“You need to back the hell off, Altman,” I grunt. It’s one look. One look from Wallace when I know I’ve just implicated myself. Pat eyes me for a long moment before dropping his head. I’m sunk. And I don’t even care at this point because I can’t handle another comment about Harper. But to my complete surprise, he doesn’t say a single word. Instead, he waits for me in his truck in the parking lot sitting mute with his eyes straight ahead, the heat blowing at us from the vent. After a long, uncomfortable silence he finally speaks up.
“It’s her, isn’t it? The dancer from the coffee shop.”
“Yeah.”
“What the hell, Lance? We’ve been boys since freshman year.”
“My silence was for her just as much as it was me.”
“Jesus, I would understand if she was good-looking but—”
“Don’t you fucking dare,” I hiss in his direction.
“All this shit, all of this because of you and her.”
“It didn’t start like this. I didn’t even know she was coach’s daughter until after, even then I wouldn’t fucking stop so if you’re going to tell them, go ahead and tell them.”
“She’s a six at most, why are you wasting time with a six?”
“Add five to that.”
“What?”
“She’s my eleven.”
With a loud sigh, he puts his truck into gear and turns to me. “Hope it’s worth it.”
“You know it’s Coach Elliot that’s throwing the season, not me.”
“We all see it. And I’m not going to say shit, but this better be the girl you marry. You owe us all that much. She better be worth it.”
“She is.”
Harper
Harper: Hey you.
Lance: Hey baby. You here?
Harper: Just pulled up.
Tears streak my cheeks as I try my best to hold in my sobs. Lance appears in a long-sleeve T-shirt and beanie, his eyes lighting up when they find mine. He frowns when he sees me standing by my car and nods towards his front door.
“Come inside.” He blows in his hands. “It’s cold.”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
He looks past me at my loaded SUV. “What the hell? He kicked you out?”
I swallow. “No.”
He closes the distance between us and sees what I’m trying hard to hide.
“I’m leaving. I’m taking my shot, Lance. Things at home, well, they aren’t good, and there’s a casting call for something off-Broadway. René is going to let me stay with him.”
I can physically feel the crack in my chest when his features twist. “Priss, don’t.”
“I can make up school later. I can’t get a dancing year back, ever. It’s for the best. Our relationship is wreaking havoc on your life, your team, the season, my relationship with my father. His career. There’s more than just you and me to worry about. I really,” I sniff. “I really care about you and your family, but I’ve been selfish. We’ve both been selfish. Other people are paying for this.”