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My heart leaped into my throat.
“Want me to stay?” Ashleigh whispered, but I shook my head.
“It’s fine, go. I’ll catch up with you later.”
I didn’t meet Jason’s piercing stare as we waited for the crowd to disperse.
“Let’s walk,” he said.
I fell into step beside him as we walked away from the school building and around the side toward the gym.
“Want to tell me what that was all about?”
“How do you know it had anything to do with me?” I peeked up at him.
“Peyton, I may be what you kids consider old, but I’m no fool. There are only two reasons guys fight like that. Because they’re ass over elbow drunk, or over a woman. And since it’s no secret Bryan has a soft spot for you…”
“Fine, you got me.” I inhaled a ragged breath. “But I didn’t know that was going to happen.”
“I’m not blaming you, Peyton.” Jason held open the door to the locker room and ushered me inside.
It was strange being in here when it was empty. Not that I made a habit of sneaking into the boys locker room. I didn’t. But me, Ashleigh, and Poppy had snuck in once or twice to prank Aaron.
“Sit,” he said, motioning to the chair opposite his desk. “Now, why don’t you tell me what really happened?”
“Bryan was just defending me.”
Anger flickered in his eyes, but not the wild kind that had been simmering in Sean’s gaze earlier. No, this was the calm, controlled type of anger that came with years of learning to harness your emotion.
“Did Sean…do something to hurt you?”
“He… he said some things. Things I’d rather not repeat.”
“Peyton, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what happened.”
“I went out with him Saturday, as friends,” I quickly added. “He misread the situation.”
“You said you were hanging out with friends Saturday.”
“I was… or at least, I thought I was.” My eyes darted to my hands.
“I see.” His words were tight. “And where were you hanging out?”
“It wasn’t like… that.” I lifted my gaze to his. He was Lily’s dad, the man who had taken me in when I had nowhere else to go. I owed him. I owed him more than I could ever repay. But still, it felt weird talking to him about this stuff. And it had nothing to do with the fact I was still keeping some things to myself.
“Hey, Jase—sorry, I didn’t realize you were busy.”
My heart fluttered at Xander’s voice. I felt him behind me, felt the tension rippling off him.
“What is it?”
“It can wait,” he said. “Is everything okay?” His eyes burned holes into the back of my head, but I didn’t glance back because I knew if I did, I’d give myself away.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Jase said. “We’ll be done soon and then we can go over those game tapes.”
“Sounds good.” Xander tapped the door. “I’ll be in the assistant coaches’ office.”
Jason gave him a small nod, waiting for him to leave. “Sorry about that.”
