“Yeah. We do. Allie’s with me and no way am I gonna let some hot head asshole come at her the way you are right now.”
He throws his head back and laughs, the other two following suit before he shakes his head and looks over my shoulder at the girl in question. “Alejandra, come out, come out wherever you are. Time to face the music, bebita. Or should I call Rome and tell him you’re making friends.”
She curses and I hear her storming up the sidewalk behind me. “Don’t you dare, Julio. You know how jealous he can get.
Julio smirks. “Yeah. I do.” He pulls out his phone and snaps a quick photo of Allie beside me. “Which is why I’mma make sure I’ve got evidence to back up my claim.” She curses and lunges for his phone, but he holds it up in the air with a laugh, playing keep away from her. I frown, not entirely sure what I’m supposed to do here, when the car doors close behind me and Kasey and Bibiana join us.
“Delete the picture and don’t be a butt head,” Allie tells him. “You’re already on my shit list for what you did.”
Julio groans. “It was an accident.”
“How exactly do you accidentally shove your tongue down my ex-best friend’s throat? Hmm?”
One of the other guys steps forward. “It’s not what you think, Allie. Adriana took advantage. Kissed him at a party, and when he realized who he was making out with, he pushed her away. Julio would never mess with her. You know that.”
She folds her arms over her chest and huffs. “Fine. You’re forgiven.”
Julio’s face breaks into a smile and he whoops before swooping in and throwing Allie over his shoulder. “Julio!” she cries out, and he smacks the back of her thighs. “Appreciate the forgiveness but now it’s your turn to repent for your sins.”
She squirms in his arms and he chuckles, carrying her like she weighs nothing. “I didn’t sin!” she swears, but none of them are buying it.
Julio turns to me, Allie still slung over his shoulder, and holds a hand out. “I’m Julio, by the way. This is Gabe. Felix.” He nods to the two boys beside him. “And it looks like you already met Meme.”
“Meme?” I ask, looking her way. Her cheeks flush, the skin darkening.
“It’s a nickname,” she stammers.
I cover my laugh with a cough. “I like it.” She bites her bottom lip and I turn back to Julio. “I’m Deacon. Kasey’s friend.”
“Ah…” He draws out the word. “So that’s how these three rebels roped you into their prank.”
I shrug. “You have any luck turning them down when they want something?”
He laughs at that. “I do not. Fair point. But we’ve still got a problem.”
I raise a single brow. “How do you figure?”
“You see, I’ve got a game tomorrow, and a field filled with plastic utensils.” He pats the back of Allie’s thigh again. “And don’t think I missed what you wrote there, Allie girl.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Julio huffs out an exasperated breath. “No? If that wasn’t you, what brings you to town?” She squirms in his hold and he finally releases her, carefully dropping her to the ground.
She glares at him. Not that it does her any good. Then she turns to me and says, “Deacon wanted to check out the school. See what your football team looks like.”
“Really?” Felix asks, not convinced in the slightest, but I back up Allie’s lie.
“Yeah, man. I’m not so sure Suncrest U is a good fit. Figured I’d see what PacNorth had to offer.”
“For fútbol?” he clarifies putting emphasis on the u.
“Uh, yeah.”
Gabe chuckles and shares a look with the other two, some silent communication passing between them. “Alright. How about we make a deal?”
“What are you offering?”
More communication passes between them. “Try to score a goal against me. I’ll give you three shots to score, but if you miss, you four have to de-fork our field. Today. Before our game.
