The Backup Plan (Back in the Game)

by McLaughlin, Jen

There was something about the way he said that, the emptiness behind the words, that made me think he wished otherwise. Did he still have a thing for his ex?

  Was I just a filler?

  I mean, I wouldn’t blame him. She was pretty much perfect. Kind. Pretty. Popular. Rich. Totally the type of woman his father would want him to end up with.

  But still…

  After what just happened, we felt like more.

  “What if I told you I think you’re wrong?” I asked slowly, cursing myself at the same time as I said them, but I had to be honest. “That I thought she still had feelings for you?”

  “Then I’d laugh.”

  I shook my head slightly. “Chase…”

  “I’m serious.” He tipped my chin up, staring deep into my eyes. “I don’t need Amanda Rogers or her feelings when I have you.”

  I opened my mouth to argue, but he kissed me into silence.

  When he pulled back, I blinked rapidly and ducked my head, chasing away the annoying tears that tried to escape. “She invited us to a party Friday night. I want to go, and I want you to go with me.”

  He stiffened, shaking his head. “Hell no.”

  “But—”

  “No, Taylor.” He got off the bed without another word. He stalked toward his bag and pulled out a stapled stack of papers.

  “But—”

  “I will not go hang out with the people who have made my life a living hell for the last six months and pretend that that doesn’t bother me.”

  I sat on the edge of the bed, dangling my feet down. “We think you need to do exactly that.”

  “We?” He sat on the floor, laughing hard. “Jesus, my ex and my current girl, teaming up on me? Since when does that happen?”

  “Since I met her and liked her.” I lifted my chin. “We’re going to that party, and you’re going to show them that they don’t bother you, and that’s that.”

  “No,” he growled.

  I crossed my arms.

  This was one fight I wasn’t willing to lose.

  He narrowed his eyes on me. “Stop looking at me like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you’re going to win.” He spread his legs out in front of him and studied the exercises on the paper. “You’re not. I’m not going.”

  I smiled at him. “We’ll see.”

  He growled. “Taylor—”

  “You’d best get started. When you’re done, we have some studying to do.” I stood, stretching and letting my shirt ride up.

  He stared at my legs, his lips slightly parted.

  I fought to hide my grin.

  He swallowed hard, turning his attention back to the papers at his side. “I’m not going to that damn party, Taylor, and that’s final.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chase

  “I can’t believe I let you drag me here,” I growled, holding on to Taylor’s hand as she tugged me through the crowds of people, most who couldn’t stop staring at me because I dared to show my face at a sorority party again. This was the last place I wanted to be, yet, here I was.

  Because Taylor asked me to come.

  She glanced over her shoulder at me, smiling. Her eyes sparkled, and her long blond hair swung with each step she took. Just hours earlier, I’d had my hands buried in that hair as I kissed her and made her come, but now that same hand that had wrapped around my cock and made me groan with pleasure was killing me.

  I didn’t want to be here.

  “It won’t be so bad. Just wait and see. You’ll make some new friends.”

  That’s what she kept saying, just like she kept pushing away from me and forcing me to group with other students besides her for class assignments. She kept saying it was good for me, and it wouldn’t be that bad, and I understood why she did it.

  She was doing her job.

  Fixing me.

  But part of me was starting to suspect that she was also doing it because once her job was completed, she had every intention of walking away. That she was preparing me for a life without her—which I didn’t want. But why would she walk away when what we had was so good?

  Unless…I’d been right all along, and I was nothing more than a job to her.

  She stopped walking, and I bumped into her, since I’d been too distracted to pay attention to our surroundings. “What—?”

  “Amanda,” she called, waving at my ex like they were long lost friends.

  Amanda looked just as excited to see her from across the room, and her gaze quickly skimmed to me, sliding down my body and back up. When she met my eyes, she looked hesitant, but at the same time welcoming. She said something to her best friend, Sam, then made her way over to us. The closer she got, the more tense I became.

