Page 48 of You're To Blame 2

Tate leaned over the seat, gripping his uniform shirt. “Don’t come here stirring up trouble.”

“Hey, man. Not like you invited me to that ritzy party. So I borrowed one of granddad’s cars and followed you guys.”

“You’re fifteen, Lake.”

“Dude, in Chicago I bet I partied harder than you.” Tate socked him in the stomach.

“Ah,” he groaned.

“Don’t touch my girl again,” Tate warned.

“Noted. Chelsea’s off limits. Any hot girls that look like her attend Haven Saints?”

Tate reclined back in his chair. “Lake, you are going to give me gray hair at seventeen.”

I chuckled under my breath.

“Oh, you find that funny.”

I squeezed my fingers a hair apart.

“Just a little.” I peeked at Lake.

“You could have just introduced yourself. We would’ve been happy to hang out with you.”

“Of course, you would’ve. I’m Tate’s charity case cousin.”

Tate shook his head. “Don’t mind him. He’s having a rough time. You can hang out with us. Be sure to sign up for Lacrosse. You are damn near a fucking pro after all.”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

“In the meantime. I can ask coach to add you to the basketball team. You might sit on the bench a lot since we’re mid-season, but I can get you some play time on the court.”

Tate pulled into the flow of traffic.

“Thanks, Tate.”

“What brings you to Atlanta?”

“Mom and dad calling it quits. We arrived a few days after Christmas. Just me and mom. My sister Francesca didn’t want to leave dad. Mom followed some lame dude to Georgia.”

“Part owner of Atlanta professional football team. Dudes not a lame.” Tate grinned, rolling to a stop in his parking space.

“My parents were cheating on each other.”

We climbed out of the truck.

“My father plays pro basketball in Chicago.”

“Sorry to hear about your parents, Lake.” Tate gripped my waist as we strolled into the school.

“Thanks.”

“The office is down the hall to your right. Our lockers are on the second floor on the senior hall. We’ll talk to coach this afternoon.”

Lake walked backwards down the hall. “All right.” He saluted Tate and blew me a kiss.

Tate lunged toward him. I grabbed his arm. “He’s just acting out.”

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