“What am I supposed to think? A couple weeks of playing nice don’t change the past year.”
Something like hurt flashes in his eyes, but he hides it almost as quickly as it came. “Fair enough.” He looks me up and down, as if seeing me in a new light, taking a couple backwards steps away from me.
“Holden—”
“Nah. I get it.” He turns his back to me, and I sigh.
“What was that about?” Valen asks, sidling up to me.
“I think I just hurt his feelings.”
“He has feelings?” She mock gasps.
“Apparently so.”
“Interesting.” She tilts her head, looking after his retreating form as he disappears into the crowd of students milling around for a second before turning back to me. “Are you, like, so ready for the big game tonight?” she asks in a ridiculous Valley Girl accent.
“Totally. Are you coming?”
“That depends. Are you coming out with me this weekend?”
I press my lips together, unimpressed. “Sure.”
“Then it’s a date.”
When we turn to leave, her for the parking lot and me for the gym, I spot Ms. Thomas heading our way.
“Haven’t seen you in a while, Shayne,” she says, subtle as ever as she passes by. “Stop by this week?” she phrases it as a question, but we both know it’s a warning.
I nod my answer and she gives me a thumbs-up before turning the corner. I’ve been distracted, and honestly, with Thayer taking away my access to the barn, I haven’t felt like writing.
“I gotta go,” I tell Valen. Coach decided we should have some team bonding beforehand, so instead of going home, I get to go out for ice cream with the team. Yay. And to make matters worse, as varsity players, we have to sit through the freshmen and JV games to show our support before we play.
“Good luck, buttercup.” Valen slaps my butt. “Break a leg or whatever.”
We won the game.
I’m hot, sweaty, and still on an adrenaline high as I walk out of the gym toward the parking lot. I didn’t realize how much I missed this feeling until tonight. I can’t even complain about the team-bonding trip. With Coach there, Taylor didn’t pull any of her shit, and hanging out with some of my old teammates felt good. Valen left right after the game, knowing it would be a while before I could break away from the team, and with Mom on another overnight trip, I’m all alone, but even that’s not enough to get me down.
That is, until I see my car. Flat on the ground with the tires—all four by the looks of it—slashed. You have got to be shitting me. Anger burns a hole in the pit of my stomach, my fingernails leaving half-moon indents on the insides of my palms. The fact that they’re still doing this to me even after I’ve gone out of my way not only to help Holden, but also to keep him out of trouble is unbelievable.
“Oh my God,” a soft, high-pitched voice says behind me. I turn around to see Ashley, one of the girls from my team. “Who would do that?”
“Oh, I know exactly who.” I clench my fists, wanting to scream. But instead, I take a deep breath t
o compose myself before speaking again. “Hey, do you think you could give me a ride home?” I’m not going to roll over and play dead anymore.
“Yeah, of course,” she says, looking at me with pity in her eyes. “I’m right here.” She points to a little silver sports car.
“Thanks.” I follow her to the car, getting in on the passenger side before pulling my seatbelt over my chest. “Do you know where I live?”
She starts the car with a push of the button. “Not unless you’re still living at Whittemore.” Her voice holds a hint of an apology.
“Actually, that’s exactly where I want you to take me.”
Thayer
“Think they know it was you?” I ask my dumb fuck of a brother. Holden shakes his head.