Page 63 of The Quarterback Sneak

Well, shit. One of the teachers I paid off ratted me out. Apparently, there is not enough money in the world to go against Hayley Sanderson. I should have known. For all the money I have, she’ll always have more.

I open my mouth, trying to think up an excuse, but my mother raises her hand to hush me. “Save it. I don’t want to hear it. Your father and I are extremely disappointed in you.” I let out a frustrated tut. My father only remembers I exist when I’m at his fancy dinners. “I’ve spoken with your teachers and have arranged a weekend of classes to make up for the ones you’ve missed.”

“But I’d have to be in class the whole weekend to make up all that.” My mother glares at me, letting it sink in. “Oh.” I sigh. I guess I’m not getting a weekend, then.

“Your elocution classes start at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow,” she states as I walk up the stairs, refusing to look at her. “Oh, and your father and I agreed that you’re grounded.” I stop walking and grip the banister.

I let out a humorless laugh, looking over my shoulder. “You can’t ground me. I’m eighteen.”

“I can do whatever I like. I’m your mother, and I’m the one paying for your four-thousand-dollar-a-month lifestyle.”

Four thousand dollars? What the hell am I doing that costs four thousand dollars a month? She’s got to be including my school fees and car to get to that level.

“Fine.” I can’t be bothered to argue with her because I refuse to let her pettiness ruin my day. “If you need me, I’ll be in my room.”

As I tread up the stairs, my mother just has to get one more dig in. “It’s funny. We never had this issue when you dated Jamie.” I clench my fists and bite down on my cheeks because I’m still annoyed that my parents hold him in such high regard. “I put up with you dating Zach because it looks better than you moping over your ex, but I think he’s a bad influence on you. Within a month, you’ve already lost your good manners and are cutting loose on your responsibilities.”

“Zach has nothing to do with this.” He had no idea I was skipping classes. No one did. I don’t know why I skipped out on those classes so often. Half the time, I just drove around, listening to music. I guess I liked owning my time for once. “Jamie’s the one that treated me like a dirty tampon, not Zach.”

With a sharp inhale, she looks at me with a curled lip. “Honey, don’t use that language.”

“Why not? It’s true. While I was busy at debate, he was busy screwing every girl in school besides me. Jamie is the one that made me the laughingstock of South Point. Zach is the only one salvaging the Sanderson name right now.”

Her lips form a flat line. Finally, some emotion. “Give me your phone and go to your room.” She sounds like an actual mom for the first time, making me want to laugh. She only cares now because, for the first time in eighteen years, I’m going against her.

“Gladly,” I say, tossing the phone in her palm. “Might want to check the hundreds of videos I’ve been sent of Jamie cheating on me. Maybe you haven’t heard, but I get them sent daily. Passcode it 1998, but you knew that already, right?”

She drops my phone into her pocket and doesn’t answer. I don’t care if she gets the FBI in to scan the contents. There’s nothing on there I’m embarrassed about because Zach and I call each other anyway. The only incriminating things on there are of Jamie, and maybe that will finally get her to see sense.

When I reach my bedroom, I fling my body onto the bed and laugh. Did I just stand up to my mother? I may be working my ass off over the weekend, but I finally gave her a piece of my mind, and I think she was shocked—even if her face didn’t register it.

After everything that happened today, I don’t care that I don’t have my phone or I’m stuck in this room for the foreseeable future. Something more happened between Zach and me, and that’s all I care about.

Chapter Twenty

Honey

“Looking good, Honey,” Brett calls. He and Jamie are leaning against the railing of Kyle’s porch, smoking a joint as I make my way up the stairs. I give him the middle finger salute and walk straight into the house. I’m not here to entertain any of them; I’ve not got long, and there’s only one person I want to see tonight.

The house is packed, and as I make my way through the throngs of students, I search for that pop of blond hair that has made me feel hotter than I’d like to admit. “Excuse me,” I yell, pushing people out of the way until I see his messy hair in the kitchen. My heart beats faster, and I adjust my dress, making sure the stretchy fabric falls on my hips in just the right way.

Olivia and Mike are talking to him, but neither notice me coming, so I decide to be a little playful. When Olivia sees me, I raise my finger to my lips, shushing her, and then cover Zach’s eyes with my palms. “Guess who,” I whisper in his ear before giving his lobe a little nibble. It’s a move I would never have attempted before yesterday.

He snakes his arms behind him, wraps his hands around my waist, and lifts me up. “Is that my Chickpea?” His stupid nickname makes me laugh.

When he puts me down, he turns, offering his beautiful wide smile, and embraces me in a hug. He kisses my forehead, and that little zing of a touch makes my stomach turn to goo. He feels so right. “You’re looking beautiful tonight.” I take Zach’s hand and squeeze. “Is that why you’re late? Because you could wear a dishrag, and I’d still think you were hot.”

Anxious breaths and hot flutterings fill my lungs. Is this what it’s supposed to feel like when you want someone’s approval?

I roll my head back. “It’s a long story.”

He brings his hand to my hair, pulling a twig out to show me, and raises a brow. “A long story that you’re going to have to tell me. Otherwise, I’ll think you fell into a bush just to get here.” I laugh it off, slapping him playfully because he’s way closer to the truth than I’d like to admit. Scaling my own house to avoid the security cameras when I snuck out may have been one of my more drastic moves, but it was the only way out.

“Will you two get a room,” Olivia whines while smiling, and I greet her and Mike before taking my place next to Zach. His arm falls to my hips, and you’d think we were a real couple. After yesterday, maybe we are.

I don’t let my mind wander too far down that road because we haven’t talked about anything just yet. But when he pulls me a little closer so I’m leaning against him, it’s hard not to.

After talking to our friends for ten minutes, Olivia tugs Mike’s arm. “Come on. I’ve got something to show you,” she says with a raised brow.

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