Page 88 of Cheap Shot

I sighed and pulled my phone out. Four missed calls from Ethan. I showed Reid the screen. “Doesn’t he know I’m with you?”

He nodded, looking worried. “Call him back.”

I tapped on his name and waited for him to answer.

“Haley! Where are you?”

My heart pounded against my chest. He sounded so freaked out. “At dinner with Reid.”

“When are you guys going to be back? I need to talk to you. Both of you.”

Reid leaned forward and whispered, “Is he okay?”

I shook my head. My brother had clearly lost his mind.

“What’s going on?”

Ethan groaned. “Just picture the worst possible situation.”

Well, that wasn’t much to go on, but suddenly my mind was filled with hundreds of possibilities. Was it our mom? Dad? Had there been an accident? Did he get kicked off the team? Was someone dead? Jay was locked up, pending his trial so it didn’t have to do with him.

“Are you being dramatic, or did something actually happen, Ethan?” I really needed him to pull himself together.

“Just come back.” He sounded so defeated.

“We’re on our way.” Reid met my eyes and stood before I even ended the call. He took my hand in his, and we left the thoughtful, romantic dinner behind.

“No matter what, it’s you and me now. You know that right?” He stopped at the corner and looked down at me with so much love, patience, and determination in his eyes.

I nodded and rose on my toes with my hands on his chest. He met me, and the moment our lips connected, I knew his words were true. It was me and him now. And forever.

Chapter 30

Reid

Whatever was wrong had to be told to us in person and couldn’t wait for us to finish dinner, so it had to be bad. Haley was freaking out over the possibilities, but when we walked in to find Ethan sprawled out on his bed, staring vacantly at the ceiling, I felt her relax next to me.

I was going to kill him.

My so-called best friend was the most dramatic person I’d ever met. I expected to see Ethan gravely injured or an emotional mess due to some disaster involving their parents.

“What’s going on?” She moved to his side, but he didn’t bother reacting.

I glared at him from my side of the room, waiting for the theatrics to begin. I was tempted to take Haley’s hand and drag her back to the restaurant to finish the three courses I had planned. Things obviously weren’t as dire as he made it seem. Whatever was causing his freak out could wait an hour.

“Ethan? Come on? We’re here, so tell us what happened,” Haley pleaded, the patience quickly leaving her voice.

He didn’t even twitch.

I stepped forward and shoved his side, but he didn’t react. I picked up his leg closest to me and started to pull, intending on dragging him off the bed, and when he realized what I was doing, he kicked out of my grasp and sat up.

“I’m in mourning, dude. Careful.” He dropped his head into his hands.

“What are you mourning?” Haley asked. “Did something happen to Mom or Dad?”

He grumbled something, but I couldn’t understand him. I smacked his wrist, and his head shot up so he could glare at me. “No. They’re fine as far as I know.”

She let out a relieved sigh. “Then what is it? We rushed over here for you, so start talking.”