Page 114 of Saving the Halfback

His eyes narrowed at me suspiciously. “Oh?”

“Yep. I programmed the whole team's numbers into her phone.”

Chase took a sip of his shake as he leaned forward. “So, are you and Bailey dating?” he asked. “If so, sorry about kissing her. I didn’t know.”

This was going to be hard to explain, because it was almost like an unspoken thing. “I’m pretty sure her ex hurt her,” I started off.

Chase scoffed. “Understatement.”

I agreed, but I wasn’t allowed to talk about it. “We aren’t dating.”

“Nolan?” I shook my head. “You all seem so close.” Then he paused before asking, “You and Nolan?”

I sighed. “No.” I could tell him I wasn’t gay, but I’d given up with titles after a year of therapy. It was hard to trust what you are or how you feel when everyone was shouting their own two cents at you. “We hang out. There’s no obligation. There’s no jealousy or hard feelings. We’re just there for her.”

He nodded slowly, processing the information while sipping on his shake. “So, if she were to kiss me again, no hard feelings?” He grinned.

I gave a low chuckle, leaning forward into his space. “If she kisses you, no hard feelings. If you, in any way, corner her ormake her feel she has to kiss you, I promise what happened to Derrick will seem miniscule in comparison.”

Chase sat back, his eyes searching my face. “A stranger’s punishment is easier than mine?”

“Yes. She trusts you.”

Chase frowned. “You think so?”

“I know so. She trusts all of us, more than she should. I ruined that once before, so understand that I will protect that with everything. I won’t let her get hurt anymore.”

“Good,” was all he said, giving his approval to me.

Our conversation shifted, and we started talking about after high school. Mainly, he asked what I planned on doing. I’d always wanted to go to law school, but with the charges against me, it was unlikely I would get any scholarships, and it wasn’t something my family or I could afford. So, working in the sports store for my parents was basically my future. Chase was vaguer about his plans, in the end stating he hadn’t given it much thought.

When we finished the shakes, we stood up, grabbing the glasses and putting them in the bin on the counter so Sal, one of the owners, didn’t have to clean up after us.

Sal poked his head out from the back, having heard us. “It’s good to see you here again. I was just telling Chris about your group. Where are the other two?” We had come here as often as Chase would buy us ice cream in the summer, which was nearly daily. Pretty sure it was the reason for Bailey’s ice cream obsession.

“They were busy today,” I answered him. “I’ll drag them in next time.”

“You tell them, next time they come in, milkshakes are on me, okay? Two strawberries, one vanilla, and one chocolate.”

As Chase and I said our thanks to the guy, I couldn’t help but think how crazy it was that he had remembered our milkshake orders.

“See you at the pitts later?” Chase asked, holding his hand out.

“Wouldn’t miss it.” I didn’t hesitate to smack my hand into his. I didn’t tense as he pulled me in. I didn’t panic as he brought his hand around and patted my back in a stereotypical bro hug. Maybe because it wasn’t about me. Chase held on a moment longer, and it seemed it was him that needed the hug more than me. He was making a real effort to change.

41

Bailey

Ipicked Nolan up on the way to the pitts. Spotting him wearing rain boots and a raincoat, I nearly laughed. How did he plan to run through the mud in boots? He got into the truck, and that’s when I noticed the dark circles under his eyes.

“Hey, you okay?” I reached out and ran my thumb across his cheek. He looked exhausted.

“Yeah.” He turned his head and kissed my hand. “Just tired. I was up all night, going over the game video.”

“Game video?” I pulled out of the driveway and headed to the pitts.

“Yeah, Coach sent it to us last night, and I was…studying it.”

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