Chapter 32
VINNY
Even though Becks told us earlier that Sage wants to be left alone, I head for football practice with the intention of getting some time with her.
The cheerleaders usually practice on the edge of the field while we have football practice, so I don’t bother going into the gym to look for her, knowing she’ll show up eventually.
Coach lets me lead, claiming he has games to study in his office, when really, he has a bottle of Jack waiting for him in there. It’s nothing new. He lets me run shit pretty much every day, and I can’t say I mind. We’re a small school, but we’re one of the best football teams in the state.
As the quarterback, it gives me more to do, though. Not only am I worrying about the offensive lineup, but I’m also leading defense. I’m captain, coach, defensive and offensive leader.
It’s exhausting, but the less time I have to be home, the better.
We split into offense and defense, then start running our drills. I throw the ball as soon as I have eyes on a receiver about halfway to the end zone, and watch it spiral through the air almost in slow motion.
It isn’t until he’s caught it, dodged two defensive linemen, and ran to the end zone for a touchdown that I notice the cheerleaders have joined us on the field.
Rachel’s the first to start yelling, then all the other girls follow, cheering and celebrating our touchdown, including Sage.
My lips pull into a smile as my eyes find her across the field, and part of me thinks she can see under my helmet, because she smiles right back, making my stomach flip.
It’s enough for now, so I run the team back, get into position, and start over again with practice, feeling Sage’s eyes on me the entire time.
I’m dripping sweat, and my dark hair is slicked back under a headband by the time the team’s huddling up to celebrate the end of practice. Everyone’s getting better and better, and it’s perfect timing for us to head for the playoffs.
I pull my shirt off to get some fresh air on my sweaty skin, removing my pads while I address the team, including our coach, who has rejoined us to listen.
“Alright, guys.” I wipe my balled-up shirt over my chest to dry off. “That was an amazing practice. We’re going to destroy Douglas on Saturday. Get to the showers, get some rest, and I’ll see you at the game!”
They all answer me the way they always do: “Yes, Captain.” Then we all clap hands and turn to head off the field.
The cheerleaders are still going, climbing into a pyramid that looks like a pile of limbs, and I step to the side to watch them, hoping maybe they’ll fall and I’ll have to run in to make Sage feel better.
“Five, six, seven, eight!” Rachel yells, clapping her hands from the very tip top of the pyramid, then the girls all move in unison, clapping or grabbing their ankles in some impossible stretch that makes me clench.
They all hold their positions for a few seconds, then Coach Steele claps. “Great job, girls! See you tomorrow.”
They carefully disassemble their human pyramid, and I catch Sage’s eye as she’s standing up from her spot at the very bottom. Walking toward her, I run my hand through my sweaty hair. “Hi.”
Her eyes snake down my bare torso, then back up. “Hi, yourself.”
“Wanna get some dinner?” I ask, stepping closer. “My treat.”
Shaking her head, she gives me a sad look. “Sorry, I have plans tonight.”
“Sage.” I take another step, not caring that there’s still a handful of girls within earshot. “C’mon, you can’t be serious about this whole being alone thing.”
She laughs. “Wow, Beckham works fast.”
I hum, looking down her bare legs and back up. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
Shaking her head, Sage sighs, and it feels loaded. “I just need time to get my mind back together. You guys have trauma-dumped so much information on me at once, and I want to feel a sense of normalcy again.”
“Alright.” Moving closer to her so she brushes against my sweaty chest, I lean in and whisper into her ear, “Just don’t forget who you belong to, Sage.”
She puts a hand on my chest for a breath, tapping her fingers silently, then she kisses me on the cheek before she strides away. I don’t bother grabbing her and pulling her back, even though I want to. I just watch as she crosses the field and heads through the back doors to the gym.
I take a minute to stand in silence, letting my mind fill with images of Sage—deep wonder and longing filling me like an empty glass, threatening to spill over.
Part of me knows why I’m so drawn to her.
She’s the missing piece we’ve needed—the one I’ve needed.
She feels like home, like the way Beckham feels whenever we’re together.
I can act tough and careless all I want, but at the end of the day…
I want her. I crave her. I need her. We all do. All three of us in different ways.
“Hey.” Rachel’s voice rips me from the memories of Sage, and I jump a little. I hadn’t even noticed anyone was still out here with me.
I find Rachel a few feet from me, her hands on her hips. Tipping my head in greeting, I slide my hands into the pockets of my shorts. “Rach.”
Walking to the bench where I left my water bottle, I bend over to pick it up and drink some of the liquid inside. When I turn back around, Rachel’s followed me. A smile is snaking across her face, and I want to smack it off.
“Shower?” she asks, brushing her hair over her shoulder. “I can wait for you.”
It’s a usual thing, hooking up with Rachel, but there’s no chance it’s going to happen anymore, not now that Sage is in my life—under my skin.
Shaking my head, I meet Rachel’s eye. “No, thanks.”
“What?” She spins around as I pass by her, tracking me with her gaze. I keep walking and hear her choke on a laugh. “Vinny, what the fuck?”
I stop, facing her again. “What?”
Rachel’s eyebrows pull down. “Um, since when aren’t you interested in showering with me after practice?”
For a moment, I chew on the side of my mouth, just blinking in thought, then I cross my arms over my chest and lick my lips before I speak. “Since you punched Sage in the face the other day.”
Huffing, her face goes a little pink, but she doesn’t let her insecurity shine through any other way. She just gives me a confused look. “I’m not supposed to defend what’s mine? She’s trying to take you.”
I take a small step toward her, careful not to get too close so I don’t wring her neck. “When have I ever given you the impression that I’m yours?”
“We’ve been hooking up for, like, a year,” she answers simply, chuckling.
“And?” I smirk, looking at her with a blank expression. “Do you know how many holes I’ve filled in the last year? Yours aren’t special.”
She falls silent, so I take another step, letting her feel my body heat. “And let me make one thing very clear, Rachel. If you even so much as look at Sage wrong again, you’ll find yourself in the cemetery for a whole different reason than gargling my cock. Do you understand?”
Blinking, her mouth falls open on a breath, but she doesn’t speak.
“I said”—I grab her jaw softly, angling her face so she’s looking right at me—“do you understand me?”
“All of this,” she whispers, voice shaky, “for some girl who just moved here? You’ll just end things with me that quickly? Why?”
“Because you mean nothing.” I let go of her jaw so I can take a step away from her. “And she means everything.”