Page 39 of Learning to Love

Jake pinches the bridge of his nose. When he speaks, his voice is low and even. He's trying not to lose his shit. "Nothing is going to happen to you, Dani. Tell us everything that went down."

He leads me to the couch, and I explain the scene from minutes before. When I finish, all anyone can say is, "fuck!"

Jake is quiet. His skin is ghastly pale. It takes him a minute to start talking. "I'm so sorry. I know it's bad, but don't worry. We’ll protect you. We've suspected he was selling drugs for a while now. We've been trying to catch him in the act but keep coming up empty-handed. Baby, I should have warned you!"

"Why did y'all suspect him of being a drug dealer?"

Jake sighs. "He almost got me kicked off the team last year. He put weed in my locker before the locker check. Then, certain drugs started showing up at some of the parties. Mollie was among them. We knew something was up, and when we got some of the other guys to ask around, the rumors all said Benji was the asshat."

"Do you think he will hurt me?"

"No. Benji won't get close to you! Do you hear me? You're going to be fine. I won't allow him to get even two feet near you. None of us will. You're safe. You did everything right today, Dani. That was smart."

He brings me in for another hug and kisses my trembling lips. "Let's go to my room. I want to hold you, baby. I was so scared when they showed me your text. I need to make sure you're okay." I don't protest. I'm still in shock. I need Jake's warm embrace. He makes me feel safe and loved.

Chapter 22

The Plan

Jake

Everything Fearless 24/7

Why is every starter on the team at the Fearless house tonight? Hmm...what's going on in the Fearless Camp?

I thought I'd have more time to devise a plan, but I don't. I didn't want to worry Georgia this afternoon, but there's no way Benji doesn't know she saw something. He's an asshat, but a very smart asshat, unfortunately. He will retaliate in some way, which can't happen because I'll go to jail—point-blank.

I think I'm falling in love with this girl. I wait for the panic to set in, but it doesn't come. Even my heart rate is stable. Our relationship feels right. She feels right. When I didn't know what was going on this afternoon, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. She's mine. Nobody better try to hurt her, because like I said before...I'll go to jail. Locked up and in love!

I kiss Georgia on her forehead, then sneak out for a meeting with my boys. She's fast asleep, and I don't want her worrying about what needs to happen next. I hear the commotion in the living room and know that everyone is already here. They've got my back, and I've got theirs. The media may only talk about the Fearless Five, but this team is so great because every guy works together, not just the five of us. Teamwork makes the dream work.

I walk in and give them my best smile. I can't show the team how worried I am. I give Dallas a hard stare when I see Sasha sitting there beside him. Nothing against her, but I don't want her telling my girl what goes on during this meeting. He shrugs and looks away while she gives me a pointed stare. She's all business tonight. No wonder he couldn't talk her out of coming. She's not dumb, and she's not having any of our bullshit. I'm glad she cares about Georgia the way she does. I sit down on the stool someone put in front of the TV for me. "Okay, everyone! Let's get started."

I wait for them to simmer down. I invited the whole starting line. We need reinforcements, and nobody likes nor trusts Benji after what he did to me. "For those who don't know, my girl saw a drug deal go down today. The drug dealer was Benji and you may not know that I've been trying to catch him dealing because of what he did to me last semester."

I shake my head. I hate asking for help. "I've dealt with as much as I could alone. I'm worried, and I'm asking you for help now. We need to catch him in the act, and soon. Any ideas? It's time that asshat leaves our team and this school for good. I want him gone."

Jaxon speaks first. "How about you just let me kick his ass like I said earlier."

I laugh. Jaxon said it like a joke, but I know he means every word of that sentence. He cares about Georgia like a sister. "He does need his ass kicked, but that will only get you in trouble and leave him not expelled. We need him expelled. However, after the expulsion..."

Jaxon smiles. "I like the sound of that, bruh!"

Roger, a pretty decent tight end, speaks next. "I know he goes to McCarthy's every Friday night. He could be dealing there, man. Y'all think we can set up surveillance there and catch him?"

"That's a good idea actually. I think Benji is too smart to deal at school. I've followed him everywhere and never caught him in the act here. We'll have to get the police involved somehow, and he'll have to have enough on him that they consider it a felony and that, my friends, is how we get him expelled from school and out of our lives.”

Roderick Wilson, who's an Austin local, reveals something very interesting. "Where I come from, we like to call that a domino effect! My Uncle Chico is a member of a Narcotics Unit. I can get with him and ask about everything we need to do. He'll get us in touch with the right people. No doubt."

I take a deep breath. I feel like the weight of the world is finally off of my shoulders. "Everybody, keep your eyes and ears open, shits about to hit the fan. Rod, get back to me as soon as you talk to your uncle. We'll finalize plans then, and word will get back to everyone else. Also, I need my girl protected. We need to come up with a schedule for that. I'll be handling most of it, and I'll kick anyone's ass that hits on her. She's mine dickwads!"

They laugh and start talking shit about me being whipped. I shrug my shoulders and smile. I don't care. Dani and them curves are all mine. "Y'all can be jealous if you want to!"

They leave, and I start supper. My girl needs a good meal after her awful day. When I looked in her Target bags, I noticed that it was her lady time. My mom and sisters always love eating hearty meals during that week. I'm making Grandma Linda's Creole Gumbo tonight. It's got shrimp and sausage in the mix. She grew up in the swampy backwoods of Louisiana. She's an itty bitty thing, but she works hard and doesn't take crap from anyone. She's my favorite. Don't tell my granny, Doris.

I've been working hard for my Sweet Cheeks, and she rewards me with a slap to my rear. I turn around and put her in a headlock. She punches my arm, and I let her go. "Hey, my love." Her eyes go wide, but she doesn't say anything about my term of endearment. Once this whole fiasco is behind us, I will tell her I'm in love with her. I'll take her on some mushy barf-worthy date that, hopefully, she'll love. I just want to be with her, so I know I'll enjoy every minute.

"Whatcha making?"