Chapter 36 – Ryan
After football practice ended, Ryan headed to the locker room to shower and change. Today was grueling. Coach Yancy didn’t seem inclined to return Ryan to the kicker’s position and instead pitted him against CJ to vie to become starting quarterback.
Ryan was so fucking over it, battling with CJ for everything.
Probably if it hadn’t happened all their fucking lives, he wouldn’t give a fuck.
He’d just chalk it up to Coach wanting the best player in the position.
CJ relished that shit. He was a Caldwell boy and all those motherfuckers, from Diesel to motherfucking Gunner (probably) thrived on competition and chaos. They also expected to win.
Fuckheads.
Except…
Ryan liked CJ now. That hadn’t changed, despite everything. His mother loved him. Dad…Devon…
Rebel considered him a part of the family.
He didn’t want to go back to that dark place where he hated everything and everyone.
Especially CJ. He didn’t want to become a football star.
He could walk away from the team and preserve his fucking peace.
He was slightly competitive, too, so Coach’s idea wouldn’t end well.
Once Ryan cleaned up, he grabbed his backpack and his duffel bag and left the locker room. His hair was still wet, but the warm air would dry it. He was going to Turn Creek Bridge to think and make sure he wouldn’t regret his decision.
He’d been on the squad for as long as CJ and would miss it. It didn’t seem fair that he had to leave…
No, he wasn’t going there. No one forced his decision. Least of all CJ. Ryan came to it on his own. He was almost certain CJ preferred battling it out.
The athletic center was deserted. Good. Ryan didn’t feel like talking. He went to one of the doors that led to a walkway, surprised to find Rory leaning against the building.
When he saw Ryan, his expression dropped.
Ryan scowled. “Well, fuck you, too.”
“I thought you were CJ.”
Lying asshole. Ryan and CJ looked nothing alike. “If he’s in there, he isn’t in the locker room, cuck.”
“The coach wanted to show him footage.”
Of course he did. Before Ryan voiced his annoyance, he saw Axel skipping toward them. Unease slid into Ryan and the fear on Rory’s face would’ve been comical if he didn’t completely understand.
“CJ’s inside,” Rory blurted in a high-pitched tone that made him look like a pathetic bitch.
Axel’s surprise quickly fell away. “Did I fucking ask you?”
Rory shook his head, hard enough to rattle his stupid brain.
“You look like a fucking idiot doing that,” Axel complained. “Stop it and get some fucking help. I’m sure there are pills for lil livered traitor motherfuckers.”
“Lily,” Rory squeaked. “It’s lily livered.”
At Axel’s growl, Rory held up his hands. Axel was still small for his age, though he seemed to have had a recent growth spurt. However, Rory was taller and heavier than that little psycho and, yet, he was about to piss himself.
The opening door shut down conversation when Jaleena and Skye walked out.
“I know you,” Skye said, pointing to Axel. “You’re CJ’s little brother. Axel.”
The kid grinned. “My friends call me Sweet Pea. So do beautiful girls.” He waved at Jaleena. “Are you coming back over soon?”
That little shit-stirrer had to know CJ didn’t intend to invite Jaleena over.
“That’s up to your brother,” she said with a nonchalant shrug. “Maybe you can put in the good word for me, Sweet Pea?”
“Don’t sweat CJ, Jaleena,” Ryan advised. “That’ll just run him away.”
“Hey, Ryan,” she responded, gazing at him through her lashes.
He wasn’t fond of short hair, but she was as pretty as Skye and just as tall.
Axel stomping Ryan’s foot broke the moment and made him howl, then hop around like a fucking jackass.
“Stop being an isurper. No, I’m the isurper. You’re the usurper.”
“There’s no such thing as an isurper, little man,” Skye said, tossing her honey-blonde hair, one of those prissy girls who liked dainty things and flowery words. Jaleena could afford that attitude. Skye could not. “It’s usurper.”
“Whatever it is, that’s what Ryan is,” Axel declared, glaring. He wagged a finger at Skye. “And I won’t always be a little man,” he said with disapproval. “One day, I’ll be taller than my dad. Mom said so.”
Rory rolled his eyes. “So of course you think it’ll happen if Aunt Meggie said it.”
“Yeah, fuck face, I do. Mom’s got more sense than that rancid rabbit you got for a dad.”
A rancid rabbit? Ryan would have to use that one.
“That’s my dad!”
Axel pointed to his crotch. “And that’s my cock. I know I got one like you know Uncle Fuck Face is your dad. You don’t got to keep saying that same tired fucking line. Say it one more time around me and I’m punching you in your fucking mouth.”
“That’s called assault,” Skye told him. “You’ll go to Juvie.”
“What’s that?”
“Some place a Caldwell boy will never see,” Ryan said with a grunt. “Not with Uncle Christopher’s connections.”
“It’s juvenile detention,” Rory said, smiling. “Kid jail. And Skye’s right. If you punch me and I call the cops…”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” CJ growled, walking outside and looking between Jaleena and Skye.