  Me and her, we’d been good together.

  Our parents approved of the match and had been planning the lavish wedding in their minds already. We’d been the golden couple of the Wildcats, and everyone wanted to be us. Then when I crashed, and my whole world had changed, she’d still tried to be by my side. But loving me hadn’t been possible back then.

  Still probably wasn’t.

  Once I saw people turning their hatred for me toward her because she was my girl, I’d decided to save her from her loyalty. I broke up with her. It had been hard. Seeing her now was even harder. There was no bad blood between us. No hard feelings.

  Just memories.

  She hugged Taylor, pulling back and smiling. “I’m so happy you came!” she called over the loud voices and the Drake song currently playing.

  “Me, too,” Taylor said, side-eying me. “I brought Chase.”

  Amanda moved over to me, smiling softly. “Hey, Chase.”

  “Hey.” She looked a little nervous, so I forced a smile. “It’s good seeing you.”

  She flipped her hair over her shoulder. She always did that when trying to catch my eye. “You look good.”

  “You, too,” I said, glancing at Taylor. She watched us closely, not a hint of jealousy on her face. “How have you been?”

  Amanda rested her hand on my arm. “Good. Busy. You?”

  “Same.”

  “We should get together sometime,” Amanda said, squeezing my arm. She looked at me like she used to, right before she started taking my clothes off. “Catch up.”

  I looked at Taylor again. She’d stepped back from us, as if to give us more personal space. Like she thought I might rather speak to Amanda than her, which was ridiculous. Enough. “We’d love to.”

  Amanda hesitated. “We?”

  “Yeah.” I gestured to my girl. “We’d love to chill.”

  Taylor bit her lip.

  Amanda’s smile didn’t slip. “Sounds great.”

  “Yeah.” Taylor choked on a laugh. “Really great.”

  “It’s all great,” I joked.

  The current song ended, and I heard my name from a voice I’d recognize anywhere. Fucking Gary. He was across the room with the other football guys, and they were all glaring at me, looking like they were all too ready to start a fight.

  I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’t have—

  “Ignore them,” Taylor said, coming back to my side.

  Amanda frowned toward them. “Or better yet, walk up to them and act like you don’t care about what they think.”

  “That’s not a good idea—” Taylor started.

  Amanda grabbed her hand. “I’m going to borrow your girlfriend for a second. We’ll be back with a beer for you—still like Guinness?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t drink anymore.”

  “If you’re sure,” Amanda called over her shoulder, dragging Taylor behind her.

  Taylor glanced at me, winking.

  I stared back stonily, unamused.

  She’d dragged me here unwillingly, and then thought it was cool to leave me to the fucking vultures? I shoved my hands in my pockets, glancing around the room. Rhianna played now, and there was a group of girls drunkenly hanging all over one another dancing in the foyer.
A bunch of guys surrounded them, drinks in hand, goading them to kiss.

  They’d more than likely get their wish by the end of the night.

  Sighing, I turned the other way, facing my old teammates. They still stared at me, though Robert and Charlie were now watching the girls instead. I locked eyes with Gary, the replacement quarterback, and he curled his upper lip.

  Lifting his drink, he downed it and then held the cup out to me in salute.

  I flipped him off. “Asshole.”

  “That wasn’t a good idea,” someone said from beside me.

  I startled and turned toward the voice, frowning. It was a tiny guy I’d never seen before, with glasses and a sweater vest. A fucking sweater vest.

  Who the hell dressed so formally for a sorority party?

  “Excuse me?” I asked slowly, towering over his slim frame awkwardly.

  He pushed his glasses into place, showing no signs of fear as he met my eyes. “Provoking them only gives them what they want. Trust me. I’d know.”

  I looked closer at him. He had an air of smartness about him, of superiority, like he’d never gotten less than a B on anything and was proud of that fact. His khakis were firmly pressed, and he wore a button-up plaid shirt under his vest. His brown hair was curly and a little on the long side, and he was skinny as hell.

