two JACKSON
My phone buzzes on the desk and I notice it’s already after seven.
“Shit.”
I didn’t call Chess.
Chess: I’m being kidnapped.
I grab my phone tighter my eyes narrowing on the words.
Me: Your kidnappers are allowing you to send one last text?
Chess: The two small ones said I could, but I have to be quiet and not let the big one hear me
I grin. My sister.
Chess: The big one is mean.
Me: Did she tie you up?
Chess: Why? Will you come faster if I am?
Me: I always come faster when you’re tied up.
I chuckle. I can picture her rolling her eyes
Chess: (eye roll emoji)
I knew it.
Chess: Don’t get too cocky. They’re coming for you, too.
I raise a brow. And before I can process her words, I hear banging on the lockers and loud voices.
“GAGE! Get your ass out here!”
Me: Fuck. They found me.
Chess: We’re in for it. If I don’t make it back, I loved you first, Coach Gage
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face, and the wicked thoughts that race through my mind. She knows what she just did. I’ll remind her of it later.
Me: I’ll love you last. Have fun, Miss Casanova
Pocketing my phone, I stand from my desk as the guys bust through my office door, ripping down the string of tinsel that was taped around the outline of it. The grounds crew always decorates the locker room for Christmas and I’d hate to destroy their hard work.
“Hey! Easy on my decorations!”
“Get him!”
Laughing, I see Billy swinging handcuffs around his forefinger, sauntering towards me with a shit eating grin, and Bobby is holding up a bottle of whiskey.
I put my hands up. “I’ll go willingly! Just lose the cuffs!”
Billy gets close and grabs my wrist attempting to cuff me, but I dodge him. “No can-do coach Gage. We cannot risk you slipping away. Now, if you don’t struggle, we’ll let you walk out of here. You wouldn’t want your team to see you being dragged around now, would you?”
I raise a brow. “I hope the kids didn’t see you come in here with that stuff,” I point to the cuffs and liquor.
“Relax, Coach of the year. Your name is already engraved on the plaque, they won’t take it from you now.” Adam backs out of the room leaning against the door, holding it open as Billy starts pushing me to walk faster.
“Here comes the hot stepper!” Bobby starts rapping the old 90s song.
“Murddderaaa!”
“I’m the lyrical gangster!”
“Murderrraaaa!”
“Nanana da daa daa … still love you like that!”
Clearly, he can’t remember the words. Does anyone really know the words?
“Jesus, sounds like you guys started without me,” I’m shaking my head at their antics.
“They certainly did,” Adam says and groans as they start bickering.
“That’s not how the song goes, and that’s not what we practiced, you idiot!” Billy yells at Bobby.
“Come on, brother, don’t be the babysitter tonight. Join in on the fun,” I nudge Adam as they walk me through the door.
“Don’t worry, we’ve got an uber, I won’t leave you to drink alone with these fools.” He rolls his eyes and I laugh as Bobby breaks out in a new song.
“Roll out!”
Billy answers with, “We rollin’ on twenties with the top back!”
“You's a superstar boy, why you still up in the hood? What in the world is in that BAG, what you got in that BAG?” And that’s Bobby again, bending at the knees, with his hands over his eyes like he’s searching for something in the distance.
This guy is a lunatic, just as bad as my sister, two peas in a pod for sure!
Singing with some kind of weird accent trying to sound like Luda, he’s shaking a bag that’s making me a little nervous.
“Oh boy. We breaking out in rap. Looks like we’re all in for a long night.”
“You’ve no idea, Jackson. Things are about to get weird! Welcome to your bachelor party, brother!”