Page 8 of Before I Loved You

Squeezing the back of my neck, I nod. “Sounds great, Coach.”

No, it doesn’t. It sounds fucking horrible.

He stands from his desk, grabs some folders, and prepares to leave. “Well, see you boys out there.”

The moment the door closes behind him, I feel Greyson’s beady blue eyes latch onto me.

The tension in the room could be cut with a knife.

A big fat fucking steak knife.

Greyson shakes his head and gets up, walking toward the door when I stop him.

“Wait, Greyson.” I grab his shoulder. “I didn’t want this. I can tell them I won’t accept if that’s what you want. I understand if—”

He laughs, shoving my hand off of his shoulder.

Eyeing me up and down with a condescending scowl, he sneers, “Better keep both eyes open out there.” While walking out of the room, his fist connects with a locker, denting the metal. As he passes through the space, the heads of every nearby player turn to gape.

Glen walks up beside me, his eyes on Greyson’s back as he walks out the door. “What the fuck was that about?”

I scratch the back of my head, exhaling deeply. “I think I just ended up on Greyson’s shit list.”

Glen lets out a low whistle. “You’re so fucked, man.”

Wiser words have never been spoken.

* * *

The wind whips at my face as splashes of saltwater caress my warm, sun-beaten skin. It’s the last summer weekend before school resumes, and I plan to do what I do best.

Relax.

“Don’t get too comfortable. I’m going to need your help eventually,” Nate announces as we come to a dead stop, surrounded by ocean water for as far as the eye can see.

Nate Thomas, my closest friend, is one of the main reasons I transferred to Linrey University, conveniently centered in my favorite city, Boston.

My family home is only about thirty minutes from campus, so when I first went off to college after high school, I thought I needed some distance and ended up in New Hampshire.

But by the beginning of my junior year, I realized that distance was the last thing I needed from my family and decided to come home.

It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

“Yeah. Yeah.” I cross one arm behind my head, closing my eyes as I lie back on the cushioned bench seat. My larger-than-life legs dangle off the boat.

I hear the familiar crack of a beer can and peek my eyes open to find Nate handing me one.

Sitting up, I take it. “Thanks.”

The cold liquid flowing down my throat is refreshing and just what I need after spending all morning in the gym with my team.

The news of me becoming a co-captain with Greyson went as well as expected.

The scouts were all overly eager to talk to me. My teammates gave me a congratulatory slap on the back. And Greyson spent the rest of the practice scowling at me from across the room.

I run a hand down my face.

This is going to be one fucking long season.

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