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With the orders given, she nods her head and walks away.
Sitting on the couch, I’m leaning forward with both elbows resting on my knees and my head in my hands when I hear Murphy. “You know something isn’t right with the world when that girl is the voice of reason.”
Bash and I just look at him.
Then we all hear Tiffany’s voice floating almost musically, back down the stairs.
“I heard that, Murphy.” No one laughs, but it lightens the air a bit.
Standing up, I move to talk to Cooper, but Bash pushes off the counter first.
“I’ve got him, QB. Go change your shirt before your girl gets back downstairs. It’s got blood on it, and she doesn’t need to see that shit anymore tonight.”
Murphy’s looking at Bash like he sprouted another head. “His girl?”
Bash is walking out of the door but turns his head back. “Yeah. His girl. Pay attention, Murph.” Then he walks out.
“What the hell is he talking about, man?” Murph’s question is directed at me, but I’m already halfway up the stairs and don’t bother answering him.
Bash is right. That girl is mine, and I’m a fucking idiot for not realizing it sooner.
The door to the girl’s bathroom is shut as I walk past. I can hear a burst of subdued laughter inside and hope to God that’s a good sign.
I head into my bedroom, ripping off my shirt as I go. Walking into the bathroom, I throw it on the floor. Reaching into my bag, I sort through the clothes I packed until I find my favorite white Kroydon Prep shirt. It’s soft and old and might possibly be the most comfortable thing I own.
After I change and wash my face, I flex and stretch out my right hand a few times to make sure I didn’t fuck up my throwing hand by hitting Darby. I wouldn’t regret it if I did, but it would complicate my season and possibly my scholarship and position next year. I hadn’t thought about that as I was about to beat the life out of that fucking piece of shit.
I wasn’t going to stop.
I think I was ready to kill him.
If it hadn’t been for Nat’s hand wrapping around my wrist, I might have killed him. It was like her touch grounded me from the electricity coursing through my body, reminding me it was more important to take care of her than it was to kill him.
I’m usually better at seeing the big picture than I was tonight.
I’m the guy that thinks everything through.
I always have.
I don’t act on impulse or emotion, and I’m never reactionary.
I didn’t even see Nat walk down to the beach with him.
Darby’s had a shit attitude all summer. After he got bumped from tight end and moved to left tackle, he started gunning for Coop, but it his attitude started before that. He’s had issues with Coop since he joined the team. Thought it was unfair that the new kid was going to steal someone else’s playing time.
Is that what this was? Did he retaliate against Cooper by hurting his sister? We’ve never been tight, but I wouldn’t have expected this from him. This mother fucker is supposed to be protecting my blindside this season, and there is no way I can ever trust him now.
If he can even show his face at practice next week.
I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I’ve got to pull the insane amount of shit I’m feeling together, but my brain is running in a million directions.
Could I have stopped whatever happened from happening?
Is Nat okay?
Did my entire season just get fucked up the ass?
Will this affect my future?
