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Xander
Lettingher walk away from me was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. Something was wrong. And not just with us. But with her.
I’d heard there was a fight and the second Bryan Hughes and Sean Farrow’s names were mentioned, my mind instantly went to Peyton.
Had that little shit done something to her? Said something?
Peyton was already so fragile. Strong yes, but her strength was cracked. Fractured. And I hadn’t helped matters. But I had responsibilities. I worked here, and she… she was a student here. Did she understand the kind of shitshow that would rain down on us if the truth came out?
I’d always been a morally gray character, but I drew the line at the corruption of a minor. Even if her soul called to mine like a moth to a flame.
Fuck.
Everything was so fucked.
I pounded my fist on the wall, wincing with the bolt of pain that ricocheted up my arm.
“Chase?” A familiar voice said. “What the hell are you doing out here?” Coach Huckley appeared, eyeing me with disdain.
“Just needed a smoke,” I lied.
“You need to quit that shit, and no smoking on school property. You should know better than that,” he sneered.
“It’s been a rough morning. Give a guy a break, yeah?” My brows quirked up, but his grimace didn’t budge.
“You’re lucky I caught you out here and not a group of kids. It sets no example for—”
“I get it,” I snapped, growing tired of his bullshit lectures. “We should probably head back inside.” Barging past him, I went to turn the corner, but his voice stopped me at the last second.
“I know he’s offered you a permanent position, Chase.”
“That’s between me and Ja—Coach Ford.” I glanced back.
“That’s the thing though, a decision like that affects all of us.”
My brows pinched. “If there’s something you want to say, Huckley, then spit it out.”
His tawny eyes narrowed, full of contempt and judgment. “You don’t deserve to be here. Good men were overlooked for you.”
“Say what you really mean,” I grumbled. “Look, Darryn, you don’t like me, fine. But I’m here to do a job and while I am, I’m going to do it. If you have a problem with that, take it up with the boss.”
I didn’t look back as I went around and slipped inside the gym.
“Problem?” Jase said the second I reached his office.
“Just Huckley doing his civic duty to remind me I don’t belong here.”
“I know the guy can be a little… difficult—”
“Difficult? He’s just waiting for me to drop the ball so he can pounce.”
“He’s harmless.” Jase let out a small sigh.
“We’ll see.”
Five minutes earlier, and he would have caught me and Peyton. That would have been all the ammunition he needed.
“You wanted to see me earlier?”
