AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Samantha grins, knowing she struck a blow. She can claim today’s battle, but I intend to win the war.
I climb into the back of the Suburban. Thomas is at the wheel. Reigns sits in the passenger seat while Fernando and Elias are in the back with Shay and me. My dad left, promising to stop by the house tomorrow.
Peering out the window, I state, “Take me home. I suddenly need a shower.”
34
WES
“You guys coming to the party?” Jonas, our cornerback, questions, wrapping a towel around his waist before he grabs his shit to shower with.
I mull over his question as I dry off. We’re still riding the high of our win. If we keep this up, we’ll clinch the top seed in the playoffs.
Running my hands through my damp hair, I reply, “Nah. Not tonight, man.”
“Aww, come on, Wes,” Jonas groans, and my jaw ticks in annoyance. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen the Edgewood Heirs live up to the reputation that precedes you guys.”
My hand stills. Why is he pushing this? “We just threw a party.”
Jonas shrugs, leaning against the locker. “You were three men down and barely laughed, much less partied. Then you and Wyatt disappeared with your sexy-as-fuck fiancée.” My eyes narrow to slits at the mention of the soul sucker. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean any offense. I’d be territorial, too,” he exclaims, misreading my change in mood as his eyes widen in fear.
The question is, do I let him think his assumptions are correct? It would serve our bottom line. We need everything to go as planned, and I’m sure Jonas will run his mouth to someone who will spread the word until it eventually gets back to Samantha.
“It’s in your best interest to move the fuck on,” I growl as I put on my LWU t-shirt and matching gray sweats, choosing a vague enough response to elicit my desired reaction.
Straightening, Jonas’s gaze flits from side to side before he clears his throat. “But you’ll all be at that Groveton after-party for sure, right?” he asks, shifting the conversation back to what he assumes is a safer topic.
It works because I completely forgot about it. The annual GC versus LWU game is two weeks away. Which only gives us three weeks to deactivate Owen’s chip. Not to mention, Ariah’s more than halfway through her pregnancy, and we’ve already missed too much time. I refuse to let her go longer than necessary without us by her side. She won’t be in the delivery room alone. So, the big rager Groveton is hosting this year is nowhere on my list of priorities.
What if it’s too late and she doesn’t forgive us?
I scoff at that thought. Like I’d ever give her that choice. An endless reel of every slight we’ve caused her plays in front of my eyes. Every time we’ve hurt her since I made the unilateral decision to save Owen and choose Samantha. The anguish in her stormy gray eyes haunts me. But it’s the fire that replaced the hurt that terrifies me the most. It was the same look she had the first day of school—the one that eviscerates anything in her path. The same one that slammed her head into my nose when I dragged her into the janitor’s closet and then made me work to earn her forgiveness once I realized my colossal fuck up.
“Wes,” Jonas shouts, pulling me from my spiral. “You good? I was calling you for at least a minute.”
“Yeah, man. I’ll catch you at practice on Monday,” I state, pulling my hoodie over my head and grabbing my duffle bag. I need to get the fuck out of here. The locker room walls feel like they’re closing in on me.
I pass Lev, Wyatt, and Owen on my way out. “I’ll be by Rubi,” I mutter, then quickly exit, not waiting for their responses.
A cool fall breeze hits my face as soon as I step outside. I sneer. Another fucking reminder of how much time has passed and what little we have left.
“Wesley.” My eyes close at the sound of Samantha’s voice. “Wait,” she commands. I ignore her, doubling my pace, hoping to get to the car before she can corner me. Her claws dig into my skin. “I said wait,” she hisses.
Turning, I glare down at where she grips my arm before I hear giggles. Of course, she’s not alone. Exhaling, I fight my instincts to recoil at the feel of her touch, then school my features. “What can I do for you, Samantha?”
She whips her head around. “Leave,” she barks, and her new fan club scrambles out of sight. Once they clear, Samantha swivels her neck to face me. “Why the fuck did Owen leave the game?” she seethes, and it takes everything in me not to snap at her like I usually would.
Sticking to the plan, I force my shoulders to relax and smother my mounting frustration before I say, “What are you talking about?”
Samantha studies me. The slight twitch of her nose is the only indication that she’s confused by my reaction. “Owen left the stadium. Where did he go?”
My head begins to throb. I know exactly what she’s referring to. Owen dipped for a long-ass time, and when he returned, he looked like someone who finally got their fix. He went to see Ariah, and he accomplished whatever he set out to do. I try not to let my anger at him for putting her at risk show. “Maybe he went for a walk.” My answer sounds unbelievable, even to my ears.
Crossing her arms, Samantha sneers. Her face blooms red as her inflated lips thin. I’m impressed they don’t burst. “I’m not a fucking idiot, Wesley. I know he went to see the gutter trash.” I remain still, displaying none of my rage at her name-calling. Her inky eyebrow arches. She can’t figure out the game I’m playing. “Just tell your asshole friend who seemingly has a death wish, that the next time he tempts fate, I’ll call his bluff,” she huffs, storming away.
“Fuck,” I exclaim, rubbing my hand against my stubbled chin as I stride toward the car. It’s not long before I hear them approach. Lev says something I can’t hear from where I’m standing, but Wyatt cackles, and his laugh is identifiable from space.
Owen unlocks the Jeep as they make their final approach. “What’s got your face scrunched in disgust like Samantha’s landfill snatch is before you, and you have no choice but to eat it?” he jokes, and I shudder at the thought of ever having to see her pussy again.
