Page 154 of Rebellious

Axel was right. Suddenly, Ryan was annoyed with himself. He’d fallen right back to his old mentality about CJ. Instead of seeing how it all played out, he’d been willing to walk away and probably allow resentment to fester.

“Ryan, do you want to be the fucking quarterback?” CJ asked.

He could keep his ass on his shoulders and pretend he didn’t care. He could even say he’d try to win fair and square because he knew the underlying message of CJ’s question. He’d get someone to intervene on Ryan’s behalf. But, fuck, he wanted his chance in the spotlight, too. He had a good arm and good instincts on the field.

“Yeah, CJ.”

“That only took twenty years off my fucking life,” Axel complained.

“I want to be on the team,” Rory admitted. “I’m still on the practice squad.”

“Suffer, bitch,” Axel said. “If CJ…” He glanced at the girls. “If you get on the fucking team soon, I will torture CJ as a traitor.”

At Rory’s crestfallen look, Ryan actually felt sorry for the motherfucker.

“Axel, can I ask you something?” CJ started.

“I guess, but I might not answer if I don’t like the question.”

“Fair enough, big head. I just want to know why you’re here and where are Ransom and Ryder?”

“They went to Turn Creek Bridge. We need a ride home. I stayed behind to let you know.” Axel grinned. “They told me to, so I think they went to the mall to buy me birthday stuffs.”

“I need a ride home,” Skye announced. “Unless I can share your Uber, Jaleena?”

“Can you share the cost?” she asked coolly.

Ryan really liked her bitchiness. It reminded him of how Harley was when she’d first moved into the cabin and alienated almost everyone. “I have Mom’s Jeep. I can take you both home, Skye.”

Skye laughed nervously. “Jaleena first since she lives the farthest.”

Skye probably didn’t want Jaleena knowing she lived in a trailer.

“Aunt Zoann gave you the keys to her Jeep?” CJ shook his head. “She must be going soft.”

Ryan wasn’t sure what was going on with his mother, but he was beginning to worry about her. “Mom knew I had practice and would be late. She’s been sick lately, so—”

“Sick?” Rory scoffed. “Yeah, courtesy of Uncle Val. She’s pregnant. Mattie told me.”

“Fuck me,” CJ groaned.

“No fucking way!” Ryan cried, grossed out by the idea that Dad…Mom…ewwww…

“That wasn’t your fucking business to tell, Rory,” CJ said.

“Wait, cuck. You knew?”

“I guessed, Ryan. My mom’s been pregnant all my fucking life. I knew the signs.”

Horror washed through him. “And that doesn’t gross you the fuck out?” Ryan cried. “That means they have…” He glanced around. “Sex.”

CJ shook his head. “Asshole, how do you think you and Devon got here?”

“Why wouldn’t she tell me?” Ryan asked, oddly hurt that she kept the information from him.

“She didn’t want to upset you,” CJ said with certainty.

He’d know. Rebel had crashed out when Aunt Meggie first turned up pregnant last year. She’d probably wanted to soften the blow for her daughter. That experience gave CJ insight into Mom’s reasoning.