Page 83 of The Quarterback Sneak

Zach’s eyes skate around the hall, seemingly realizing that we’re making a scene, but it’s not like we can stop it. He lets out a low growl and speaks through gritted teeth. “Why the hell did you do that?”

“I wanted to do it as a thank you, and I thought you’d be happy because you’d be able to drive to school instead of taking the bus.”

Pushing his tongue between his teeth, he lets out a humorless tut. “So you thought treating the scholarship kid like a charity case would help?”

I’m speechless. I didn’t even think of that, and I certainly didn’t care how it would look optically. I never intended to hurt him. Deep down, I know he knows that, but it feels like something else is going on with him, and I’m the person who walked in at the wrong time.

“That’s not—”

“It’s fine. I appreciate the gesture, but it would be great if you could return it.”

Chatter from the other students rings in my ears. They’re watching, and this will be another embarrassing blow for me. Tears threaten to fall, but I hold them back because I will not let them see me hurting twice.

“Sure.”

“Let me know how much work they did on it, and I’ll pay you back.”

“I don’t want the money.”

More sniggers echo down the hall, but I can hardly hear them. My blood pressure is rising, and a slow zing pierces my brain. Nothing is going right between us. Absolutely nothing, and the whole school is witness to that again.

“Honey,” Jamie singsongs as he walks over to us.Not now.A couple of his teammates flank him as he steps closer. Zach shuffles a little closer to me, and it’s the first time I’ve felt his protective presence today.

“What do you want, Jamie?” Zach asks, venom laced through his voice.

Jamie brazenly steps closer, undeterred by Zach’s demeanor. He ignores Zach’s question and stares straight at me. “I gotta give it to you, Honey. I’ve thought you were a lot of things over the years, but I never took you as a homewrecker.”

“Homewrecker Honey!” someone shouts down the hall.

Taking a deep breath, I can feel the flaring heat rising to my cheeks. This can’t be happening.

“What are they talking about?”

Zach raises a brow at me, and there are too many eyes on us to make this a comfortable conversation. I open my mouth, but all that comes out is a pathetic sort of stutter at having to be the one to tell him about the video.

“It’s not important,” I state.

“Lying to yourboyfriendisn’t going to get you anywhere,” Jamie says. I turn my back to him so I can focus on Zach.

“What’s he talking about?”

“Let’s talk about this later.”

“Still trying to hide your baby mama, Evans?” Zach scrunches his face. “Ibetshe wasn’t happy to find out you’ve been screwing the richest girl in school, was she? Is that why you’ve been missing practice?”

“What has Jamie told you?”

My hands fidget as I think about the best way to phrase this since we have an audience. Even if we wanted to leave, Jamie has us surrounded by football players waiting to see us fail.

“Honey?” Zach urges.

“He told me that Tiff isn’t your sister.” I cringe when I finish the sentence, hating that I’m forcing something out of him he clearly wants no one to know.

My heart stops because he hasn’t denied it. He didn’t even flinch. All I’m met with is Zach’s straight face, his eyes searching mine. He pushes his tongue out and stares at me blankly. “Who did he tell you she was?”

Swallowing, I garner the courage to state the obvious. “He told me she’s your girlfriend.” He’s not surprised. “And that you’re a father.”

A small curve of a smile tips Zach’s lips, but it’s quickly replaced with a frown. Strangely, all I see is hurt, not the anger I was expecting. “Do you believe him?”

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