by Harlow Layne
Again, West paused as if he was about to help me but thought better of it. I continued to make my way to the top of the stairs and sat down by myself. When anyone attempted to sit by me, I gave them the fuck you vibe so I’d be left alone.
Once class was over, I turned in my assignment that was due with a smile on my face when I saw the shocked look on Mr. Randall’s face. He must have thought I wasn’t going to show up or turn in my work. Fuck him. I wasn’t stupid. I wasn’t one of those jocks who always had someone else doing his work and could barely read. Every grade I got was from my work and my work alone.
West was leaning on the wall outside of class when I came out. I didn’t bother looking his way. Instead, I kept walking in the quest for coffee. Luckily, there was a Starbucks in the library next door.
I tried to pull out my wallet, but with my backpack on my good shoulder, I realized I needed to drop my bag just to be able to get my money. Of course, not even getting coffee could be simple.
Shrugging off my backpack and dropping it to the ground, I paid for my large coffee. Dipping down to pick up my bag, I noticed it was gone. I was about to go off and kick someone’s ass for stealing my shit when I found West standing behind me holding my bag.
Handing it over, he asked. “Do you need any help between now and our next class together?”
Fuck this guy. Why was he so damn nice? Especially to me.
“I’m good,” I answered back as nicely as I could, which didn’t come out very nice at all. Hell, I was trying even if I didn’t know why.
He held out a piece of paper until I took it from him. “If you need anything, call or text me. Otherwise, I’ll see you in class.”
All I could do is give him a chin nod. Every time West was nice to me, it astounded me. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad having him as a friend. The only problem was I knew if I spent more time with West, I would only continue to see how amazing he was, and I’d want more.
For the rest of the day, those thoughts continued to run through my head. The guys all liked West, and Oz was constantly wondering why I hated him so much. Of course, I couldn’t tell him it was because what I really wanted to do when West was near me was to kiss him until we were both breathless.
Instead of waiting for me outside of class, I found West leaning against my car while looking down at his phone. Maybe it was his boyfriend. “Are you ready to go home? I can drop you and your car off before I head to practice.”
He had to remind me; I was the only one who wouldn’t be at practice today, tomorrow, or the next day. I wasn’t even sure if I was going to be back this season.
“Do you think we can pick up something to eat? I really don’t want to have to make myself anything.” Plus, there was no point in me eating healthy if I wasn’t training or playing. All my hard work since arriving was for nothing, and I was going to gorge myself with food to forget about it.
“The only place that’s close is the bar or that barbecue joint. Did you—”
“Take me to get ribs,” I muttered as I started to make a takeout order on my phone.
“You know,” West drew out the words and then paused until I looked up from my phone. “Do you know how I started to get the same meal package brought to the house as you and Oz?”
Going back to my phone, I answered. “You paid for it.”
“You know I can’t afford it, so it had to be someone else who’s being overly generous. Do you know who? I’d like to thank whoever it is.”
I was never going to let him thank me. I was still not sure what came over me or why I set him up for the rest of the school year.
“Maybe it was your boyfriend.” That seemed like something a boyfriend would do.
The car was quiet until we hit the red light before the restaurant turn-off. West slammed his hands on the steering wheel and let out a loud grunt. “Where the hell did you get the idea that I have a boyfriend? I haven’t… I’ve never had a boyfriend, just a… hookup.” He swallowed roughly.
“So your hookup paid for it and didn’t want you to know.” It didn’t matter what he called the guy he spoke on the phone with; he still had a love interest.
“Fucking hell, Fin, I don’t have a hookup. Not in a long time, I… I just don’t, okay? So stop saying I do.”
“What do you call the guy you talk to on the phone?” I questioned because, seriously, this man was in denial.
The light turned green, and West pulled into The Bays BBQ Joint’s parking lot before he looked back over at me. “I don’t know who you’re talking about. The only people I talk to on the phone are my family. Maybe you need to get your head checked out because I think you hit it when your shoulder got taken out.”
“My head is just fucking fine. I’ve heard you talk to him at least twice.” Why was he making this so difficult? Did he think I’d hook up with him if I thought he didn’t have a boyfriend? I guess Weston Jackson wasn’t as perfect as I thought he was.
Hopping out of the SUV, I went inside to pick up my food. I was going to fill myself up until I was about to burst while the rest of my team got put through the wringer.
When I came back out, West was waiting for me with a curious look on his face. I’d barely got my ass in the seat when he asked. “Did you by any chance hear this mysterious boyfriend’s name while you were eavesdropping?”
“Yeah, it’s actually quite gross. It’s Easton.” Why would he go out with a guy who almost had the exact same name as him?
“Easton,” West sputtered out and then started laughing. He threw his head back and cackled. I hated the way his smile made me feel in that moment. “You can’t be serious.”
“I know what I heard.”
“You heard me talking to my brother, Easton.”
Well, that changed things.
18
West
It had been four long days of Fin looking at me strangely after he learned Easton was my brother. I wasn’t sure why it made a difference, but it seemed to. If it wasn’t that, I had no idea why he was looking at me differently. The only thing I knew was I didn’t like it.
