Chapter 5
Moving the Pawns
Caden
“You didn’t have to come with.” Jack takes the coffee I hand him before I pull out of the coffee shop’s parking lot.
“We don’t know what he wants with you.” Maybe I’m being overprotective, but I just get this feeling about Coach Turner. And it’s not a warm fuzzy one.
“We talked. He knows I’m with Harper and that I’m not looking for a hookup with the equivalent to a teacher at school. He doesn’t want to risk his job.” Jack shrugs like it isn’t a big deal, but I remember how he was after his hookup with Darius Turner.
It wasn’t just a hookup. Maybe it only had the potential for more, but that still exists. And maybe Turner isn’t looking for more from Jack, but he wants him under his thumb. I need to know why.
“Good. Because if he tries anything, I’ll make sure they fire his ass.” I take a drink of coffee. It’s way too early to be awake, especially after fucking Harper until the crack of dawn.
I hope she’s resting, because I’m going to need her again. There’s this tight coil of tension inside me. Too much shit is going on around us.
Harper needs our protection from whoever is playing us and I need her to relieve this tension, to work out the aggression that pulses through me without a fucking target to take it out on. Well, besides Ethan Parker, but we want to make an example of him.
Luke will want to do something dramatic instead of me just kicking his ass. I’m still going to kick Ethan’s ass, but after Luke’s little drama plays out.
“He’s a good guy, Caden.” Jack gives me a serious look, talking about Coach again. “He’s not going to fuck up his job over a one-time thing. And I don’t want to fuck up his career. It was an honest mistake.”
I make a non-committal noise. I don’t believe in mistakes. Do I believe Coach Turner didn’t know Jack was a student? Yes, that tracks, but as soon as he realized, he should have cut off all communication. Not send him hookup texts during a school weekend.
Jack drinks his coffee. He can tell I’m not convinced, but he won’t press it. He knows how I feel about this.
When we arrive, we get out and walk to the field. Kids stand around shooting the shit and a few push each other around. One kid seems to be getting the brunt of the abuse and his face gets redder even as he takes it.
I’m all for beating down someone who deserves it and not interfering if I don’t know what the beef is. But that kid is about to blow.
“Line up.” Coach Turner comes over and the boys fall into a line. He glances at Jack and then his dark eyes narrow on me.
I raise an eyebrow, daring him to say anything about me being here.
“Jack. Caden. Good to have you here.” He glances behind us as if expecting the rest of the guys to show up. Not unreasonable, except they’re probably passed out from fucking Harper all night.
He claps his hands and the boys all straighten. They respect him. That’s good. I’m not denying he’s a good coach. I just don’t want him fucking with Jack or trying to keep him on the hook.
He gives the kids the standard pre-practice talk he usually gives us.
“Around the track. Ten minutes. Get moving.” He blows his whistle. The kids grumble as they take off around the track.
Turner moves over to us. “We’ll run some drills and then do a short scrimmage. Basically, we just need to run these boys out of energy.”
Drinking the last of my coffee, I nod.
“I’m glad you decided to volunteer, Caden. I didn’t figure anyone wanted to give up their Saturday mornings.” Turner glances at Jack.
“Didn’t want Jack to have to go on his own.” I arch an eyebrow. Turner is shorter than me, but still well-built. He keeps in shape and usually runs drills with us during practice. If I didn’t know the history between him and Jack, I’d consider him a good guy worthy of my respect.
“This is an every Saturday thing.” Turner watches the boys as they make their way around the track. “They need consistency. I hope you’ll both keep coming. Seeing guys like you will give them someone to look up to.”
I snort. “I’m not a great role model.”
Turner shakes his head. “Maybe not, but you’re better than nothing.”
“The others might be able to come from time to time, but it’s a big commitment.” Jack steps back and watches as the kids race by. A couple of them are bound and determined to be first while a few lag back and chat as they run by.
“Pick up the pace, White and Bradbury,” Turner yells. He turns to Jack. “You want to lead them through warmups while Caden and I set up the field for drills?”
Jack nods and we bump fists as he heads to one end of the field. I walk with Turner to the equipment piled on the grass near a bench.
Turner hands me a stack of cones. “We need two runs.”
I take them and head toward the field.
“Caden.”
When I turn back to Coach Turner, he runs a hand over his hair.
His dark eyes meet mine. “I’m not trying to insert myself anywhere.
I just really needed help with the kids.
A program like this could have helped some of the kids I grew up with.
It’s important to me. When Jack needed a favor, I saw an opportunity. ”
I glance to where the kids have gathered around Jack. He’s explaining some of the warm-ups and telling the kids to spread out.
“He’s like a brother to me.” I return my gaze to Turner’s. “I won’t let anyone take advantage of him and he’d do the same for me. We’ll help you out and you’ll help us.”
“Are you guys going to tell me what’s really going on with Harper?” He raises an eyebrow. “It’s not just pranks getting out of hand.”
“I respect you as my coach, but we don’t trust a lot of adults for good reasons.” I narrow my eyes. “You’re not our friend, but we’ll help you out.”
His lips tighten, but he nods as understanding lights his eyes. “Fair enough.”
Harper
The server, who thankfully isn’t Rebecca, sets a cup of steaming hot coffee in front of me. I wrap my hands around the warm cup and smile at her before she leaves. Luke sits on one side of me while Eli sits on the other. Nico’s mother called before we were leaving and asked him to come home.
He tried to get out of it, but his mom is having a rough time transitioning and he wants to be there for her. I get it. I feel bad about not spending as much time with my mom as I used to. It’s hard to balance this relationship and the ones I had before.
But I texted Mom this morning to let her know where I’d be.
Eli rests his arm behind my shoulders on the booth. We’re all squished on one side, waiting for Penny and Natalie to join us.
