CHAPTER 1
Regroup
Harper
The guys are quiet on the car ride to Caden’s. I’m in the back of Eli’s car with Luke in the front seat. I told Kenz we weren’t going to the party tonight when Coach Turner dropped us off at the school.
The guys seem preoccupied, so I keep quiet too. I haven’t told them about what their teammate Ethan said to me in the hallway. It seemed too provocative, too much like a tease to get them to show their cards. I don’t want them to get hurt getting back at Ethan.
Besides, we need to talk about everything that happened. Ethan is the last thing on the list. They set up this elaborate trap to figure out which of the guys they trusted was stabbing them in the back. Decoys of me at different locations where the players knew I would be and sent someone to helpprotectme.
Obviously, whatever went down on the cameras wasn’t what they were hoping. It’s time to regroup and figure out a strategy.
I just hope Brandon is off the hook, because that might exonerate Kenz. Which my best friend should just be off the list by default, but not according to my boyfriends.
Eli pulls up to Caden’s and shuts off the car. “We have a lot to discuss tonight.”
His dark eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror.
“Then let’s go.” I open the back door and step out as the others arrive in Caden’s car. We’re silent as we round to the back. The house looms dark in the night.
Caden taps something on his phone and lights turn on inside the house, making it feel less ominous. It’s still huge though. He opens the door and we all file in, but no one stops in the rec room.
I follow them into the house and through the corridors to Caden’s room. Jack breaks off with Nico and they head toward the kitchen. When we reach Caden’s room, Luke collapses into one of the chairs. His dark expression makes him feel closed off.
Caden sets down his keys and pulls out his wallet to put on the dresser. His green eyes flick over me, but no one moves to touch me. I wrap my arms around my waist and sink onto the couch, kicking off my shoes.
Eli sits beside me, but it’s almost like his mind is fully focused on whatever plan he’s concocting. I don’t want to interrupt any of them. They’re processing something. They’ll let me in on it when they finish. Right?
The door opens and Jack carries a couple bottles of alcohol while Nico carries in food. Fuck, I don’t know when I last ate today. Jack sets the bottles down on the coffee table and pulls out some shot glasses from his pockets.
There are six of them.
My hands tighten as I clasp them together. The energy isn’t good. It’s heavy and weighs me down. I’m not afraid, but they’re angry. I don’t want to add to that with what I have to tell them. Ethan knows something though, so I have to tell them.
Jack pours the shots and hands one to each of the guys as they sit around the coffee table. Jack sits next to me and gives me a shot glass of vodka.
“That bad?” I whisper, afraid to break whatever thing they have going on.
“That bad.” He taps my glass with his and downs the shot. I do the same, feeling it burn down my throat.
“They’re all fucking traitors.” Luke puts his empty shot glass on the table. His blue eyes lift to mine. “Every last one of them.”
I swallow. I don’t know what to do here. Am I supposed to comfort them? Go sit on his lap? Who do I go to first? Because right now, everyone looks a little broken.
“We don’t know that.” Eli spreads his arms on the back of the couch.
“What do we know?” I ask, trying to see who will be the one that will clue me in.
“The man in black showed up at your house.” Caden tips the bottle to refill the shot glasses. He hands me mine. “The girl is safe. Tanner showed up at Crusty’s. And Zach and Sidney showed up at the diner.”
I hold my glass out and then pause. “Sidney was cheering at the game.”
“We had to get dressed and talk with the coach. The bus doesn’t go as fast as a car can go.” Eli taps my shot glass with his before downing it.
I down the second shot and flip my cup over. That one feels different moving down to my stomach. Not bad, but I have a feeling I could get trashed long before any of them.
“We know nothing.” Nico runs a hand through his hair.