  Something told me he did, indeed, know what he was talking about.

  This type of guy would never have caught my attention before the accident, but now…I liked him. First of all, he’d talked to me. And second, he wasn’t looking at me like I was a monster. “Do you know who I am?” I asked slowly.

  The other guy lifted a brow. “Who doesn’t?”

  “I don’t know,” I admitted.

  “You’re Chase Maxwell. Famous and infamous.”

  I bowed. “In the flesh.”

  “Don’t let them bother you. Guys like them get off on it.”

  I didn’t point out I used to be one of those guys. I never straight out tortured anyone, but I certainly ignored it when my buddies did. “I know.”

  He gave me a once-over. “I bet you do.”

  Without apologizing, because what the hell was the point in that, I held my hand out. “Nice to meet you…”

  “Bryce.” He took my hand, shaking it. “Bryce Wagner.”

  I inclined my head. “What brings you to a sorority party?”

  “Same thing as you, I guess.”

  “Your bossy girlfriend?” I asked.

  “Okay, not the same thing.” He laughed, running his hand over his hair. It bounced right back where it had been. “Curiosity. I’ve never been before, so I figured I’d sneak in after it started and see what all the fuss was about.”

  “And?”

  He shrugged. “Not much to it. Drunk girls who would rather kiss each other than talk to me. Asshole guys who either want to kick my ass or pretend I don’t exist. Pretty much my high school years revisited, only now I’m old enough to know why they don’t want to talk to me and never will.”

  I nodded. “And that is…?”

  “Because I’m not you.”

  I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “I hate to break it to you, but I’m not exactly anyone’s favorite person right now.”

  “You’ll always be a favorite, just for different reasons now.” He lifted his beer to his mouth, watching the football players that I’d turned my back to. “They’re coming this way, and I’m sure it’s for you, not me.”

  “Shit.” I fisted my hands. “If you want to walk away before they get here, I won’t judge you. Hanging around me is bad for your social status.”

  He snorted. “Please.”

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Gary asked from behind me, anger making his words hard.

  I turned around, looking at him like I didn’t really know why he was talking to me. “Who, me?”

  “Yeah, you,” he growled.

  “Relax, man. I’m not here to take your position from you…yet.”

  Gary rolled his eyes. “As if you’d ever get back on the team.”

  “Who says I wouldn’t?” I shot back, crossing my arms.

  It hurt my shoulder.

  Damn it.

  “Me,” Gary said.

  Roger chimed in with: “And me.”

  “Me,” Rick said.

  All the other players agreed, and I grew stiffer with each one.

  Bryce laughed. “You guys are lame.”

  “Excuse me?” Gary said, stepping forward.

  “You heard me,” Bryce shot back.

  “Who the hell are you? Are you old enough to be here?”

  Bryce met Gary’s eyes without a hint of fear. “Yes. Are you?”

  “Fuck you.” Gary moved for him.

  Bryce lifted his chin, not backing down. “No, thank you. You’re not my type.”

  Gary growled again, clearly intending to kick the smaller man’s ass.

  I stood in front of my new friend, protecting him. “Back off.”

  “Seriously?” Gary asked, laughing and looking at his backup—who laughed on cue. “You’re gonna side with this guy?”

  “Damn right I am,” I said, pushing Gary back a bit. “Leave him alone.”

  Taylor came running over, breathless, skidding to a halt on my left side. Bryce stood to my right. “Is there a problem?”

  “Yeah,” Gary shot back. “It’s him.”

  He pointed at me.

  As if anyone doubted who he referred to.

  I slapped his finger away. “Take your fucking finger and shove it up your—”

  “Chase,” Taylor hissed.

  “What?” I snarled.

  Gary laughed when I broke off. “Wow. The only people Chase can get at his side is a poor girl and a nerd. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

  “If that’s the case, if I’ve fallen, then so be it. I like it better down here,” I snapped back. “Only assholes care about being on top.”

