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“Well, you won, so obviously you played well.”
His eyes roam my face, a smile pulling at his lips. It’s my smile, the one he only gives me, his best friend. It’s genuine and warm, not the cold and calculating one of the dictator on the streets or the ruler of the school. “I held my own, J.”
I slap a hand on his shoulder. “See, so you did good.”
Corey rolls his eyes and starts directing us off the court. His team members follow and start heading toward the locker rooms to change. As we walk, people clap Corey on the back, give him fist bumps and congratulate him on the game. I’m fairly confident he played amazing. When we get to the doors, we find Harper waiting for us.
“Not bad, Core.”
“Thanks Harper,” he answers with some warmth in his voice. “Can you two wait and we can head to the party together?”
I grimace at the reminder. I was hoping to avoid the party tonight, thinking that maybe the win would distract him. I really just want to go home, take a bath and finish my book. “Ah, maybe you and Harper should just go?”
They both look at me frowning.
“You need to get out more.”
“You already said you’d go if we won.”
They both respond at the same time, watching me closely. We’re in a stare down and I always lose against them when they team up against me like that.
“Fine.” I groan and close my eyes, so I don’t have to see their smirks.
Corey disappears into the locker room and I follow Harper outside to Corey’s truck. We jump in and I slide the key in the ignition before cranking up the heat. It’s only the beginning of January and already snow is piled high on the ground; the air is so frigid, it makes my bones ache. I am not a cold weather person. The minute I am able to, I want to go live with my aunt on her tropical island. Mom says we can visit one day, but with her two jobs and my part-time job plus dance, it’s nearly impossible to get time off, plus having the money for airfare.
“Whose party is it again?” I ask Harper but keep my eyes on the school entrance waiting for Corey.
Harper huffs next to me. “Gage Monroe’s. He’s a junior. Plays defense on the football team.”
I nod, remembering him instantly. He’s actually a decent guy and Corey has never had problems with him. He also lives on the same side of town as I do, in a house behind the apartments. Harper would go crazy over him during the fall, I guess he’s a big deal on the field.
“How do all these kids have the ability to throw parties? My mom would freak out if she came home and more than fifty students were in her living room.”
“You know the drill. His dad works three jobs and his mom left them when he was a kid. Gage is the only child and pretty much always lives alone.” Harper shrugs. I watch her bite her lip and instantly regret that I brought it up. Harper is one of six children. Her mom works to take care of them, just like mine, and she’s always gone. Harper’s father is an alcoholic, and not that he’s mean, but he prefers the house quiet.
“Well, for being on his own, he’s actually a pretty good guy.”
“Who’s a good guy?” Corey jumps in his truck, startling me, his eyes focused on my face as he throws his gym bag in the back.
“Gage Monroe,” I respond and turn to clip my seat belt in.
Corey’s stare grows intense and I roll my eyes. He’s so damn protective. “He is. You’ve never had any problems with him. He’s never been rude to me and I’ve never heard any girls say he's a creep.”
I stare Corey down until his face softens, just a little. Finally, he sighs and puts the truck into drive. It's not until we’re out of the school parking lot that he glances at me again. “Monroe is good.”
“And he’s fine as hell,” Harper adds from her seat in the back and we giggle when Corey shakes his head.
Thankfully, they both drop it, and we finish our drive to the party in peace, listening to music and talking about the game. For the first time since the game started, Corey looks relaxed. The jumpiness in his eyes mellows out and a real smile curves his lips while we talk.
“What did the guy say to you to piss you off so much?” Harper leans forward with her elbows propped between our seats.
Corey glances at me. “He was being a disrespectful little prick.”
I can feel Harper’s eyes on the side of my face, but I refuse to look at her, knowing what she will say. This isn’t the first time Corey has fought with someone because of me. After two years of friendship, I was thinking it would stop eventually, only it seems to be getting worse. I roll my eyes at him and laugh. “Oh no. You fought because you guys like to compare muscles. Leave me out of it.”
Harper scoffs and Corey shakes his head. He flicks the radio up higher and I try to relax into my seat with the bass blaring. My stomach twists in knots though. I don’t like when Corey fights; I don’t like that I feel responsible when he takes a hit. Not that he loses. The other guy is always worse, but sometimes they get in a hit or two. Then my best friend has a black eye or a cut cheek and I feel guilty.
Corey pulls up to Gage’s house and parks his truck behind the long line of vehicles. Harper hops out first and starts a fast walk to the front door. “He was being disrespectful about you. I wasn’t going to let it slide.”
