Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
DALLAS
I pull in front of The Tower and open my door. Right away, I make the choice not to go inside before checking on Haven because there are too many guys home, and I don’t feel like answering everyone’s questions about where I’ve been.
It’s sucked that Noah has had to live in the dorms this year, but in this situation, it’s kind of in my favor because I’d be dodging him like crazy if he lived here too.
With another bag of cold supplies I picked up in my arms, I head down the sidewalk.
Yesterday, she only ate a little soup and a few saltines.
Today, I got all the ingredients to make smoothies.
That way, at least she can get some protein too.
Like me, she’s a Division 1 athlete. What she puts into her body matters.
Sometimes, I wish it was my dick. But a smoothie will have to do.
Taking the steps two at a time, I stand in front of the door. The house is full of girls right now, and I’m sure there’s about to be a whole lot of speculation coming my way when I show up to take care of her—yet again. Even so, I knock on the door and wait for someone to open it.
It’s her teammate Gigi this time. And right when her Caribbean-blue eyes land on me, looking at the bag in my arm, she smiles.
“Hi,” she says shyly. “Here to see Haven?”
“Yep,” I confirm, nodding my head once.
She swings the door open the rest of the way, and I walk inside, pulling it shut behind me.
I’ve seen Gigi around. She always comes off as reserved and super intense when it comes to softball. Her father is one of the top sponsors for the program, and I’m pretty sure that if something doesn’t have to do with softball, training, or school, she wants no part in it.
“She’s up in her room. I think she showered and came down for some medicine, but other than that, no one has seen her.” She glances at the grocery bag. “Do you … want me to put that stuff away for you?” She pauses, her cheeks reddening a bit. “So that you can go and see her.”
I look from the bag to her. “Oh, that’s okay. I don’t want to be a pain.”
A timid smile tugs at her lips before she takes the bag from my arm.
“It’s all right. I don’t mind,” she says, nodding toward the hallway. “Go see her. I’m sure she’ll be happy you’re here.”
I frown, not knowing what the hell that means. Maybe Haven talks about me more than I think she does, but if that’s the case … what the hell does she say? Before I can question her, she takes off toward the kitchen. And slowly, I head toward Haven’s door.
I slowly push it open, cringing when it creaks ever so slightly because with the lights off and the curtains drawn, I dare to say she’s asleep. Whatever sickness she has, it’s taken a lot out of her. I hope by tomorrow she’s feeling back to herself because I’m sure she hates missing practice.
The light of the hallway illuminates part of the room, and before I close it, something sitting on her dresser catches my eye. It’s not pitch black, but when I close the door, it’s pretty dim. Still, I can make out what’s sitting there.
A huge bouquet of red roses …
I close the door behind me and look toward the bed. The covers are over her head, so I take this as a chance to investigate whatever the hell these flowers are. But when I step closer, reading the small card, I’m filled with anger.
Feel better soon, baby.
- T
P.S. - I can take care of you better than he ever will.
My heart pounds in my chest and my fists ball at my sides. I don’t know when he was here, but as fucked up as he is, I hope she doesn’t give him a second chance just because he dropped off flowers.
“Dallas?” Haven whispers, sitting up slowly in bed and rubbing her eyes. “You’re back.”
There’s no mistaking the smile on her face when she sees me, but when her eyes float to the bouquet, they widen.
“Did you … bring those to me?” she whispers, clearly surprised.
I could lie and tell her yes, but not only would that give her the wrong idea, but she also wouldn’t understand the level of fucked up I’m beginning to realize Tabor is.
I assumed she had already seen them, but when my eyes float around the room, noticing the open window and remembering I cracked it last night because her body was so hot … I feel sick.
“No,” I mutter. “But I’ll be right back.”
Without another word, I walk out of her room and toward the kitchen to find Gigi and whoever else is home, because I hope one of them brought the flowers into her bedroom. But something in my gut tells me that isn’t the case …
Something tells me that motherfucker … he came through the window when she was alone.
When I walk into the living room, Gigi and Harley are sitting on the couch, zoned out on whatever’s on the television, and Lilly is curled up in the chair with a blanket pulled up to her chin.
