Chapter 45
The Good Offense
Jack
Fucking Zach Gray. We should have figured he’d pull this shit.
Harper looks petrified up there on stage.
It would have been easier if I got nominated to protect her, but with everything I need to get done, I could use some time off from being popular.
And the guys will be with them every step of the way.
“That usually you?” Nico leans in close and asks.
“Yeah. It sucks balls too, and not in the good way.” I shake my head as they all stand there as Coach talks about tonight’s game.
“See, that’s like social prison. Yeah, you get chicks you never noticed crawling out of the woodwork to be with you, but you also have to do the whole pomp and circumstance shit.
They’ll trot those poor bastards out every chance they get next week. ”
“So our girl has to be seen with Zach all week?” Nico’s gaze narrows on Zach.
“It’s better than the alternative.” I shake my head, knowing Harper is freaking the fuck out. Having to stand next to her would-be rapist and smile? That’s a nightmare. Fuck, I’d give anything to fix this for her, but we can work with it.
“This doesn’t seem like a good thing.” Nico looks at me like I’ve lost the plot, but honestly, I’m fucking exhausted. And knowing exactly where Zach will be and when is helpful.
“It means he won’t be creeping around behind the scenes.
He’s going to be on stage in front of everyone.
Which means I won’t have to track his every fucking move.
I might actually get some sleep.” This weekend, I’m finding some alone time with Harper for some naps between working on the files.
I don’t plan on spending the whole time sleeping, but I know I sleep better when she’s in my arms. It’s been a long fucking week.
“I haven’t found anything in the videos from Sidney’s room.” Nico runs a hand through his hair as the crowd of students applauds for something Coach said before he steps back to let a couple of cheerleaders speak.
“Is she even staying there?” I ask, because I know when Luke and her were hot and heavy, she’d spend the night.
“Yeah, but not often.”
Sidney sits next to Luke on the stage, looking pleased with herself. Harper sits stiffly next to Zach as he manspreads like he owns everything surrounding him. He catches me watching him and winks.
Arrogant fucker.
Darius shifts down the row from me, drawing my attention. When we talked this summer, I never would have guessed he’d turn out to be an assistant coach to a high school football team. He’s built and definitely plays sports or keeps active, but he seemed like he’d have a higher purpose.
Maybe that’s what he gets from volunteering at the other school. A purpose. Those kids could use a role model like him.
He catches my eye and then looks away. I seek out Harper, because I made my choice. I don’t know that she ever really was a choice. She’s ours. End of story.
She’s still pale and looks five seconds from bolting off the stage to hurl. Attention isn’t her friend. She doesn’t like it, but in another life, she could have gotten to Homecoming Queen on her own. No need to stuff the ballots or whatever Sidney and her crew did.
Harper is beautiful and sweet and caring. She would have been popular and everyone would have loved her.
But she hid herself away because of us. We made her into who she is today, but we wouldn’t be whole without her. And I’ll do everything I need to do to make sure she’s safe.
Harper
This is torture. The cheerleaders rise and leave the stage to perform once more.
Zach leans in closer. He invades my space every chance he gets. I’m tempted to raise my hand and ask for another chair for his ego.
“Who do you think would go after me first if I touched your knee?” Zach chuckles as I pull my legs far away from him. He rubs his chin. “Caden is the hot head. He’d probably take me down before I could slide my hand up your skirt.”
I cross my legs and glance at Caden. He looks casual, but on edge, ready to snap Zach in half if he tries anything. Which would get him kicked out of school for a few days and miss tonight’s game. Fuck that.
I narrow my eyes at Zach. This douche canoe is just another guy being a dick. Not unlike the horsemen when they claimed me. The difference is they gave me sucky choices, but there were choices. Kind of.
Zach offered to rape me and now wants to cause some sort of fight. I’m not going to let him win this time.
“Actually, the first person to attack you would be me.” I give him a smile, but make sure he sees the murderous intent in my eyes. I channel my inner Kenz. “See, I’d squeeze your little dick until your eyes popped out of your head.”
“So you want to touch my dick?” He grins as the students stand and clap, while some already head out.
“No, I’d tear it off.” I move away from him at the same time Luke closes in on us. I put my hand against Luke’s chest and he stops, but his furious gaze remains on Zach.
“You’re playing into his game,” I say softly and cup his jaw to turn his face down to mine. His eyes soften. “He wants to start something. He wants to make us weak.”
Luke searches my expression before wrapping his hand around my hip and drawing me into his body. I rest my head against his chest as he surrounds me in that soft, seductive scent I love.
“Looks like I get to play with your girl next week, Foster.” Zach’s voice comes from behind me. I didn’t figure he’d just go away.
“Thought you had Sidney to play with.” Eli steps up beside Luke and takes my hand.
“You keep sniffing around our girl like you think you can have her.” Caden steps to Luke’s other side. “Fuck off, Gray. No one wants you here.”
I turn in Luke’s hold to meet Zach’s eyes. “No one.”
He chuckles and rubs two fingers over his lips. “I never needed you to want me, darling.”
Before I can step forward, Zach’s knee gives out and he falls to the stage.
“Oh, man, I didn’t see you there.” Nico runs a hand through his hair and gives me a wink before offering Zach his hand. “You gotta be careful where you stand.”
Zach slaps his hand away and Nico holds them up with a grin.
