Page 74 of Bump and Run

The room erupts with immature cackles and John accepts his well-deserved high-fives but I’m not laughing. Just the thought of Eliza even talking to any of these bastards makes my vision turn red.

“So, what’s her name?”

I grab a shirt from my locker. “She’s not available.”

“Oh, come on…” He punches my shoulder and my blood boils. “We’re a team. We can take turns with her.”

I spin around, ready to pounce on him even if he has a decent twenty pounds on me. “Back off,” I growl. “I said she’s not available.”

His expression changes, shifting into something fierce and predatory. “I never thought I’d see the day… Junior Morgan is pussy-whipped—”

“Say that again,” I warn.

“You think you can take me, Junior?”

“Pretty confident I can.”

“Hey!”

All heads turn towards the coach and the tension falls from our shoulders.

“Hurry up and clear out,” he barks.

I back up, retreating to my locker to grab the rest of my clothes, ignoring the soft, murmuring voices coming from the others.

Ty passes by me on his way out and he offers a quick pat on my back — a subtle, but welcoming, sign of camaraderie. At least he’s still on my side.

I finish getting dressed and rush out into the hallway to distance myself from thick, uncomfortable air.

“Junior…” Coach greets me as soon as I step out, pushing off the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Yeah, Coach?”

“The team comes first.”

I pause. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing is more important,” he says. “Not even a pretty girl. I don’t want to see you picking fights with the team like that again. She’s not worth it.”

I bite my tongue, wondering if he’d be saying the same thing if he knew it was Eliza I just defended. “Yes, Coach,” I say, swallowing it down. “I understand. It won’t happen again.”

He nods and wanders off, disappearing down the hall towards his office.

She’s not worth it.

In a way, I see his point. If the team isn’t on the same page, then we don’t play well together on the field. It’s my job as quarterback to lead the offense and I can’t do that effectively if they hate me.

Maybe I should make an appearance at this party, after all. Just an hour or so to smooth things over with the guys before heading to the library to do a few practice problems Eliza assigned me.

It couldn’t hurt, right?

* * *

“Long time no see, Junior Morgan.”

I look up from the couch to find Stephanie Gomez leaning over the arm with her tits hovering just an inch or two away from my chin.

“Hey, Steph,” I murmur, sliding away to distance myself from her rank, potent perfume.

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