Chapter 24 #2
She would respect me more when she learned that I was keeping her out of it to protect her. I also believed it, which was either reassuring or the problem. Or that’s what I told myself.
But when she got to the door of the gym, she turned back to look at the car and flipped the finger, I couldn’t help but smile.
She was so different from the girl she played on the field. She was fiery, flirty, and fun — the three f’s.
I started the car and headed back to campus.
My phone pinged, and I glanced at the screen. Had she texted me?
No.
I’d forgotten to reply to an earlier message.
I pulled over.
Me: Sorry, got held up with something
Unknown: You reached out to me asshole
I laughed. Abrasive males seemed to be the go-to for today.
Me: I’d prefer to meet
Unknown: Not interested
Me: You will be
I waited.
Five minutes later.
Unknown: See you at 9
I glanced at the time. Bastard. I’d be cutting it close. There was no way I could go home and change.
I signaled, did a three-point turn, and headed north. Hopefully, I’d make good time and be able to stop and eat something. I was fucking starving.
I stopped at the diner that was now becoming a regular spot.
I ordered a somewhat healthy meal, and in the bathroom, I did my best to have a stand-up wash. No one was more conscious than I was that I stank! I’d been in the car with me for an hour.
Feeling a bit better, I changed into a worn but not sweated-through T-shirt and ran my fingers through my hair. It was a mess, but it would do.
After my dinner, I got in the car and made the rest of the drive in silence.
I had answered Dustin’s text to remind me to fill the tank; I’d have done that anyway. I wasn’t a complete dick.
When I parked outside the house, I checked my eye. It was the same side that I’d been hit by Benoit earlier in the week, which meant I didn’t have two black eyes. Thank God.
With a sigh, I got out and headed up the stairs.
He was waiting like last time.
“You look like shit,” Gray told me.
“Feel like it too.”
He looked me over, raised his eyebrows, and headed inside.
“Is it just you?” I asked him carefully.
A derisive snort while he walked up the stairs was the only answer he gave me. I followed him into a bedroom on the top floor. Where his twin and cousin were already waiting.
“So no, then?” I mocked walking into the room, not surprised when he closed it behind us.
“Who gave you the shiner?” Ash asked, lounging on a small couch.
“Was sparring at the gym, I’d say he looks worse, don’t think he does.”
I took the empty seat at the desk. No one said I couldn’t. I didn’t know whose room I was in, which was interesting because the brothers had very different personalities, and the fact they didn’t show that in their living space was possibly more telling than they thought.
“Heard you got benched,” Jett said coolly.
“Fuck, bad news really does travel fast.”
“Social media,” Gray grumbled.
“Not a fan?” I guessed.
“If I want a toxic environment, I play the Lions in an away game.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. He was just so fucking brutal.
“Enough bonding.” Jett sat on the edge of a bed. “Why are you here?”
“Watched film this week,” I started. “One of our home games against you. Woods was a great defensive lineman.”
“Yeah.”
“He declared for the Draft.”
“You drove three hours to tell us shit we already know?” Jett asked, his eyebrow raised.
“You’re going to need a tighter defense if you want that trophy next year.” I held Jett’s eye. “You already know I’m good.”
“You’re a linebacker.”
“And?”
“Jamie was a defensive end.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And?”
Jett’s lips twitched.
“You do know we don’t recruit the team,” Ash spoke from the couch.
“I do. I also know you have influence. I’m not saying your coach is a pushover, but you are the three best on his team. His offense is fine; his defense will need work. It won’t with me on it.”
“You’re ready to quit the Blues already?” Gray looked at his brother and cousin. “Does this involve the shit with Sterling that you were here for before?”
I considered lying, but I met his hard gaze and went with honesty instead.
“Yeah. I transferred to a D1 school, one that had a good reputation, a strong team, and a spot that needed filling. I filled the spot. But the coach is a bent fucker, there’s shit happening I’m not on board with, and I want out.
I didn’t declare, but I knew I had better draft value with two years of tape at a D1.
I still need two years, but I don’t want to fuck my chances of a good draft by staying there. ”
“Shit going down?” Jett asked, leaning back slightly.
“It will be.” I didn’t elaborate.
“Spence know that you’re here?” he asked.
“No.”
“Dust?” Ash asked.
“No.”
“You’ve gone rogue,” Gray asked, and I think he was pleased by it.
“They have their own reasons for being there, they don’t like it any more than I do. But I want to move.”
“You’re a flight risk.” Jett’s voice was cold. “You already dumped one team, now you’re dumping another. I don’t trust flighty, and I don’t trust people who aren’t loyal.”
I held his dismissive stare. “You trust looking after number one, though, right?” I asked just as coldly. “Your opposition is in danger of imploding. If you were me, you’d move too. It has nothing to do with loyalty.”
Jett sniffed. He didn’t look convinced. Ash was watching me, and I looked at Gray. He leaned against the door, his eyes hooded as he watched me too.
“You’ve got a temper,” Gray said. “Everyone says you’re a decent guy, you keep to yourself. But on the field, you’re a savage.” He tilted his head. “I’ve seen it. You’ve hit me with it. But,” he pointed to my eye, “you’re not a decent guy, are you, Matthews?”
No. “I like to think I am.”
He grinned, and I’m sure it unnerved many, but it didn’t me. “Nah. You’ve got a temper, I see it. They see it.” He didn’t break eye contact. “You’re not happy there. I think we know why. I wouldn’t be either.”