AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I followed Hope as we left the lunch room. I have a question for her, but I don’t need other ears around. I never expected her to use the bathroom, so now I look like some creeper as I wait against the wall outside the ladies’ room.
Thankfully she’s quick.
“Dom? Why are you standing there?” she asks worriedly as the door swings closed behind her. I give her a friendly smile, and some tension leaves her shoulders. I’ve been watching her lately and noticed a few things.
“I wanted to have a chat if you have a minute. I know you have a free period. So do I,” I say as she starts moving toward the library.
“Sure, Dom, what’s up?” she asks as we walk in, and she sits at a table toward the back. I peek up at the librarian, but she’s not paying attention. Mrs. Quick can be a little strict about noise.
“Honestly, I’m just going to cut right to the chase, Hope. It’s about Gracie. I’ve seen how you react when Bianca and the others do something to her.”
“If this is about me telling India she was too cruel, I just meant that Gracie didn’t deserve to have her books ruined. School was always important to her,” she mumbles, and I can’t fight the big smile that graces my lips.
“And this is why you’re perfect. You see, the boys and I have secretly been keeping an eye on Bianca to make sure she doesn’t go overboard. I don’t believe Gracie deserves all this torment, and until Ash returns, we’ll continue to monitor things.”
I take a breath and wait for Hope to catch on.
“So, you’ve been faking it! Oh, thank God, me too. I don’t agree with any of this, but I’m scared that they will turn on me if I fight back. I know I’m a bitch and spineless, but I swear Bianca is psycho.” Hope’s hands are shaking, and I can’t help but think she’s witnessed more than me.
“Yeah, I get it. Ash isn’t any better these days. So, will you help us? I think Gracie could really use someone to talk to as well. She mentioned being lonely, and I can see it. Her family has been a little overprotective lately.” Hope looks off at the shelves of books, then shakes her head.
“I’d like to, Dom. Gracie has always been nice to me. Mia was the bitch, but I can’t. I just have to survive this year, and then I can leave for college. Away from Bianca and the other girls.”
I sigh and sit back in my chair. I’m starting to get a headache. “Yeah, I get it, Hope. I just thought I’d try.”
She grabs her bag, pushes her seat back, then stands.
“I’m sorry, Dom. I’ll see you later. I have a paper to finish,” she mumbles, then walks toward the computers.
I groan, close my eyes, and rub my hand over my short hair. Ash needs to get his ass back here so we can fix this shit. I know he doesn’t really want to destroy her. It’s time to put an end to all this. I pull my phone out, check that Mrs. Quick is distracted, and text him.
Me: Enough of the bullshit, Ash. Get your ass home!
ChapterFourteen
I’m late to practice, and it’s all that asshole’s fault. He shouldn’t have even been home at two in the afternoon, but there he was, screwing our neighbor over the back of the couch. If I could, I would bleach my eyes.
I never want to see my dad’s naked ass again. I walk into the empty locker room and quickly change into a practice uniform. We have a scrimmage today, and I know we’re going to lose. Dom’s head hasn’t been in the game in weeks, and our quarterback is fucking MIA.
I don’t need this shit today. Exiting the locker room through the side doors, I groan. The game has already started, and Coach is screaming his head off about something. I huddle up with the guys and ignore Coach yelling at me. He can berate me after the game.
“Where the hell have you been?” Carter barks at me, and I shake my head. Right now is not the time. “Whatever. I really want to fucking drill these assholes into the turf, got it?” Carter asks, and we all grunt or nod, agreeing.
Lakeside is a town full of pretentious assholes. They are a private academy team and think they are better than everyone else because they can afford private professional coaching.
Shit! I wish Ash was here. We have no hope without him. We break from the huddle and get into position. I glance at the sidelines and see Gracie sitting there, watching us as the other girls cheer. She looks like she would rather be anywhere else, and I can’t blame her.
I shoot her a wink, then pull my helmet on and pay attention. Dom snorts from beside me, and I don’t bother responding. I already know he wants in her pants. Hell, we all do, but until Ash returns and removes his claim on her, we can’t do shit.
We all take our places on the line of scrimmage and wait for the snap. Staring at the other team while waiting for this play to start, I just pray we don’t get crushed. It'll be interesting to see how the new slot receiver that just transferred in does on a team that relies heavily on our tight ends like Dom.
Without Ash, we have to resort to our backup quarterback Curtis. He has a pretty decent arm, but his accuracy isn’t as good as Ash’s. As I watch, the ball sails down the field right into the other team’s hand for an interception.
Fuck! Yeah, this is going to be a shitshow. Damn it, Ash, why did you have to ditch us?
At least this isn’t a real game against Lakeside.
* * *
