“Who’s Raine?” Kian looked confused. Like he didn’t know.
“She’s literally been at school with us forever. She was in your maths class for three years.”
“The one who gave half the football team a blowjob?” Chris spoke up again, and my jaw clenched. Counting to ten inside my head, I forced myself to remain calm, or at least give the appearance of being calm.
I caught Xavier’s sidewards glance at me, which I ignored. “Yeah, that was her,” I heard him mutter.
Tuning out their discussion, my head turned of its own volition, and a spark of pure lust raced through my body as I took her in. She was strolling over to the food counter, Lena right next to her. Her uniform was still the same—still ill-fitting, but it was the way she carried herself with confidence that made all the difference. Her chin was lifted, her shoulders set back, making her full tits look even bigger… My dick stirred, and I lowered my gaze to her feet instead. She was wearing low heels, instead of her normal flat shoes, making her legs look long and sexy. There was nothing else different, except her hair wasn’t in its normal ponytail. Instead, it fell down her back in long, shiny waves that I itched to run my fingers through.
This girl was messing with my head, plain and simple.
Looking closely, I noticed the telltale signs of nerves beneath the confident veneer—the way she kept licking her lips, and the apprehension in her eyes. What was her game plan?
“Is she single? I wanna tap that. The geeky girls are always grateful for it. She’s gotta be a sure thing, too, since she’s been on her knees for half the team already.” Chris was practically drooling. His words sent a shot of rage through me, and I had to grip the sides of my chair to stop myself from punching him in the face.
“Dunno, mate.” Xavier shrugged. “Ask her.”
“Yeah, think I will.” Before I could even open my mouth, Chris was sliding out of his seat, and sauntering over to the counter where she was waiting to pay. I watched, unable to look away, as he waited while she paid for her food, then fucking carried her tray for her. All the way over to a table on the opposite side of the cafeteria. He said something to her, and she replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
I held my breath until he returned to our table and flopped back down into his chair, all sulky. “Shot me down. She’s seeing someone else.”
My mind went straight to the event that had been stuck on repeat in my head ever since I’d found her crying on the school steps. The slap, the way she’d left me without a single backwards glance, jumping straight into Cassius Drummond’s arms like she belonged there. She’d told me that she wasn’t with him, but she’d lied to me before. I wouldn’t put it past her.
“Did you know she was seeing someone?” Xavier caught my eye.
“Why would I?” I glared at him, and he held up his hands.
“No need to bite my head off. Just thought you might know, being her neighbour and all.”
“You’re her neighbour?” Chris stared at me.
Xavier huffed out an incredulous laugh. “How do you not know this?”
“Whatever,” he muttered.
Across the table, Preston, who had been silent up until now, cleared his throat and spoke to me in a low voice while the conversation continued around us. “Can I have a quick word? In private?”
“Yeah, of course.” Glad for an excuse to get away, I immediately stood, grabbing my bag. Preston threw me a small smile before he glanced over at Kian, who gave him a reassuring nod. My curiosity piqued, I followed him outside. It was a cold day, so there were only a few other people around. He led me to an empty table in the far corner of the courtyard. Taking a seat, he looked up at me.
“Can you sit down? You’re making me nervous.”
Sliding into the seat across from him, I eyed at him expectantly. He stared everywhere but at me, his eyes bouncing around all over the place. I frowned. “Mate, spit it out. You’re making me nervous, now.”
His eyes finally met mine. “Sorry, man. I need to tell you something. I wanted to give you a heads-up, since you’re the soccer team captain.” Leaning his elbows on the table, he watched me intently. “A couple of people know already, but before rumours start spreading, I wanted to tell you myself. I’m…I’m gay. I want to tell the rest of the team. Get it out there, you know?”
I stared at him for a moment, processing his words in my brain. Preston was gay? Then I took in the way he was shifting restlessly, his eyes full of apprehension, and I realised I’d been silent for too long. I leaned forwards and placed my elbows on the table, mimicking his pose. Making sure I met his gaze so he could see that I was serious, I said, “I’ve got your back. You want me to tell the team?”
He shook his head. “I’ll tell them. Do you…” His voice lowered, worry threading through his tone. “Do you think anyone will have a problem?”
My mouth twisted. “If they have a problem, they’ll have to fucking go through me. If anyone gives you a hard time, anyone, you come straight to me, okay? And if you want me to be there when you tell them, I will.”
He shot me a small, grateful smile. “Thanks, man. My ex…he, uh. His teammates didn’t take it well when he came out to them. I’d appreciate it if you were there when I tell the others.”
“Consider it done. Most of the boys are sound, but I won’t lie and say it’ll be an easy ride. I’ll be around to deal with anyone who gives you problems, though. We’re a team.” Getting to my feet, I rounded the table and clapped him on the shoulder. “Whenever you want to tell them, I’ll be there.”
After giving me a quick nod, he climbed to his feet, and we headed back inside. “Thanks for being cool with it,” he told me just before we reached the others, then immediately changed the subject. “Speaking of thanks, I never said thanks for organising the party.”
Kian had come to me with this idea of a mass celebration to mark the eighteenth birthdays of three of the football team members—him, Preston, and Ben. Even though his and Preston’s birthdays had already passed, all of us were up for an excuse to party. This one would be right after a football game, too, so either way, we’d have another excuse to celebrate or commiserate. With me and Kian organising, it was going to be the party of the year. “You’re welcome.” Before I could add anything else, the bell rang to indicate the end of our lunch hour.