Page 9 of Break my Heart

I point at him and smile. “Correctamundo.”

Before the conversation can spin any further out of control, our phones buzz simultaneously with an incoming text. The air around us shifts as we all exchange uneasy glances. Ever since last semester, Bridger’s been getting blasted by mass messages from the university’s system. Nobody’s been able to figure out who’s behind it. The texts started out as a joke, but now they’re way past funny.

More like brutal.

I unlock my phone and glance at the screen.

Shit.

It’s bad.

The image might be blurry, but it’s unmistakable.

Bridger’s pants are down, and some girl’s face is smashed against his groin.

Can’t say she doesn’t have game.

But this doesn’t seem like the time to point that out.

Even Larsa’s gone quiet as she stares at her phone in disbelief.

“Dude…” Steele mutters, reaching out to comfort his cousin.

But our teammate swats his hand away before snarling, “I’m so fucking sick of this bullshit.”

“I know,” Colby says, his usual humor nowhere to be found. “We’ll figure out who’s doing this.”

Bridger pinches the bridge of his nose. “How? I’ve tried. Whoever’s behind it knows what they’re doing.”

“Can’t we talk to the cyber security department at the university? Maybe they have connections who can help,” I suggest.

Bridger sighs. “My dad already reached out to them. There’s nothing they can do. But I guess it’s worth another shot.”

When his phone rings, he silences it without even checking who it is.

“Is that your dad?” Ford asks carefully.

“Probably. I’m not really in the mood for an ass chewing right now.”

Steele nods toward the parking lot. “Let’s get out of here and grab some food. It’ll take your mind off it for a while. Then we’ll try to come up with a plan.”

Bridger shakes his head. “You guys go ahead. I’m gonna stop by my dad’s office before he loses it.”

“Want us to come with you?” his cousin asks, a hard glint filling his gray eyes. “There’s always strength in numbers.”

Bridger’s expression softens. “Nah, I’ll be fine. Catch you guys later.”

In silence, we watch as Bridger walks away. The poor guy looks like he has the weight of the world resting on his shoulders.

Colby sighs. “Who knew his old man was such a dick?”

We all mutter in agreement.

“Guess we should get moving,” Ford says, heading toward the parking lot.

As we reach my beat-up truck, I realize that Larsa has vanished too. That’s probably for the best. She’s not exactly on great terms with the girls after the last time Carina caught her hitting on Ford.

Colby unlocks his shiny new Escalade as he and Ford climb inside. Steele beelines for his motorcycle.

---