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Nix
“What the hell happened to you?” Coach said the second I entered the locker room.
“Would you believe me if I said I fell out of bed?”
His brows hit his hairline. “Nice try, son. Just tell me if I need to pay that son of a bitch Bryson Shaw another visit.”
“I can confirm you don’t. I haven’t stepped foot in the ring again.” Technically, it wasn’t a straight up lie. I hadn’t fought for Bryson again.
“Good, keep it that way. We’ve got a big game Friday against Hennington and I need you one-hundred percent ready. Rumor has it the scout from Albany U might come down and see you.”
Fuck.
“I’m ready, Coach,” I forced out.
“Good, that’s what I like to hear.” Coach Farringdon scanned the room before moving in closer. “Is everything with your old man—”
“I appreciate the concern, Coach, I do.” My teeth ground together. “But I can handle it.”
“That’s what worries me, son.” He clapped me on the shoulder and disappeared off into his office.
“What was all that about?” Zane came over and slung his bag down.
“He’s worried about me.”
“Must be nice to be Coach’s pet.” The fucker smirked, and I flipped him off. “How’s Jessa?”
“You know how it is.” She was putting on a bright smile, baking a shit ton of cookies, and acting like everything was hunky-fucking-dory. The only positive about it all was my old man was acting a little sheepish. Last night over dinner, he’d even gone so far as to ask how the game went.
I wasn’t stupid enough to think his change of attitude would last, but I was glad for Jessa that he could muster up a bit of human decency.
“We still need to figure out what we’re gonna do about Denby and his crew.”
“Maybe we should let it go,” I said, bracing myself for his response.
“Let it go? Are you fucking insane? They jumped us and beat the shit out of you. I say we—”
“Z, man, I said let it go.” I blew out a frustrated breath. I couldn’t afford to escalate this thing with Denby. Not while he had daily unfettered access to Harleigh. I wouldn’t risk her like that.
“Why the fuck… Birdie.” Understanding flashed in his eyes. “You think he’ll go after her.”
“I can’t risk it.”
“Man, I fucking hate this.” He yanked off his t-shirt and began changing into his pants and jersey. “There’s still a long way to go until graduation, Nix.”
Like I didn’t already know.
We were barely a month into the semester and things had gone to shit. But getting Harleigh back, that outweighed all the bullshit. I just needed her safe, protected. I needed her to heal, I wanted to heal her. Or at least, help.
But her attending DA and me being here was a big fucking problem. One I didn’t know how to fix.
I understood her reluctance to go public, to step out of the shadows with me. It didn’t mean I had to like it though.
Shoving my feet into my cleats, I tied the laces and glanced up at Zane. “Coach said the scouts might be at Friday’s game.”
“Yeah, and what did you say?”
“I want a shot, Z.”
