UNKNOWN: Oh boy! That UofJ411 SURE is interested in learning ALL the things there are to know about you. I wonder what I should tell them first? Or…maybe I should barter. Remember when E tried to get my scholarship pulled and I barely saw any playing time my freshman year because of it? I bet I could use them to dig up enough dirt on your precious Casanova to create a scandal big enough to have him fall in the draft. *thinking emoji* Oh the possibilities…
Like hell will I let that happen. I refuse to allow Liam to vilify Mason on social media before his career even begins. It would take a whole damn lot for a team to consider a player undraftable, but a problematic reputation and being seen as a potential public relations nightmare can have a player fall to a later round and cost him millions.
I don’t want that for Mason. He has too much going for him, too bright of a future to let something—or someone—from my past taint it.
What does it matter if my heart stays broken if it means Mason’s dreams will come true?
#Chapter21
Not pushing the Shelby to the max is a feat in and of itself. Thankfully, Trav isn’t opposed to speeding to keep up, and we shave ten minutes off the drive to Blackwell.
“She’s going to be pissed I brought you here,” Grayson says as I find a parking spot two houses down from the one with Kay’s Jeep in the driveway.
I don’t waste time with a response, instead climbing out of my car and meeting the guys in front of what Grayson explains is the Taylor home.
“Listen.” Grayson pauses, dropping the hand that was on the doorknob and turning to face our group fully. “This isn’t going to be like lunch or the nights we would hang at Kay’s dorm. This is damage control and keeping Kay from losing it completely. Everyone here is a friend to Kay. Don’t start shit.”
His eyes shift pointedly to the driveway, and it’s only then I notice the matte black Corvette and Kawasaki Ninja parked next to Pinky. This night just keeps getting better and better.
He waits for us all to nod our understanding then, without knocking, opens the door and steps inside.
I’m the first in behind him, and I scan every face as quickly as I can. Em is the first to greet Grayson, and I see the rest of our group scattered behind her.
Tessa Taylor and her blonde friend each do this half-scowl, half-smirk thing as they watch from the kitchen, and I see those two Royal guys from the weekend eyeing our crew with speculation.
I double back, but still no Kay.
“Where is she?” I ask Em since she’s the closest.
“Don’t you guys have to be at the hotel soon?”
I shake my hands out in frustration. “Emma.” My tone hardens and my voice drops an octave.
She sighs as if I’m being ridiculous. I might be, but I’m over all the obstacles trying to keep me from my girl.
“She’s on the phone with E. Calm your jockstrap.”
“Where?” I bark out.
“You need to chill, bro.” The Carter guy moves to put himself between Em and me. It’s a defensive move, and even in my less-than-rational frame of mind, I’m offended he can even think I would put my hands on her.
I’m out of my depth here. Without Kay, I feel like I’m floundering, and I can’t see a way of getting her back until I get all the missing puzzle pieces together.
Other than the sound of a commercial for the latest Kevin Hart film playing on the television, nobody speaks.
Above us, the stairs creak as someone walks down them.
“Short Stack.”
I whip around at my best friend’s greeting in time to see Kay stopping on the final stair.
Her eyes are red and puffy, which is only emphasized by how wide they go at the sight of us. I’m getting fucking sick and tired of seeing her this way.
Her messy bun flops to the side as she tilts her head back to see Trav before he rushes her and pulls her into a hug. Kay’s arms hang limply at her sides for a second before they wrap around him. They hold on a few seconds longer than typical, and when they finally separate, Kay cups his cheek. I can tell by the look she gives him she’s having some kind of silent communication regarding what I told her about the whole Chrissy/Tina debacle.
I try hard—really I do—not to be jealous, but I am. At least I’m not storming over and ripping them apart like the caveman side of me wants to.
“What are you guys doing here? Isn’t Coach Knight going to bench you for not being at the hotel?”
“Nah.” Kevin waves off her concern, moving in next.
“He won’t bench all his captains,” Alex adds, taking his turn hugging her.
“We have a few hours before curfew anyway.” Noah is the last to get her before her gray eyes land on me.
“Mason.”
I don’t know what I despise more, the fact that she is still calling me Mason or the defeated way she says it.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
I smooth a hand over the polyester of my hat. Again with this bullshit.
“The fuck I shouldn’t.” I close the distance between us in three long strides. “Wherever you are is where I’ll be.”
“You can’t.” She flails her hands about before finally shoving them in the pocket of the NJA hoodie she’s wearing. She shouldn’t be wearing that—she should be wearing mine. “I told you, I’m no good for you.” She walks back, moving up another step.
I reach out to stop her retreat. The added height from the stairs makes her only a few inches shorter than me instead of the usual foot and a
