Page 153 of Promise Me Not

“I need you to promise me.” I think I see moisture brim in his brown eyes, but he hides his face in my neck. “Promise me, Payton.”

“I promise.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Mason

Now,November

“You have toomuch weight on your front foot.”

Alister scoffs, holding his stance as he fires off the ball, and all I can think is this is a huge waste of my time. I should be studying, getting my ass back on track so I have something to offer, yet here I am. Trying to teach a punk who refuses to learn.

Alister glances back with a smirk, but I shake my head, mimic his position, and send one. After that, I look him in the eye as I move through the motions a second time but with proper form.

“Back leg takes eighty percent of the weight. When I shift,” I begin, rotating my hips and pushing off the back leg, “the weight transfers to my front leg, opening up my hips and puttingmore power behind the ball.” I pull back, releasing using the breakdown I just gave, and his jaw clenches as he watches the ball fly, the radar set up on the ten-yard line not necessary to see the difference in power.

“Not everyone has to do things the way you do, asshole.”

“It’s not how I do things. It’s the right way or the wrong way.”

“Because you’re so damn perfect.”

Spinning, I glare at the dickhead. “You want to get better or not?”

“I’m only here because Coach said I had to be. I made this fucking team on my own, and I don’t need your help to stay on it.”

“No, what you need to do is figure out what it means to be on a team.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” He gets in my face.

I just shake my head at him. “You’re unaware, and you don’t fucking listen.”

“I’m unaware,” he deadpans, rearing back and shouting in my face. “I’m unaware? You have no fucking idea how rich that is coming from you!”

He shoves me with his chest, and I shove his ass right back.

“What’s your problem, man? You’ve been on my ass since day one, and I’m getting tired of it.”

“Serves you right after what you did!”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I shout. “I don’t even know you, and I didn’t get on your ass untilafteryou got on mine.”

“Yeah, ’cause you’re so damn good. Perfect little playboy, huh? You’re just a punk fucking with vulnerable girls. Soon as that pretty thing with the baby sees you for who you really are, she’s gonna run so fucking fast?—”

I headbutt his ass, refusing to put my career in any more jeopardy, especially over this punk, and I’d be lying if I said the harsh crunch of his nose against my forehead wasn’t just as satisfying as a fist to his face would be.

His head snaps back, blood sprays, and he stumbles, but I keep at him, yanking him by the collar and dragging him to his feet.

“I warned you once. Do not talk, look, or eventhinkabout her!”

Alister spits blood in my face. “I’m going to tell her to take her kid and run as far as she can?—”

“That ismy kid!” I scream.

Alister goes stone still, his eyes widening.

I’m shaking I’m so mad. “He is my son, and you will staythe fuckaway from them both, or so help me, Howl, I will break your arms and then your legs, and then everything you’re trying to gain here goes out the window.”

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