear. His crisp apple scent surrounds me. Tonight I get to sleep with all of them. It seems so long since I’ve slept with Jack.
A throat clears and I open my eyes to Coach Turner’s dark brown eyes. His brow is furrowed as he looks at me in Jack’s arms. I step back and look down at the ground. This is the kind of guy Jack is attracted to?
He’s tall, built, and handsome. Honestly, he’s really good looking. I just never paid attention before.
Jack tips my chin up, and his smile is all for me. “Coach Turner, this is Harper and MacKenzie.”
I turn and Coach Turner nods.
“You two are riding with me. I’ll explain what we’ll expect from you during the game on the way. It’s about a twenty-minute drive this time.” His gaze remains steady on Jack. There’s longing there, but also sadness. If they’d met later in life, would they have been happy together?
“Sounds good.” Kenz raises an eyebrow at me.
“Okay.”
Jack brushes his lips over mine. “See you at the game.”
My body is a mixture of tingles and embarrassment as I turn to the coach. He nods to Jack before Jack heads toward the bus with the others, leaving me and Kenz alone with Coach Turner.
“My car’s this way.” He jerks his head as he picks up the equipment bag I hadn’t noticed before.
“Thank you for giving us a ride.” Kenz glances my way, but I don’t know what to say to this man. He’s had a much different relationship with Jack than I currently have. Jack didn’t have to share him with others. Was there potential for more there? Did Coach Turner hope for more?
Or were they a flash in the pan?
I could ask Jack. He might even tell me, but do I really want to know? Especially if I’m planning a future with all the guys?
I mean, it could all fall apart pretty quickly.
In college, we’ll meet new people. Have new experiences.
What if they decide I’m not really the girl for them?
What if I follow them to college and end up on the outs with all of them and having to watch them walk around campus with someone new? Or five someone news?
“Why don’t you ride in front?” Kenz bumps into me as we approach the car.
Swallowing, I look at the man who, in my mind, Jack could have loved. Can Jack love me?
The coach watches me as he loads his bag in the trunk and unlocks the doors. The car smells like lemons and leather as we all get in.
“This is unconventional.” He turns the ignition. He glances at me and then he turns to Kenz. “We’re not going to talk about this at school, right?”
“Nope.” Kenz shakes her head, and he turns to me.
“No. And thank you for doing this.” I grip my hands in my lap. “My mom is working, and the last time the guys had an away game, someone pranked my house.”
He pulls out to follow after the yellow bus with the players. It’s getting dark earlier now, so I can’t see who’s sitting in the back seats, but I imagine it’s my guys.
“Jack said that some guys are taking pranks too far.” He keeps his eyes on the road. “Guys can be dicks in high school.”
“You’re not wrong.” I’m not sure what all Jack has told him. We’ve been keeping the locker room story amongst us for the time being.
“They grow out of it eventually.” Coach Turner’s lips curl into a smile. Yeah, I can see why Jack fell for this guy.
I glance over my shoulder to see Kenz typing on her phone. “Jack said you guys met over the summer.”
He glances at me with almost a look of panic.
“He didn’t say much, but I know he respects you.” I blow out a breath. “I don’t know a lot of adults who get their respect.”
“I barely qualify as an adult.” He scoffs. “A few years out of college and I’m supposed to be in charge of people close to my age. It’s kind of a joke.”
I nod. “There’s a lot of growing up that happens between high school and graduating college.”
That’s what I worry about. If we all change, how do we stay together? Maybe I should just worry about the here and now and not the future.
“People grow up. The whole world could change.” He nods thoughtfully and turns on the radio.
I want to ask him about Jack and who Jack was when they were alone. But it doesn’t matter. Not in the long run. They can’t have a relationship right now, but Jack and I can. Jack chose to be with me.
Straightening my jeans, I watch out the window as we leave the neighborhoods I grew up in and head to a different part of town. The high schools we play range in distance from us, with the farthest being an hour away.
“Hey.” Kenz grabs my shoulders from the back.
I turn to face her.
“Are you guys going to Sidney’s party tonight?”
I shake my head, and she frowns.
“Damn, I was hoping we could hang out again. Last time was fun.”
“It was, but it’ll be nice just to hang out with the guys.” I blow out a breath. I could use a break from the Cheermonsters and Zach. Seeing them at lunch every day is enough.
Kenz chuckles. “Sure, hang out.”
My eyes widen as I glance to see if Coach Turner heard that. I give Kenz a chastising look, but she smiles.
She leans into my ear and says quietly, “Maybe he already knows. It’s not like students don’t talk about stuff like that. Especially the guys in the locker rooms.”
Swallowing, I look down at my hands. It didn’t help that I went and announced it at the last party.
I’ve noticed the looks I got this week at school.
I definitely didn’t miss the girls looking at me like I’m some kind of whore.
When everyone knows they’re just jealous they aren’t the ones with the horsemen.
Otherwise, they’d look at me with sympathy. Five guys are a lot for any girl. Especially a virgin. The break for my period, what little they gave me, was nice and probably necessary.
Unfortunately, they’ve also made me crave what they offer. I can’t wait to find out what Eli has in store for me tonight.
“When’s our next girl’s night?” Kenz squeezes my shoulders and glances at Coach Turner. “We need to discuss girly things.”
I rub my hand on my jeans. I desperately want time to hang out with Kenz, but I don’t want to give up a single second of the weekend with my guys.
“Maybe after school?”
Kenz laughs. “Girl, they’ve got you hooked. Yeah, after school works for me too.”
She sits back and does whatever on her phone again.
West Jersey High School is huge, and obviously they have a well-funded football program. The stadium has locker rooms built in so we don’t have to go over to the school. I’m glad Kenz is with me, or I’d feel so lost sitting outside the locker room and waiting for the guys to come out.
“That wasn’t so bad.” Kenz takes my hand as we sit against the wall with our knees bent. “I was afraid he’d want to talk the whole time and get to know us.”
I chuckle. Somehow I don’t think that would be the kind of guy Jack would go for, but Kenz doesn’t know about Jack and Coach Turner. It’s not my secret to tell. The coach did go over a little of what they’ll need for us to do on the field.
I got statistics duty. I get a clipboard and have to fill in numbers, while Kenz was chosen as the runner.
Probably so I don’t dry hump Luke on the field.
My cheeks flush with heat, because I just might.
I don’t usually go for the athletic type.
.. mostly because I haven’t really gone after anyone.
But the way they look when they come off the field.
All pumped up and vibrating with energy. ..
Hot and sweaty. Fuck, they look delectable. I squeeze my thighs together.
“You know you can talk to me still, right?” Kenz’s voice is low.