“Did any of you bring flowers to Haven’s room?” I bark the words rougher and louder than I intend, but I’m so fucking worked up that I can’t help it.
Lifting the remote to pause the show, Harley shakes her head slightly as she turns to look at me.
“No, why?” she says, her brows pinching together in confusion.
“Has anyone else been around the past few hours who could have?” I say, not answering her question. “Is anyone else home?”
“It’s just the three of us and Haven,” Gigi says softly. “The basketball girls left early this morning for some sort of an event in Maine, and I haven’t seen anyone else here since I got back from early practice.”
“Same,” Lilly adds.
Harley’s eyes are wide now, and she sits forward a bit on the couch.
“What’s going on, Dallas?” She swallows. “You’re freaking me out.”
“It’s nothing, you guys,” Haven says from behind me. “Dallas is just being extra.”
I whirl around to face her, my eyes wide and my fists balled up at my sides.
“Nothing? You call waking up to a bouquet of creepy flowers in your bedroom nothing?” I wave a hand at her roommates.
“I asked them. Not one of them brought anything into your room, and guess what? Your window was wide fucking open.”
Her eyes float behind me to her friends. Her coloring tells me she doesn’t feel good, but right now, we need to figure out what the fuck is going on inside her ex’s head. So, feeling like shit or not, she has to deal with this.
“A lot of girls live here, D. Some of them I don’t even know that well yet. Not everyone knows the situation between me and Tabor, I’m sure.”
At first, I stare at her in disbelief. But then, I throw my head back and drag my hand down my face. This is the thing with Haven. She doesn’t fucking see the bad in people. In her mind, this is all nothing.
It’s not nothing to me.
“Jesus Christ, Haven,” I all but roar. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
She pinches the bridge of her nose, no doubt trying to ease her headache, but I don’t give a flying fuck. She can’t be this naive.
“Why do you care so much?” She tries to holler it at me, but her weakened voice doesn’t allow it.
Her words hit me like a slap in the face, and I stare at her in disbelief.
“Because you’re my fucking family!” I’m yelling now.
“And so yes, after the shit Tabor said to me at the team dinner, before our game, and then trashing my fucking locker … you’re damn right now that he’s dropping off flowers—in your fucking bedroom while you slept—yeah, I care about all of that shit! ”
Her face pales suddenly, and she swings her gaze back to her friends, as if she’s figuring out some key information or something.
“He’s said stuff to you?” she questions, throwing a hand into her hair. “He … trashed your locker? What did my dad say?”
“I didn’t tell him because I figured eventually, I’d take care of it myself. Plus, I have no proof,” I admit. “But then you got sick, and I’ve been here.”
“Haven.” Harley’s voice is low, clearly shaken.
“I just … I think maybe—” She stops. “Between the way he acted at the coffee shop, him showing up here the other day, and now the flowers … it may be time to think about talking to someone about this. Someone who could protect you.” She inhales.
“The look in his eyes, Haven. It was just … terrifying.”
My blood runs ice cold. My heart fucking pounds as the veins in my neck bulge more with each passing second.
“What is she talking about, Short?” I growl at Haven, my chest heaving because this just keeps getting worse. “That fucking creep has been showing up here? And you didn’t say anything or tell anyone?”
“Who am I going to tell?” she yells, holding her hands up, “My dad? So that he loses his best defensive end? The cops, so that they can tell me he’s done nothing wrong?
” I shake my head. “What do you want me to do? He was upset I broke things off with him and then acted out, showed up here once, and sent flowers. That’s not exactly—”
“And grabbed your hand so hard that you couldn’t move,” Harley blurts out, clearly frustrated that her best friend is downplaying this. “Don’t pretend like that’s nothing, Haven.”
“He grabbed you?” I growl, my body shaking as my eyes burn into Haven’s. “Tell me. Now.”
When Haven stands there, frozen, and everyone else is quiet, I move onto Harley, hoping she’ll tell me everything, even though it’s so fucking hard to hear.
Her eyes widen as she looks at me, eyebrows shifting together like she feels bad that she said too much.
But eventually, she looks down and nods.