I don’t mind being in an Eli and Luke sandwich. My cheeks flush, remembering earlier and how much I really didn’t mind at all.
Taking a sip of my coffee, I get my head in the game. The girls were on a mission yesterday and that didn’t end with their participation in trying to uncover the mole. There was the party we didn’t attend.
Luke rubs my jean-clad thigh under the table.
“We need to figure out how to keep you safe when you aren’t with us.” His voice is low and deep in my ear, sending a shiver through me.
“You guys have practice every day after school and no one tries to get me then.” I sip my coffee, hoping the caffeine kicks in quickly. Last night, I went from one guy to the next, over and over until I ache just thinking about how much I came. How it felt to be a part of them.
“They probably figure your mother is home then.” Eli brushes his fingertips over my bare shoulder, lighting a fire under his touch.
The shirt I grabbed to wear is off the shoulder. The closet at Caden’s is amazing and almost like having my own store. And the underwear is so much nicer than anything I’ve bought for myself.
With my hair up into a high ponytail, I know both of my guys’ fingers must be itching to grab it. In fact, I’m counting on it. A little rush of desire drifts through me. There’s a twinge of soreness too.
Eli is right though. Mom is home after school because she’s working nights right now. She sent me her new schedule with a frowny face emoji. Next week is nights too.
The guys like it because they don’t have to sneak in to see me, but it might be nice to have a night to myself with them just on webcam again. Not that Luke wouldn’t find a way to creep in on me from the guest bedroom. My insides soften.
His fingers tighten on my thigh and alert me to pay attention.
I lift my gaze to the door as Penny and Natalie walk in. They both look super cute today with short skirts and tight tops. Guys’ heads turn to watch them walk our way. But not my guys’ heads.
Penny and Nat slide into the booth across from us. Penny smiles sadly and reaches out her hand for mine.
“How are you, Harper?” She tips her head and wiggles her fingers when I don’t immediately take her hand. She really seems like the genuine article, but the timing of her starting to talk to me still makes me wary.
I take her hand and she squeezes mine. “I’m fine.”
Nothing happened to me. Well, except my guys hunting me down last night, but that was a very good time.
“Good.” She draws her hand back and her brown eyes nervously flick to Luke for a minute before she focuses on Eli. “I take it you caught the show last night?”
Eli nods. We reviewed the footage again this morning.
“Tanner’s a dick.” Penny shakes her head. “It didn’t even make sense. He showed up and sat with us and started telling us his sob story.”
Her brown eyes find mine. “He tried to sell us on his sister being used, but he forgot Mia and I used to be friends. She told everyone who would listen how she got Caden and Jack to rail her at the same time.”
I pull my hand back to rub at the little ache in my chest. It’s the past, but I don’t have to like how many girls have been with my guys. Or hear about them. Though we probably need to look into those girls to make sure none of them are out to get me.
Luke’s hand tightens on my thigh and Eli’s fingers brush my bare skin, like they know I need a little something more right now.
“What happened when Cassidy came out?” Eli asks.
Penny grins. “She called him an asshole and slapped him so hard his cheek turned red. He walked out of there with her handprint on his face. It was awesome!”
“Zach and Sidney weren’t as exciting.” Nat picks up a napkin and folds it in half. “We thought they might come over to talk to us, but they never did.”
“The party?” Luke is pressed against my whole side.
Sidney’s house party. They were supposed to figure out who was working with whom if possible.
Nat leans forward, but before she can say anything, the server stops by and gets their orders. When she walks away, Nat’s brown eyes light up.
“I used the code you gave me. You were right. She hasn’t changed it.” Nat smiles. “The camera is planted and the backup too.”
“Good.” Eli pinches my skin slightly and a little rush of sparks tingles through me. “Anything odd happen at the party?”
Penny shakes her head. “Zach and Sidney spent most of the night on the couch making out. Ashley, Hannah, and Emma each had guys they seemed to be hooking up with from the basketball team.”
“Did Tanner show?” Eli smooths his fingers over the sting, making my lips part.
“No.” Nat leans back and glances around the room. “Grant Perkins didn’t make an appearance either. Most of the football team were there.”
Luke nods. “Anything odd?”
“Not really.” Penny tucks her blond hair behind her ear. “We sat with the cheerleaders for a little while. We planted what you wanted us to about Harper.”
I sit up straighter, but no one fills in the blanks as Penny keeps on. The guys have a plan that I’m not privy to, but is that for my own good?
“They don’t think we have enough in with Harper to really help them.” Penny gives me a little smile.
“We need you guys to hang out more visibly this week.” Eli takes a drink of his coffee before continuing, “While we’re at football practice, we want you out with Harper for real. Either at the coffee shop or Crusty’s or the library. We need you guys to seem like better friends.”
Penny nods and Nat glances at me with a small smile. This part of the plan I’m not sure about. What if the reason all the places were compromised is because of these girls and not the football guys?
The temptation to curl up with my guys and just forget the rest of the world exists is so fucking appealing.
“We hated missing the game on Friday.” Penny turns her attention to Luke and doesn’t glance away. “From what we heard, you played really well.”
Luke glances at me but doesn’t really acknowledge what Penny said.
“If she gets hurt,” Eli’s hand closes over my shoulder, “while on your watch, you’ll pay for it.”
Penny smiles. “She won’t. We’ll make sure.”
“She’s ours.” Luke’s words and his possessiveness make me feel like this could go all year and beyond. But there’s still a part of me that worries I’m not enough to hold their attention for the long term. Not all of them at least.
I lean my head against Luke’s shoulder as the server places our orders in front of us. He kisses my hair and I release my breath. Maybe not all of them. But fuck if I don’t want to try.