AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, right,” Liam scoffs. “He’s only considering playing at Arlington because of you! Overhigher-rankedprograms!”
“Liam, I get why you’re upset. I know you’ve always wanted to play there. But I only just applied. I might not even get in, and a lot could change between—”
“Maeve, your grades are perfect, you’re student council president, and you were captain of a soccer team that just won state for the first time ever. You’re going to get in, and he’s going to follow you there, and I’m going to spend another four years stuck in Weston Cole’s shadow.”
“You don’t know that! We’ve never even discussed going to the same school. A lot could change between now and then. There’s a good chance he’ll change his mind and end up going to Lincoln to please his dad.”
“He announced to Mom and Dad at dinner he’s choosing a school based on where you go, Maeve. That doesn’t sound like someone who’s going to change his mind.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Liam,” I reply. “I’m sorry you’re upset, but this isn’t my fault.”
“Of course it’s your fault! Every other girl in Glenmont manages to stick to the guys in town, andmysister is the one stupid enough to fall for the Alleghany quarterback? Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is for me, Maeve? How much shit the team is giving me?”
I can feel it coming. The moment Wes was talking about. The moment where I have to choose.
“I’m sorry you feel personally attacked by the person I fell in love with, Liam,” I reply. “But I won’t apologize for it. And it would be nice if you could just be happy for me rather than tossing insults. And also tell your team to shut up about my love life.”
“Oh, that’s what I’m supposed to say when they make comments about my sister sleeping with the enemy? ‘Shut up’?”
“It’s none of their business.”
“You made it the entire school’s business, Maeve! As soon as you got involved with a guy from Alleghany. I mean, any guy would have been bad enough, but Weston fucking Cole?”
“Why do you hate him so much?”
That question pulls Liam up short. “You’re joking, right?”
“No, I mean it. Aside from the rivalry. Why don’t you like him?”
“He’s a jerk.”
“Which you know from… what? All the quality time you’ve spent together over the past few years?”
“No. I’ve heard stuff, okay?”
“So you believe every rumor you hear?”
Liam’s face hardens. “I doubt they’re all lies.”
“But you don’t believe me when I say he’s a good person, and he makes me happy? I mean, Liam, you’re upset because he wants to go to the same school as me. I get why you’re threatened by that, but it might not be all bad. He could help—”
Liam snorts. “I don’t need help from Weston Cole when it comes to football.”
“Fine. But if you’re asking me to pick you over him, I won’t.”
Fresh betrayal streaks across Liam’s face at my words. He strides out into the hallway, and I hear his door slam shut a few seconds later. I finish getting ready and head downstairs.
My father and Wes are standing in the entryway, talking. To my immense shock, they’re both smiling.
“Ready?” I ask Wes, coming to a stop beside them.
“Yup,” he confirms.
“Weston was just telling me you run drills at the track every other night,” my father says. “I was thinking I might come with you tomorrow night, if that’s okay?”
I stare at him, gobsmacked. Now that my season is over, I wasn’t planning on training tomorrow night, but I’m not about to dissuade my father from something I’ve hoped he’d do for years.
“Um, yeah. Sure,” I reply.
