Dare You to Hate Me

The skin on the back of my neck tingles until it rises and settles under my cheeks. “For the record, I want to be there for him. But we haven’t been talking after…um, the other night. Then you guys left, and I’m not asking for details, but I haven’t known what to say or do to make it better. I know he’s trying to give me what I asked for, but it’s driving me nuts.”

He’s quiet for a moment, contemplative as he waves at someone passing by in the other lane. “The guys all have a lot of respect for Aiden. If he asks us not to say something, we don’t. We give him space because he works better without being crowded. And we protect what’s important to him because we all get that he’d do the same for any of us. You’ll get through whatever the hell has been eating at you guys but go easy on him. He’s put a lot of time into football and school and as much as I want him to put that same effort into you, into being happy, I know something has to give first.”

I know what he’s getting at, and squirm in discomfort over it. Everyone wants me to let him shine as if I’m trying to dirty him somehow, but I’ve been his biggest fan since day one. I was there for him when he came home from all the football games I was never allowed to go to because Mom wanted me home. I soaked in every single detail about his victories even if I didn’t understand them. I was there to tell him to research the best schools that could get him to the pros faster because I knew he wanted to do what he loved for as long as he could. He never cared about the fame or the money or anything else.

It’s always been the game.

“If I wanted to apologize to him about the other night and support him at the game on Friday…”

His friend looks at me as he slows down near the bakery. “I don’t think you’ll need to grovel for long if that’s what you’re asking. And he’s been trying to get you to a game since he finally got the balls to talk to you, so it’s not like he’d throw a fit if you showed up. Especially not at that one. He’ll need plenty of supporters to handle his own demons when he steps onto that turf.”

While his truck idles at the curb, he shifts his body toward mine and rests an arm on the steering wheel. “Listen, Griff is my friend. He barely talks to any of us lately without biting our heads off. I’m not saying that’s your fault. We all know he’s his own worst enemy and doesn’t make things easy for himself. But that’s what worries me. You guys are too similar. One of you needs to cave. So give the guy a break, would you? It’s officially Thanksgiving break now, and Aiden could definitely use a vacation from giving himself to everybody else. He’s wearing himself thin, so change that.”

“I didn’t mean to cause a rift at the house. I never wanted to move in to begin with because I always complicate things like this.”

“We don’t mind,” he tells me.

“Because Aiden told you not to mind.”

He shakes his head. “Nah. Raine and I knew you were a laid-back chick since the day we met you. And the guys like you because you’re not afraid to talk back or put DJ in his place when he oversteps. You don’t care what people think of you and it’s refreshing. Most girls that wind up at our house are the opposite because they want to be front and center. And let’s be real. You feed the guys, so they’ll almost always come back like stray animals wanting more.”

I don’t reply because I don’t want to hear about all the women who probably visited Aiden in the past. Not that it could have been too often knowing what I do about him now.

Caleb clears his throat like he knows where my mind went. “Yeah, well, guess after your guys’ talk it’s pretty obvious he kept to himself when some of the jersey chasers found their way inside. So…”

I open the door, not wanting to have this talk with him. “Thanks for the ride.”

Before I close the door, he says, “Coach has a soft spot for Griff. I know he talked to you a while back and I’m glad you said whatever you did to him. Coach Pearce is a great guy, but he’s so busy building a beast on the field he forgets that there

are certain things that Aiden is capable of balancing off it too. I doubt Coach’ll care too much if Aiden drives to the game instead of bussing with us. Might be good to have some head space to prepare for whatever will happen out there.”

I don’t say anything.

He adds, “Might be good for him to have you beside him because it won’t be easy going back to the place that let him go so easily.”

It’s hard to swallow as I acknowledge his comment with a short nod before walking toward the bakery.

Would it be better for him?

Something tells me driving to the college that didn’t want him with the girl who left him behind will produce the opposite results.

He can’t be distracted.

I don’t want to see your face.

My fingers ball into a fist and release when I walk in and see Elena’s bubbly face. “Out of your head,” I tell myself.

Another day.

Another front.

But the itch under my skin still remains.

“Head in the game.”

Chapter Twenty

Aiden