“Yeah, what the hell?” Nick says. “Fine if he doesn’t agree with it, but that doesn’t give him the right to threaten to get rid of you.”
“Yeah, that’s fucked up,” Travis says.
I shake my head, feeling defeated despite the support from my teammates.
“There’s nothing I can do. If Coach wants to get rid of me because of this, he can. He’s the one in charge.”
That sinking feeling slams through my chest. When I think about everything I’m about to lose, it’s hard to breathe.
“I need a minute,” I say before walking up the stairs and into my bedroom.
Chapter 54
Briar
Iknock on Blake’s door.
“It’s me. Can I come in?”
He answers immediately. When I see the pained look on his face, my chest cracks in half.
I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight.
“I’m sorry. I know you wanted to be alone, but I wanted to check on you,” I say.
He slides his big, muscled arms around me, pulling me into his body. “You don’t need to be sorry. I should be sorry.”
I lean back to look at him. “Why?”
“I shouldn’t have just walked away like that. I didn’t mean to make you feel like I didn’t want you around. I do.”
“Blake, it’s okay. If you need to be alone to process everything, that’s fine.”
I start to pull away, but he holds me tighter.
“Don’t go. Please.”
My heart shatters. I reach up and cup his face in my hand. He closes his eyes and hums softly.
“The only person I want to be around right now is you,” he says.
Something hooks behind my ribcage. Something tight and warm.
I step into his bedroom, and he closes the door. He sits down on the bed and pulls me onto his lap. I straddle him, holding his face in my hands.
I’m not used to seeing Blake like this—sad and stressed. He’s always in a good mood. Always happy and joking.
As awful as everything is right now, I’m glad he’s not shutting me out. I’m glad he’s letting me see this vulnerable side of him.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” he says.
“What do you need from me?”
I know I can’t make any of this better. I know I can’t make it all go away.
“I’d do anything for you, Blake. Anything in the world.”
He’s quiet as he looks at me, emotion flickering in his ocean-blue eyes.
