Dad didn’t work regular cop hours anymore like he used to. He was purely a nine-to-five guy now, and my mom loved it.
Though, he liked to say that he still didn’t get the same adrenaline high out of working the ‘boring hours’ as he did when he was younger.
“I’ll talk to your mom, see if she can kick off early, too,” he said. “If you would’ve told us earlier in the week instead of two days before the game…”
I grinned. “I actually just learned about it today at practice. Swear to Christ. I was going to call you after the volleyball game.”
“And will we get to meet this girl?” Dad asked.
Just as I was about to reply with ‘yes’ something shoved me from behind, making me go sprawling.
My phone slid across the floor and hit the edge of a locker, and my body went with it.
I was up and moving before whoever pushed me could get another solid hit in, though.
When I turned, it was to find none other than Vance staring at me with his fists clenched.
“I’m sorry, did I interrupt something?” he asked stiffly.
I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stay where the fuck I was.
It took every bit of control I could muster.
“Go away, Vance,” I snapped.
“Make me.” He prowled forward.
My back hit the locker, and I was seconds away from throwing a punch when I heard a low, “Don’t even fuckin’ think about it.”
When I looked up, it was to find my brother standing there with his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His eyes were solely on Vance, and he was tensed, waiting for a fight.
I had no clue what my brother was doing here, but I really fuckin’ appreciated it. Because I did not, under any circumstances, want to be suspended. One, I wanted to see Perry the next day at school, and I couldn’t if I was suspended. Two, I couldn’t play football if I was suspended, either.
Vance paused, hands tensed to strike, and let them drop to his sides.
“Lucky bitch,” he said before backing away.
“You need to go back home to Benton, Vance,” Ford said through gritted teeth. “There’s nothing for you here.”
“You think so?” Vance laughed stiffly. “I think I’m quite liking it here.”
Then, without another word, he was gone.
That was when I saw Perry standing at the end of the hall, looking worried.
Ford watched Vance leave through the doors he’d apparently entered through, then turned his eyes to me.
I went to my phone, cursing when I saw the large fucking crack through the middle of the screen.
I picked it up and placed it to my ear. “Dad?”
“Vance?” Dad asked, sounding pissed.
“You got it,” I growled. “I can’t fuckin’ believe I’m having to deal with his ass.”
“I’m gonna take Friday off. Have a talk with your principal,” he said.
I laughed then. “Don’t bother. I heard he was a complete dick.”
In fact, the one and only time I’d run into him had been when I’d gone to the office on my first day of school to pick up my schedule. When I’d arrived, he’d berated me for not arriving earlier. Even though I hadn’t known when school started, and I’d literally rolled into town that morning.
So, needless to say, I hadn’t been super impressed with him and his manners.
Who talked to a new student like that? Especially one that hadn’t done anything to deserve his ire?
“Great,” he muttered. “I regret sending you away now.”
I grinned at Perry who was down the hall walking toward me.
“I don’t,” I murmured. “I’m okay… and you’ll meet Perry on Friday.”
“I will,” he muttered, sounding amused. “Tell me what’s up with your phone. I’ll bring another one with me if it’s beyond repair.”
I grimaced. It likely was, but I wouldn’t have him pay for it if I didn’t have to.
“Thanks, love you, Pops.”
“Love you, too, kid. Tell Ford you’re my favorite.” With that he hung up, making me grin.
Ford rolled his eyes, having heard my father’s parting comment.
“Typical,” he muttered just as Perry made it to us.
I reached out and pulled her to me, grinning when her sweaty face came into contact with my shoulder. “Good game.”
She smiled weakly, her eyes going to Ford then to me.
“This is my brother, Ford,” I introduced them. “Ford, this is Perry.”
Perry held out her hand, and my brother took it carefully.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, his eyes coming to me. “Got a bit worried when you didn’t come home, so I came to see if you were still here. When I saw your bike in the parking lot and all the cars, I decided to come inside.”
Perry breathed out heavily. “Vance is a problem.”
Ford nodded his head. “Agreed.”
I sighed. “There’s nothing I can do about him, though. It’s not like I can tell his parents that he’s a dick. And, correct me if I’m wrong, but he’s not doing anything ‘illegal.’”
“Yet,” Perry muttered under her breath.
Ford looked at her with amusement on his face. “Agreed.”
Perry grinned at him.
“I’m going to go get changed,” she said softly. “I came out here because I wanted to see you. But I need to go get my bag and stuff before Coach closes the gym.”
I squeezed her tight to me, then let her go. “Meet me at the locker room exit.”
She pulled away, gave my brother and me a wave, then jogged back into the gym and disappeared from sight.
“He’s going to fucking hurt you,” Ford muttered as he watched her disappear.
I sure the fuck hoped not.
“Want to go grab pizza with Ashe and me?” he asked when I didn’t respond. “We’re going to Pietro’s. Bring Perry.”
I felt my heart clench. “Do you like her?”
“She was sweet,” he said. “So not someone I would’ve pictured you with, to be honest. Much different from your other girlfriends.”
I agreed. My other girlfriends had been more along the lines of Symphony and not Perry, that was for sure.
But I found that I kind of liked the way Perry didn’t seem