Now, as I tried to finish my homework after practice, Fin was standing outside my door waiting for me to acknowledge him. Either that or he’d become a really shitty stalker.
After another few minutes, I set my pen down and let out an annoyed sigh. “What do you want, Fin?”
The patter of his bare feet on the hardwood floor let me know he moved closer. “How’d you know I was here?”
“I’ve known the entire time, but I got tired of waiting for you to either say something. Come inside, or leave me alone.”
Turning so I could get a look at him, I scanned Fin up and down. He was in another one of my shirts with his long strands of hair a mess and hanging down, covering one eye. Then there were his bare feet. I didn’t know what it was, but I found it sexy as hell when I saw him like that. I always liked what I saw when I discretely checked him out. “I don’t have all night. I’m tired and need to finish my homework, so what do you need?”
“Who said I need anything?” he retorted.
“I say because you never come to me, so it must mean you need or want something,” I turned back around and woke my laptop up. “So, spill.”
“I had my appointment with the doctor today,” he said from behind me with a solemn voice.
I could only assume by his tone the news wasn’t good. When the spring on my bed squeaked, I didn’t have to look back to know he’d sat down and had his head hung. I’d done my fair share of stalking Fin since we were under one roof.
“I’m out for the rest of the season, if not longer. I might never be QB one ever again.” The sadness in his tone had a lump forming in my throat, making it nearly impossible to swallow.
Swiveling my chair around, I found Fin exactly like I’d imagined him. His right arm was in his sling, his head was down, and his left hand was in a fist. “Why aren’t you telling this to Oz or anyone else for that matter?”
Lifting his he
ad, Fin’s black eyes stared lifelessly back at me. “Oz’s sister called during his first class and needed him, so he’s in LA for the night.”
I wanted to ask him why he didn’t go with Oz, but I guess Fin had his doctor’s appointment and couldn’t miss it.
While I hated that I wasn’t Fin’s first choice, not that it was a surprise, it did make me happy he came to me. It was sad how desperate I was for his attention.
“What did the doctor say?”
“If I rest it for the next month and then rehab my shoulder, I shouldn’t have any long-lasting effects from the injury. He couldn’t promise I’d be starting next season, though.”
Of course, the doctor couldn’t guarantee it, but I didn’t tell Fin that. “Your determination isn’t lacking, so I don’t see what the problem is. Once you can start training, you will. Hell, you might come back better than ever.”
Fin had been working out harder than anyone on the team before his injury. He stayed late for extra workouts and doing his own drills, and it showed in his playing. Well, it had. I had no doubt if he was physically able to, he’d come back even more of a badass.
“I wish I had your faith in me. After Coach finds out, my world is going to turn upside down. It’s not fair; I’ve done everything right.”
I wasn’t sure what he was talking about in regard to doing everything right, but I’d come back to that later.
I felt my brows pull together. “What does Coach have to do with anything?”
His eyes narrowed as he gritted out. “Who lives in this house?”
“Football players,” I answered back with a clear duh in my tone.
“What kind of players?”
For a second, I had no idea what he was talking about, but then it clicked. “Starters,” I said quietly, afraid of how he’d react when I answered his question.
“Exactly, and I’m no longer a starter or a player for that matter.”
“You’re not going to be kicked off the team.”
His black orbs drilled into me as he spoke each word with conviction. “Maybe not, but one thing I know for sure is I’m not the starting quarterback for the rest of the season, and that means I won’t be living here.”
“Coach won’t kick you out,” I said adamantly.
“Sure, he will. What’s the point of having a house for your starting team and then let anyone live in it?”
He kind of had a point, but I didn’t want to give his words merit. Surely Coach wouldn’t leave Fin homeless.
“See, you’re speechless, which means it can’t be good.”
I guess I’d been quiet for too long. “Don’t assume anything until you talk to Coach. Are you going to the game tomorrow?”
Fin shrugged his good shoulder and was quiet for a few moments. “Do you mind if I study with you?
“Um…” Was I dreaming? Because this wasn’t Fin. He didn’t come to talk to me, and he definitely didn’t ask to hang out with me.
“Yeah, it’s cool. I’ll just go back to my room,” Fin muttered as he looked around my room like he hadn’t been in here before.
“No,” I called out after I picked my jaw up off the floor. “You can stay or go get your stuff and come back. I’m just shocked you want to hang out.”
“I like your room. It’s…” His eyes landed on me. “Homey.”
I felt the corners of my mouth tip down. “Our rooms are the same.”
“You’ve added personality. You’ve got pictures of your family.” He picked up one with Easton and me. My arm was around his shoulders, and we had big smiles on our faces. It was taken by our mom when Willow Bay offered me a full scholarship to play football. One corner of Fin’s mouth quirked up. “I’m guessing this is you and Easton.”
“Yeah, that’s my little brother. He’s a freshman in high school this year.”
“I always wanted to have a sibling. Someone I could commiserate with on how shitty my parents are. It must be nice.”
“For the most part, I kind of feel guilty, not being there for him and my mom. He’s more alone than ever since my mom is working all the hours she can.”