“CJ!” they chorused, like two fucking puppets.
He started to turn but Coach Yancy forced him back.
“Taylor, I need you to report to practice every day, including Saturdays. We want to win next season, but especially homecoming. Can you do that?”
“About that, sir—”
“CJ wants to be second- or third-string, Ryan,” Coach Yancy said, shocking Ryan into silence. “He said he isn’t at school enough for the starting position and expects you to have it.” His laugh was diabolical. “As long as you earn it.” He turned toward the door.
Panic crossed CJ’s face because Skye and Jaleena crowded him in. “Uh, Coach, I forgot—”
“Tonight’s date night with the wife, CJ,” Yancy said and smiled again. “Enjoy the attention.” He disappeared back into the building.
CJ’s actions left Ryan speechless, guilty, and relieved. Football meant so much to him. He winced at the belated realization.
“If you aren’t nicer to us, we’re giving Ryan and Rory our phone numbers,” Skye declared.
“Please fucking do,” CJ growled, trying to squeeze between her and Jaleena, but unable to because they closed ranks.
“CJ?” Ryan called, not sure what to say. “Why—?”
“It’s only fair, Ryan.” CJ freed himself from the girls by backing closer to Ryan.
“I still love the game, but you’re here so much more than me.
You deserve the top spot. I did everything I could to talk Coach into just giving it to you, but he said that’ll be too easy.
He’s making you compete against Marksum’s son. ”
“Fuck, are you shitting me?” Ryan said on a groan.
“I’m dead ass,” CJ promised, his eyes twinkling. “Sorry, dude. That’s the fucking breaks.”
“You’re enjoying my pain, cuck,” Ryan said, laughing.
“I sure the fuck am,” CJ gloated. “Davy Marksum is a beast.”
“Fuck me.”
“My men and me can break his legs,” Axel offered.
“No!” CJ and Ryan chorused.
“Jesus, you little fucking maniac,” CJ said. “That is the worst fucking idea ever.”
“We were just telling him about Juvie,” Skye said. “It’s how I get Cosmos in line all the time.”
“He sounds as stupid as his name,” Axel grumped.
“Why were you talking about juvenile detention to my little brother?” CJ asked, his brow snapping together.
“Yeah, Rory,” Axel piped in. “Why?”
The moment CJ rounded on Rory, he raised his hands again. “It isn’t what you think.”
“You’re that fuckhead’s son,” CJ responded. “I’ll bet it’s exactly what the fuck I think. Axel must’ve threatened you and you told him you’d call the fucking cops, you miserable motherfucker.”
Rory laughed nervously. “I-I was joking.”
“Joke, motherfucker, but know this.” CJ grabbed Rory’s shirt and snatched him closer. “If you ever make that fucking mistake, I will fucking beat you until you’re immobile then hand your broken and bloodied body over to Diesel. I’m not as versed in torture as him.”
Oh really? He was doing a pretty good fucking job.
Rory paled.
“Am I fucking clear?”
“I’m sorry, CJ,” Rory said in a trembling tone. “For everything. I miss—”
CJ shoved him away.
“Mattie said Axel’s having a party Saturday night,” Rory cried. “If you don’t want me there, I won’t come.”
“You just threatened a man, knowing your bitch ass wanted to go to his party?”
Ryan couldn’t blame how appalled Axel sounded. That was fucked up.
“I was joking!” Rory cried.
“Whatever, motherfucker,” Axel told him. “Whatever. If I let you come, you better bring me the bestest present ever. Otherwise, I’m telling Diesel to pick you up and slam you on the ass fault outside the club.”
Uh, asphalt?
“I-I can come?” Rory asked in surprise.
“Are you desperate or fucking stupid?” CJ asked. “Axel wasn’t joking and Diesel will happily comply.”
Ryan could attest to that. He still heard Bernie’s screams and smelled his burning body. As far as Ryan knew, Diesel hadn’t exacted his revenge against Rory for his role in Rebel’s shame. “You might want to sit this one out, Rory. You don’t even know what Axel considers the best present.”
“He can tell me.” Rory turned hopeful eyes on Axel. “Can’t you?”
“Nope,” Axel declared cheerfully. “That would give you a vantage.”
“Advantage,” CJ told him, and sighed. “But Ryan’s right. You can give him some options that includes your least favorite and whatever you consider best.”
Axel gave CJ a disapproving look. “And here I had hope for you, but you’re still too nice.
Why give enemies any help? They can get the high hand and make you like stupid or even beat you.
Take Ryan. You let him get to go to war for quarterback.
You need to stop thinking about everybody and think about yourfuckingself.
If he didn’t like it, that was on him. Now look at the situation?
He probably won’t get to be quarterback.
You’re better than Davy and Ryan, but you haven’t been playing a lot so you and Ryan...
” He shrugged. “Davy and Ryan’re matched side by side—”
“Evenly,” CJ said.
Axel gave CJ the finger, and the girls giggled.