Page 101 of Saving the Halfback

I followed behind the truck, and we were nearly to the city limits when Hadley called. I answered it through the car Bluetooth. “Hey, bae! You want to talk?”

Two years together, and when had her voice turned to nails on a chalkboard to me? “Yeah, did you want to meet up today?”

There was a pause before she spoke. “I can meet you at your place. Need some after-game wind down time?”

No. No, I didn’t. I didn’t want her to touch me again. I didn’t want anyone to touch me again. I wanted Bailey to be the last. “I’m in town for our team meet. Meet you at the bleachers after?”

“Okay…” She hesitated. “We can go over your birthday plans. It’s only a week and a half away. I was thinking, we should totally do a theme.”

I shook my head. “There’s no birthday plans.” I had told her so many times now.

“But, bae! It’s only eight days away. To order everything, we need to plan now.”

I sighed. “Hadley, we need to talk. I preferred not to do this over the phone, but you’re not picking up on anything.”

“What? What do you mean? Is it because of Bailey? Whatever she said, it wasn’t that bad. She just likes to play the victim.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Last night. It was no big deal, just a bit of fun hazing.”

I nearly swerved off the road. “Hadley, what did you do?”

I could hear the smile in her voice. “Did you like the picture? I mean, I know most people were told to delete it, but it’s still going around.”

“I defended you! What the hell were you thinking? Why would you do that to her?”

“She needed to be taught a lesson. She’s all over you, and the other guys on the team too. I mainly just told her to stay away from you. Everyone knows she only joined to hook up with—”

“You better beg for her forgiveness.”

“Pft, I’m not afraid of her.”

It’s not her she had to be afraid of. Bailey knew, she knew it was Hadley, and she’d kept it quiet, for my benefit. “I’m done with you, Hadley.”

“Wait, what? You’re siding with her? Chase, she’s playing you.” Hadley seemed panicked at this point. “Seriously, Chase, if you heard some of things she’s said. Like she’s trying to break up all the guys on the team from their girlfriends.”

I shook my head. “Bullshit rumors.” Bailey played football. That was it. We barely had time for relationships, between practices and now with games starting. Bailey had no interest in breaking anyone up.

“It’s not, though—”

“Stay away from her, and stay away from me.” I cut her off, hanging up the call just as I pulled into the parking lot.

I got out of the car at the same time they left the truck. I walked right up to Bailey and reached for her hand, pulling her back. She flinched a little before she saw it was me, then she looked confused. “I need to talk to you, alone.”

“No.” Ethan frowned, stepping up behind Bailey, crossing his arms, looking every bit a bodyguard.

“Why?” Nolan asked. Lachlan just stared at me with cautious curiosity.

As I stood there, Bailey’s wrist in my hand, the three of them standing behind her staring at me, it became crystal clear where we stood. I’d felt it before, but now I knew it. I wasn’t trusted with their Bailey. I wasn’t one of them.

“It’s fine,” Bailey said. She looked back at them. “I’ll see you inside.”

Nolan nodded, and he and Lachlan were the first to move away. Ethan lingered a moment longer, and I knew he’d be waiting just on the other side of the school doors.

She turned back to me, but I didn’t drop my hand. “You lied to me,” I accused.

Bailey quickly looked at the ground.

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