Why was I telling him my life story?
“Shut up. I swear when I think you can’t be any more of a goodie-two-shoes, you say something like that.”
Sitting up straighter, I lifted my chin and looked down at him. “Just when I think you’re not going to be an asshole to me any longer, you go and say something like that. If you want to study with me, you need to—”
“Not be an asshole. Yeah, I got it.” He stood and walked out of my room. I wasn’t sure if he was coming back or not. Especially not after that. I went back to reading my book and typing up my paper when Fin came back in.
Throwing his bag on my bed, Fin made a lot of noise with some paper and shifting around, causing my attention to be tuned to him. While Fin being in my room was a dream come true, I couldn’t let him fuck up my studies. I was about to kick him out when he was finally quiet.
Ten minutes later, Fin broke the silence. “Are you ready for the test on Monday?”
“Not in the slightest.” I laughed.
Mr. Randall’s class was notoriously difficult, and until I knew the type of tests he was giving us, I was going to be stressed over whether or not I knew everything I needed to. He loved to change it up. I swore it was in the hopes we’d fail.
Scooting back on my bed, Fin leaned back against the wall and then crossed his ankles as he read his sociology book. “Maybe Sunday we can quiz each other.”
Was he making plans for us to hang out a couple of days from now?
Turning in my chair, I gave him my full attention. “Are you feeling okay?”
Fin didn’t bother to look up when he answered. “As good as I can with a fucked up shoulder.”
“Am I in an episode of Punk’d?”
Even though Fin didn’t look up, I saw one lone brow rise. “I’m pretty sure that show hasn’t been on since like two thousand and seven.”
“I didn’t know you were a prodigy on all shows on MTV,” I quipped. It was strange having a normal conversation with him where he wasn’t threatening me or being a general asshole.
“Only the good ones.” He finally looked up at me. “What are you working on?”
“The paper for Mr. Randall’s class. I’m surprised you’re not working on it.”
Not that Fin had to worry about his grades to pay for his tuition at Willow Bay, so maybe he didn’t care as much as I did.
“I finished it last night.” A slow smirk grew on his handsome face, making my heart rate pick up. “I even did the extra credit.”
Fucker. He probably did a half-ass job, and that’s why he needed to do the extra credit.
Cocking his head to the side, he asked. “Do you need help with yours?”
“No,” I answered as I turned back to my laptop. “What I need is for you to stop bothering me.”
“I can leave if you want me to.” He slammed his book closed, making me look over my shoulder at him.
I knew Fin would never tell me if he wanted or needed to hang out with me, but I had a feeling tonight he did, especially with Oz being out of town and getting the news from his doctor that he was out for the rest of the season.
Maybe tomorrow before the game, I’d talk to Coach and make sure there wasn’t a possibility they’d kick Fin out of the starting football players’ house.
“You can stay.” I turned because I couldn’t look at him when I said, “but try and stay quiet. I need to finish this damn paper.”
Not even ten minutes had gone by when I heard him shift around on my bed and let out a huff. As if his presence wasn’t distracting enough. I tried to ignore him, but after a few more huffs and listening to his body slide on my comforter, I gave up doing my homework for the time being.
Standing, I stretched my arms over my head after being at my desk for so long. “Are you hungry?”
Fin’s eyes were black pools of lust as he watched me. “Always.”
>
I wasn’t sure if he was talking about me or food, but I knew he’d only take one out of the two, and it wasn’t me.
“How about we get out of here, go to The Bar, and grab something to eat? It is a Friday, after all.”
“Sure, I guess.” He shrugged, placing his book on my bed. “I can’t cook anyway.”
If he wasn’t down, I would have laughed at his comment on cooking. All Fin did was heat the meals that were brought to him.
He looked down at himself and then started to walk out of the room. “I’m going to slip on a pair of shoes.
I waited by the stairs for him, and then we descended them together. The second we stepped outside, Fin looked over at me. “Do you mind if we walk? I need the exercise. I’ve been a sloth all week.”
It didn’t bother me to walk. Typically, I walked to my classes to not waste gas or put unnecessary miles on my already aged truck.
Since our house was at the end of the street and there wasn’t a sidewalk, we walked in the middle of the road. At night, I didn’t venture out by myself anymore. To the outside world, I portrayed that I was over the incident at Alpha Mu, but every time I walked past their house, a shiver went down my spine. The Greek house had been reprimanded, but so far, no one had spoken up about who drugged me or whose idea it was to convert the gay out of me.
“I can’t believe they have the balls to have a party,” Fin gritted out as we passed the Alpha Mu house. The entire house was lit up from the inside, and you could hear the faint beat of music from the street. “They need to be shut down. Permanently.”
I didn’t disagree, but I wasn’t sure what we could do about it. Coach told me to let the school deal with it, and he’d make sure Alpha Mu didn’t get away with what they’d done to me.
“The Dean hasn’t done shit,” he argued as if he heard my thoughts.
“We’ve got to give them time. No one’s talking.”
“I bet if we got a few of the guys in a room with a select few Alpha Mus, we could convince them to give up a name or two.” His tone was dead serious, giving me pause.