Jack just shakes his head as Zach gets to his feet. “Whatever you have planned, give it up, man.”
Zach brushes off his pants and gives Jack a sly look. “Now, now, Jack. I didn’t give up with you until I was certain.”
My eyes widen, but I try to keep my surprise to myself. Jack and Zach? Did what exactly?
Holding his hands up, Zack backs away from us, but his brown eyes meet mine and he smirks. “Don’t worry, darling, I’ll wait until your guard dogs aren’t around to test how much you want to touch my dick.”
He winks and walks away. I shake my head. What a fucker.
“Touch his dick?” Caden tips my chin up and searches my eyes.
“I told him if he touched me, I’d squeeze his dick so hard his eyes would pop out or tear his dick off.” I shrug.
“Remind me not to piss you off, sunshine.” Nico brushes his fingers over my jaw.
Sparks. Will it ever not feel like that first time with all of them? Luke wraps his arm more firmly around my waist and presses into my back.
“We have a few hours until the game.” He rests his chin on my head.
Anticipation slips through me. My insides heat as I meet each of their hungry gazes. My pulse quickens.
“Uh...” Penny’s voice draws all our attention. Her cheeks are flushed pink. Clearly uncomfortable, she lifts her hand to wave. “Yeah, so I rode with Luke this morning... Did you want me to find someone else to take me now? Or just find my way at the party?”
Luke’s exasperated breath ruffles my hair. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” Eli tosses his keys in the air and catches them.
“Somewhere public,” Luke says.
“Krusty’s?” Jack offers.
A few hours later and I’m bundled up in Luke’s sweatshirt with Caden’s away jersey over it on the sidelines as the guys take the field to warm up.
“You good, Davidson?” Coach Turner asks.
I hold up my clipboard and pen. “All good, Coach.”
He nods before going over to join the others.
They really should use a tablet or something electronic to keep track, but this is the old school way and I don’t mind.
Pretty sure it’s just busy work for me to have a reason to stand on the sidelines instead of sitting in the stands where Zach can find me.
I don’t mind. The guys come off the field and get water before the game begins. I ignore the team, including my guys, since being a distraction will get me booted off statistics taking and back in the bleachers.
The game begins. The cheerleaders and the crowd are loud behind me. I focus on the players and what I need to keep track of. The first quarter flies by with us scoring a touchdown and running in the extra points.
“Hey, Harper.”
I look up to find Brandon standing next to me. “Hey.”
“How’s it going?” He looks like he hasn’t been out on the field yet.
“Just doing my work.” I lift my clipboard and pen.
“Cool.” He nods as his gaze remains on the lineup.
The crunch of pads hitting makes me flinch every time. No one usually comes over to talk to me. I’m not sure why Brandon is here.
“So, does Kenz talk about me?”
My eyes widen and I look at him like he’s an alien. What the hell is happening? “What do you mean?”
He shrugs, which is weird in shoulder pads, and glances at the stands. “She just seems distant lately.”
“You should talk to her about it.” I notice Coach Turner looking over here. I gesture to the field and take a step away from Brandon. “I’m supposed to pay attention to the game.”
“Oh, yeah, sure.” He nods and moves back over to the bench.
Obviously, I need to talk to Kenz and see what’s up with her and Brandon. She has been able to hang out more, but that’s during practice. I shake it off and get my head back in the game.
Just as the other team brings down someone right on the sideline in front of me. My heart races. I jump back as the player for the other team jumps up and gives me a crooked smile before running off. Nico tosses the ball to the referee. Brandon holds a hand down to Nico, helping him to his feet.
“Fucker hits like a Mack truck.” Nico shakes his head and runs back out to the huddle.
When I glance at the other team, the guy from the tackle is near our sideline. He winks at me and makes a kissy face. My cheeks heat.
WTF.
I look down at my clipboard and write something down. How do you tell a guy you already have five boyfriends? Especially in signals.
Luke calls out the numbers and I look up to watch the play. He falls back with the ball and launches it into the air toward Nico again. The Mack truck is right there and as soon as the ball touches Nico’s hands, the guy takes him down. Nico keeps the ball and they land in a heap.
The guy jumps up and grins at me before running back to his sideline. What an asshole. My gaze follows him, but then the coach runs past me and so does the athletic trainer.
When I turn back, Nico is still on the ground and the others are over next to him. My heart stops. I take a step in that direction, but Brandon steps in my way.
“You can’t go over there.” His voice is quiet as we both watch to see what happens. It feels like the whole stadium is holding its breath, waiting for Nico to stand.
I grab onto Brandon’s jersey. “Is he okay?”
“Don’t know. He could just have the wind knocked out of him. He hit the ground pretty hard. Concussion is always a possibility. They’ll check him for that before they let him stand.”
My fingers clench into Brandon’s jersey as I wait, barely breathing myself. The athletic trainer is on his knee next to Nico and I can see Nico shaking his head.
Is that good or bad?
“Harper,” Brandon warns. I took another step in that direction. Fuck.
Eli leans down and he grasps Nico’s forearm. The trainer stands, but as soon as Nico rises, his leg gives out. A gasp falls over the crowd. Eli and the trainer catch him.
The trainer keeps him there and I can see them talking. Nico shakes his head.
When they start off the field with Nico hobbling between the two others, the crowd cheers, but I haven’t even caught my breath yet.