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“Why not?” It came out flippant as if this was all some big game and Lily’s life didn’t matter. But it did matter. It mattered to me. “So,” Lindsey huffed, growing impatient, “do we have a deal?”
My eyes narrowed to slits. I couldn’t do this. No fucking way. But the alternative was no better. If that video got into the wrong hands, Lily’s senior year would be ruined. She’d never step foot into school again. And her father would never let me step foot near her again.
But Lily wasn’t going to be at Homecoming…
I could take Lindsey as my date, then explain everything to Lily after at Bryan’s. That way she wouldn’t spend the whole night worrying.
“IfI do this, you delete that video.”
“How do I know you’ll keep your end of the bargain?” She twirled one of her long braids around her finger as if she was the victim here, not the devil dressed up as Cheer Barbie.
“You don’t,” I hissed. “I guess you’ll just have to trust me.”
“Fine. But I want a kiss.” She licked her lips suggestively. “One kiss on the dance floor in front of the entire school.”
“No. Never going to happen.”
“It’s just one kiss, Kaiden. One little kiss and then you and Lily can ride off into the sunset together.”
I knew girls like Lindsey, and it wouldn’t just be one kiss.
It never was.
But what choice did I have?
“Fine. One kiss.”
If it protected Lily from public humiliation, I could do it. And then we could talk everything through at Bryan’s and come clean to her dad. Screw the scouts and football and the future. Lily was more important than all that put together, and after everything she’d been through, I had to do this.
“Delete the video,” I said, motioning to her cell phone.
“Fine.” She thumbed the trashcan icon and grinned up at me. “All done. I’ll see you after the game, Kaiden. Don’t be late.”
Lindsey flicked her immaculate braids off her shoulders and sauntered away like she hadn’t just dropped a huge fucking bomb.
I was still gawking after her when Gav’s car pulled up beside mine.
“Hey, man, what’s wrong?” Bryan said, frowning.
“Lindsey knows about me and Lily.”
“Oh shit,” he breathed. “What are you going to do?”
I looked at him and pressed my lips into a thin line. “Whatever I have to.”
* * *
I don’t knowhow I managed to keep focused during the game. Lindsey knew. She fucking knew and she was blackmailing me. It was an absolute clusterfuck. But somehow, I managed to keep my head. Which was a good thing considering Renshaw came at us with everything they had.
By the first half we were tied 12-12, but in the third quarter I’d managed to break free and run straight into the end zone, giving us the lead. It wasn’t my typical MO to run with the ball, but I needed to burn off some of the restless energy zipping through me. It was enough to give us the win and carry us one step closer to the playoffs.
“Good game, son.” Coach gave me a sharp nod as he breezed through the locker room looking sharp in a shirt and tie. “I’ll see you all at the dance.” He disappeared out of the door.
“Maybe you should have told him,” Gav said.
“I will, but not tonight. Not until I’ve talked to Lily.”
“We could just blow off the dance and head straight to mine,” Bryan suggested.
