Page 12 of Last Boy

And then I get the hell out of there before another vulture finds me.

I don’t bother worrying if I’m going to run into Poppy or not. If I know her, she hightailed it out of here the second the game ended. The last thing she’d want to risk was running into me. That’s been clear since I haven’t had a single run-in with her or Cade since last week when I saw her for the first time. Something tells me she’s figured out my and Lana’s practice schedule and made sure hers is the opposite.

As I walk through the half-empty stadium, making my way to the exit, I spot Hunter talking to his dance partner and wave but keep on trucking. As I head across the parking lot, I glance over at the football field. Shocked that there are two people standing in the center of it this late at night. Squinting a bit to focus my eyes more, I know it’s Poppy and Jake right away.

Since Jake was a little kid, he’s loved football. He’s obsessed with the New England Patriots and even more so with Tom Brady.

The last thing I need to do right now is talk to either of them. Especially her. But Jake came and watched my game tonight. Hell, I bet he forced his sister to bring him. I want to thank him for showing up even if I don’t want to see Poppy.

Opening my truck door, I toss my duffel in the back before heading toward them. Poppy’s hands are stuffed in the front pocket of her hoodie as she looks at Jake, smiling. I think he’s the only person who can make her smile like that.

When I walk between the bleachers, I consider turning around. She has this crazy power over me that makes me forget why I’m mad. She’s had it since we were little kids. She’d do something to piss me off, like put herself in danger, and I’d get mad, but before long…we’d be laughing again.

She’s harder now though. I can see that on her face. The world has made her tougher than she already was. And that’s something I never thought was possible.

Jake spots me just as I come into the lights. He gives me one of his huge smiles and does some sort of salute. When she sees me, it’s a much frostier gaze.

“Where’s your ball, man?” I ask him as I get a few feet away. “We could have played pass.”

“I…I left it at home. Next time, I’ll bring it, and we can.” He looks over at his sister. “Poppy and I came to watch you play tonight.”

Aside from Jake, everything about this is awkward. She’s visibly tense, just from my presence. And I can tell he’s feeling her out, seeing how receptive she is to me. I know her well enough to know that she’d never do anything that might make her brother feel uncomfortable. So, maybe I’m saved for today.

But I also feel the anger and spite radiating from her body, telling me how pissed off she is that I’m standing here.

“I saw that.” I hold my hand out, and he shakes it. “It’s so good to see you, J. You look great.”

“Thanks.” He nods. “I moved into my own apartment. And…my girlfriend, she lives next door.”

I don’t miss the surprise on her face when he drops the word girlfriend. And he notices it, too, because he grins, tipping his chin up at her.

“She is my girlfriend.”

“Way to drop that bomb, J,” she mutters, widening her eyes at him.

“Holy shit, man. That’s amazing.” I can’t help but pull him in for a hug. “I’ll have to come check out your place sometime.”

“Yeah. Yeah, you should.” He nods again as I release him. “Poppy can bring you.”

I don’t even have to look at her to know she’s likely rolling her eyes at the thought of bringing me anywhere. But because she doesn’t want to make him feel bad, she says nothing.

“Sounds good.” I glance back at where I came from before jerking my thumb. “Well, I need to get home. It was nice to see you, bud.”

“You too,” he agrees, glancing over at his sister like he wants her to say something.

Of course, she doesn’t. She simply gives him a tiny, unnatural smile.

“We should get going too. I have to be up early,” she tells him before she begins walking toward the sideline.

Once she gets far enough away from us, I shuffle slowly next to Jake.

“She’ll forgive you,” he says quietly. “Someday.”

I don’t have the heart to tell him there’s far more to it than he knows. I’d have to forgive her too. For lying. For not taking my side. But he doesn’t need to get caught up in all that.

So, I chuckle and hold my fist out once we reach the exit. “See you soon?”

Looking down, he bumps his fist into mine. “See you soon.”

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