  “Good, then you can stay down there,” Gary snapped. “You’re not coming back to the team.”

  I shook my head. “If I want to come back, I’ll come back. You’re not going to stop me.”

  “Watch me,” Gary snarled, swinging for me.

  I ducked his fist easily, pushing Taylor and Bryce out of the way at the same time. Before the accident, Gary throwing the first punch would have had me jumping on him, kicking his ass. Hell, before Taylor, I would have been on him.

  But I’d changed.

  I wasn’t that guy anymore.

  And Taylor was right. He wasn’t worth it.

  Sneering at him, I said, “I’m not going to fight you, so fuck off.”

  “What’s the matter?” Gary cried, face red at how easily I’d avoided his fist. “Too scared? Or does it hurt your poor shoulder too much?”

  “Nah, man,” I said, smiling because I knew it would piss him off. “I only fight over things I care about, and you’re not one of them.”

  Gary said nothing, just turned even redder.

  “Bryce. Taylor.” I held my hand out for my girl and smiled at my new friend. “Let’s get out of here. I’m in the mood for some pizza.”

  Taylor smiled at me, her eyes shining. I could tell she approved of my reaction to the football team trying to goad me, and that made my chest puff out with pride. Pathetic, maybe. But true nonetheless. “I’d love to.”

  Bryce grinned. “Sure.”

  And the three of us walked away…

  Just like that.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Taylor

  “You’re wrong. Iron Man would kick Thor’s ass, any day.”

  Chase rolled his eyes. “He’s cocky, sure, but he’s not a god.”

  “But he’s got the suit.” Bryce took a sip of his coffee, his plaid shirt unbuttoned and his Iron Man shirt showing—which was what had sparked this debate in the first place. “And he flies.”

  “Thor can soar with the hammer, too.”

  I shook my head, speaking up for the first
time. “This whole conversation is stupid.”

  Chase narrowed his eyes, lifting his black coffee to his mouth. “Oh yeah?”

  “Why’s that?” Bryce asked.

  “Because Captain America would kick all their asses,” I said, smiling. “With his eyes closed.”

  They started talking at the same time, arguing their points.

  I laughed, sitting back and watching them fly into a frenzy. As their voices rose, I looked to my left. There was a girl I recognized from class sitting alone. Every once in a while, she would look at us, and then quickly glance away.

  She looked…lonely.

  I was so proud of Chase for making a friend, and I really liked Bryce. He was smart, funny, and had a hell of an IQ. He and Chase had hit it off immediately, and it turned out they had a lot in common, including their love of Marvel characters.

  Our little group had been hanging for a week now, just the three of us, and it was pretty much perfect if you asked me. But who said we couldn’t add to it?

  When she glanced our way again, I smiled and waved at her.

  She glanced behind her, frowned, and then looked at me again.

  I waved a second time.

  Smiling back, she waved.

  I gestured her over to the empty seat at our table and mouthed, “Wanna join?”

  “What are you doing?” Chase stage whispered.

  “Making more friends.” I gestured her over again. “Come on.”

  Nodding, she stood, collecting all her things with trembling hands. She practically ran over, smiling at me. “Hi.”

  “Hey, I’m Taylor.” I pointed at Chase, who lifted a hand and waved. “My boyfriend, Chase.” Then Bryce, who winked at her. “And Bryce.”

  “I’m Anna,” she said, flushing and looking at Bryce a second time.

  So. She was into nerdy guys.

  Excellent.

  “Are you waiting for someone to join you?” I asked politely.

  “N-No. I’m by myself.” She shifted her books in her hands. “My roommate has like ten people over, and I couldn’t concentrate, so I left.”

  “Didn’t want to join in the party?” Bryce asked, crossing his arms.

  “Nah. They’re not really my type.”

  “What type are they?” Chase asked.

  “Football players. Cheerleaders.” She shuddered. “Jocks.”

  Chase twisted his lips. “They’re pretty much all assholes.”