Hooked by Love (Bellevue Bullies 3)

“Then don’t ask me to,” I say, my fingers biting into my ribs. “I’ll figure it out.”

“We aren’t trying to piss you off or doubt you, Jace. It’s just this is a big deal. This can ruin your career. Is she worth your fucking career?”

Is she?

“I hear you,” I say quickly as the door opens and the rest of the family starts to spill out. “I got it.”

Before either of them can say anything else, my mom’s arms wrap around me and she kisses my jaw. It’s funny how even when you think you’re grown up and don’t need anyone, you actually still need your mommy’s hugs. Relaxing in her arms, I close my eyes as she kisses me once more. I feel safe in my mom’s arms, like nothing can touch me or hurt me. When she squeezes me hard, she whispers, “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I say even though I know I don’t deserve any of her pride. I should be the one saying it because she stood up to my dad. She didn’t let him bother her at all. All through dinner, she was animated, sweet, and everything I love about her. She made everyone feel important. She had nothing but love in her eyes the whole time, my dad an afterthought. Yet, I still feel horrible she even had to see him. “I’m sorry.”

She shakes her head against mine, her lips on my cheek. “No, Jace, don’t be. It’s fine.”

“I shouldn’t have told him about the game.”

“It’s over. I love you.”

“I love you more.”

She gives me a squeeze then pulls back to look up into my eyes. “I like Avery a lot. She’s sweet and loves Angie something insane.”

I nod, my heart hurting a bit. “She’s great.”

Leaning in, she whispers, “I know everyone thinks it’s a big deal about her daddy, but I don’t. You’re dating her, not him.”

I can only nod because I can’t trust what will come out of my mouth. Kissing my jaw, she pats my chest before Coach shakes my hand. His eyes are worried, but I ignore them before saying good-bye to everyone else. As I hug Jude tightly, I want to ask him not to leave. Tell him that I need him, but I know it would be pointless, and also that he would make fun of me endlessly. He has a life, a good one, that he has to get back to.

“Call me if you need anything,” he says as he smacks my back and I nod.

“Will do.”

“It was great to meet you, Avery,” he says then. I turn, not even realizing she is behind me.

“You, too. Bye, Claire.”

“Bye! It was great meeting you,” she says to Avery before hugging me tightly. As Jude pulls her away, wrapping his arms around her, Lucy captures me in a tight hug. I know it’s not to love on me. I don’t know how she became Team Avery, but she’s two seconds from having a shirt made stating whose side she’s on.

“I know you’re pissed,” she whispers in my ear. “And you have every right to be, but don’t let this break you two up. I like her. A lot. And you know that means something coming from me.”

Over Lucy’s shoulder, Avery is watching me, her eyes burning into mine. It hurts to see her eyes so sad, and I should probably feel bad, but I don’t. This isn’t my fault; it’s hers. But then, maybe I’m just tripping out over this. I mean, we’ve been dating almost three weeks, and it’s well-known she doesn’t talk about her family. Maybe she was going to tell me. But I feel still like that should have been the first thing out of her mouth. I should take a deep breath and think this over because she looks troubled, and I don’t want to be the one who does that to her. I want to make her smile, I want to make her happy, but she has to be more open with me. Like I am with her.

Slowly nodding, I squeeze Lucy tightly as my mom hugs Avery. Kissing Angie’s head, I wave good-bye and then wait for Avery. She walks cautiously to me before we head toward the car.

We don’t get far from the group before she is looking at me questioningly. “So you’re mad?”

I nod. “Wouldn’t you be if you found out something like that about the person you’re dating?”

She shrugs, looking away as I open her door. “No, it’s not a big deal to me.”

“But it is to me,” I say, cocking my head to the car, but she shakes her head.

“No, I want to talk about this.”

“And we can in the car.” I look back at where my family is still standing outside, chatting. “Out of earshot of my family.”

She looks at my family and then gets in the car with a huff. I don’t understand why she is upset since she is the one in the wrong, and that annoys me. Shutting the door with more force than needed, I head around the car and get

in myself, turning it on. Looking over at her, I find her watching me, and before I can talk, she’s saying, “It’s not a big deal because my dad is nowhere in the equation of us. I can promise you. He doesn’t decide who goes in the draft. Yeah, he has pull, but he really only uses that on my brothers. Even so, Laurence didn’t even get picked in the draft, so obviously my dad doesn’t matter. And the thing is, you aren’t dating him—you’re dating me.”