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She’d been a hardworking woman all her life. Busted her ass to raise me and give me the best life she could. We didn’t have much, but what we did have, she’d worked for. All she had was some meager savings and the trailer we lived in. She relied on the insurance to help pay for her medication and treatment. If it didn’t, there wasn’t a magic pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
I ran a hand through my hair, tugging on the ends in frustration. I needed to do something. I needed to fix it. To save her, the way she’d saved me when my mom abandoned me.
The door to the diner swung open and laughter spilled out, dragging me from my thoughts. I straightened and watched my teammates pour out, heading for the bus. High on the win and a full stomach thanks to Coach’s generosity. The school board didn’t give him the funds to take us all out to dinner. He paid out of his own pocket because he was that kind of man.
The kind of man so many of us could have done with as a role model growing up in The Row.
“You ready to roll?” Kye sauntered over.
“Yeah.”
We waited for Nix, but it was a mistake. Because Celeste, Chloe, Warner, and Greg appeared first.
Chloe and Warner were huddled close, looking at something on his cell phone while Celeste and Greg chatted. My gaze cut to Nate, but he barely looked at Chloe.
Before I knew what I was doing, I stepped toward them.
“So maybe I could get your number,” Greg said.
“Oh, I—”
“Take a walk, Selcott,” I said. “She’s too fucking good for the likes of you.”
Somewhere behind me, Kye snorted. I ignored him then, focused on the sliver of space between Celeste and Greg.
Walk away, asshole. Walk the fuck away.
He looked ready to argue, but his argument dried on his tongue, and he sighed, “Maybe I’ll see you around, Celeste.” He gave her a small wave and headed for the bus.
Anger and embarrassment swirled in her blue depths. “What was that?” Her voice shook.
I stepped up to her, glaring down at her. “Couldn’t have me so you moved onto one of my teammates? Are you really that desperate for some dick from The Row?”
Crack.
Her hand landed against my cheek with a fiery sting.
“You hit me.” Surprise coated my words.
“Z-Zane, I—”
“You fucking hit me.”
Rolling back her shoulders, her expression hardened. “Yes, well, you’re an asshole.”
“Z, man. Let’s go,” Kye called, and I was vaguely aware of our friends watching us. But I couldn’t make myself move.
She’d hit me.
I was furious. But there was also something else beneath the fury burning through me. My dick was hard behind my jeans. Rock fucking solid.
“If I want to go out with Greg, I will. He’s nice and kind andhewon’t treat me like nothing more than dirt on the bottom of his boot.”
Pushing my face into hers, I sneered, “Stay the fuck away from him. And stay the fuck away from me.”
I spun away and headed for the bus. I needed to get away from her before I did something really fucking stupid…
Like kiss her again.
