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“Screw football.” I grab her face between my palms, pressing my forehead to hers. “Thisis more important.You’remore important.”
“We both know that’s a lie. I’m not going to be the reason you don’t keep your promise to Gabriel, Prescott. Go.” She places her hands against mine. “Do your thing. And then, come back to me.”
“Dammit, Jade.”
She’s not playing fair, and she knows it. Pulling the Gabriel card out of all things.
“Go. I can’t carry this on my soul too, Prescott,” her words are just a whisper, pain flashing over her face. “I just can’t.”
“You call me.” My fingers sink into her hair, holding her close to me. “The moment it starts, you call me, and I’ll come back. Promise me, Jade. I’m not letting you do this alone. Hell, I’m half tempted to take you with me.”
She lets out a soft chuckle, “I’m sure Coach Davies would be amused by that.”
“Fuck him. The only person I care about is you. Promise me, Jade.”
There is a beat of silence before she finally nods. “I promise. Now go before you’re late.”
I sit there, watching her. The need to stay here with her is fighting with the promise I’d made to my brother ages ago, with a promise I made to my team. Reluctantly, I let go and pushed to my feet, grabbing my backpack from the floor where I had dropped it earlier. I stand there in the doorway and watch her, a nagging feeling telling me this is wrong. So, so wrong. But she watches me with a small smile as she mouths: “Go.”
With one final nod, I push from the doorway. “Call me.”
I should have known better.
I should have seen through the mask.
Because although I pay more attention to my phone, waiting for Jade’s text, than I do to whatever strategy Coach is outlining on the whiteboard, her text never comes.
The moment he dismisses us with the instructions to rest and be there bright and early for a light early morning practice, I rush out the door and back to her place.
Grace opens the door, and I move inside without waiting to be invited. “Where’s Jade?”
“Her room. What—” her voice trails off as I walk down the hallway. Opening the door, I’m met with darkness, and a small, curled form lying in the middle of the bed.
“Jade…” My voice breaks as I close the door, walking through the darkness until I get to her bed. Reaching out, I flip the small light on her nightstand and am met with Jade’s tear-stained face.
The need to scream and punch something is strong, but I push it back. She’s in pain. It’s written all over her face. Her legs are pulled to her chest, arms wrapped around them, and I can see a red stain on her leggings.Blood.
Clenching my teeth, I place my knee on the mattress, wrap my arms around Jade, and pull her to my chest before I get to my feet with her in my arms.
“I know you’re angry, bu—”
Angry? More like livid. But not at her.
At myself.
“Shh… I’ve got you,” I whisper, brushing my lips against her temple.
I should have stayed.
I should have been here.
I should have held her as the cramps started.
I should have brushed away her tears as we lost something that could have never been.
Just another sin to add to the long list I’ll carry to my grave.
“I’m here now, and I’ve got you,” I whisper those words over and over again as I carry her to the bathroom. I sit her down on the toilet, turning on the water before gently pulling off her clothes, and then do the same to mine before carrying her to the tub.
