Page 29 of Forever Relentless

Jason stepped back, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “I just want to play ball.”

“Spit it out before I knock it out.” Noah took one step forward.

Whoa, I was not expecting that. But it worked; Moore looked wary.

“Hey, let him talk,” Dustin said, pulling on Noah’s arm but not moving him an inch.

Noah looked down at the hand on his arm, and then at Jason. It was not friendly. “You heard him. Talk.”

Chapter 7

Briar

Moore looked at them all and then focused on Dante. “Erm . . .”

“I know, it’s complicated,” Dante said, his voice so low that I could barely hear him. “It’s okay, you can talk freely in front of us.”

I needed to be closer, so I began inching along the floor, aware that I couldn’t make any noise and that at any moment one or more of them might see me.

But I needed to hear this. I knew I did. I’d moved maybe three or four chairs over, and when I peeked through the gap, I could see Dustin’s back. I couldn’t see Dante’s face, but I could see the profiles of Jason and Noah.

Jason looked around, seeing no one else there; he had the look of a man who knew he was cornered and had no way out, unless it was through the six-four linebacker.

Jason may have been slightly taller; he may have been fit in his own right, but Noah just had a presence that said ‘don’t fucking mess with me.’

Noah stepped closer. “You tell us, or we find out ourselves, and trust me, one of those options is easier for you.”

Jesus.

Jason grimaced as he looked away. “I got it, Matthews, you’re the bad guy.” He shook his head, his eyes on the seats very close to where I was hiding. I tried not to breathe.

“Jason?” Dante prompted.

I knew the others were getting impatient, but I saw Noah shake his head slightly and wondered whether he was looking at Dante.

Dante adjusted his body slightly, and I could see him a little clearer. I saw him dip his head slightly, a signal from their playbook or something, because Noah seemed to step back.

Dante Spence, the linebacker whisperer.

“I got a girl,” Jason finally said, his voice lowered. “Laurie-Anne,” he added, even though I would challenge anyone on this field not to know her name — she was in every second post he created on social media.

I glanced at Noah, and I took that back; okay, maybe not everyone on the field would know her name.

“We’ve been together since we were fourteen.” Jason moved his weight from one foot to another as he scratched the back of his head. I saw him check his surroundings to ensure it was only the four of them.

“You cheated on Laurie-Anne?” I heard Dustin ask incredulously. “Really?”

Jason looked like he wanted to run, even if Noah was in his way.

“I’m going to assume that she doesn’t know?” Dante asked Jason coolly.

The look Jason gave him was a mix of ‘are you crazy?’ and ‘what do you think?’

“And you told someone who is holding it over you?” Dustin assumed, and I remembered the picture he’d shown me, and the fact that it had been taken and sent to him.

Jason looked momentarily surprised and then let out a sharp grunt. His gaze was constantly bouncing between them. “I’m assuming—”

“What happened?” Dustin asked Jason, stepping closer and cutting him off, a confidant in a hostile environment.