Page 154 of Saving the Halfback

Ethan eyed me a moment, and then smacked me on the shoulder pads. I got the message. As he got down into position, I lined up behind him and immediately called the snap. He smacked the ball into my hand and, this time, just like at the pitts, I put a death grip on it. Taking my two steps back, eyeing my target, I sent it flying through the air. No one got through the front line.

Coach blew his whistle when the catch was made. “Another,” he called. “Adams, watch your toe on that line.”

“How was that?” Chase asked.

I grinned. “I can totally do this. Piece of cake.”

Chaseand I switched off throughout the rest of practice, and I learned quickly that playing quarterback was anything but a piece of cake. Actually, it made sense why Nolan was so good at it. He really was a fast-paced critical thinker, which was needed for the position. The movies got it all wrong. It wasn’t just about good looks and charisma—you actually had to have a brain.

I was drained by the time breakfast was done, having barely talked to the guys. Each of us was exhausted from the early morning. “You know, if Nolan plays like he does half asleep from being up all hours of the day and night training, imagine how well he would do after a full night's sleep,” I said as we walked to my locker.

Ethan had gone his separate way, as usual, so it was just Lachlan and Chase with me. “Do you think his father will change?” Chase asked.

“No,” Lachlan said.

I grabbed my lock, spinning it to the combination. “I think seeing Nolan in that state gave him a bit of a shock. I think Nolan has been hiding how tired he is and just doing whatever his dad sa—”

Manure fell out of my locker as I pulled it open. The hallway was crowded as a fewmooscame from the throng.

Chase shook his head, like he was watching the lamest prank unfold, which it was, because I was the least likely person to be bothered by manure. But Lachlan looked ready to murder someone. I grabbed his hand to keep him from turning on anyone. “I’m fine,” I told him. My locker and all its contents were not. I sighed. “I mainly needed my history textbook, but I will borrow Ethan’s for now.” I couldn’t shut the door, with the large pile of manure spilling out onto the floor.

“We can pass by the office on the way to class and let them know,” Chase said.

“It’s a shame that the janitor has to clean this up. Maybe if I can find a shovel—”

“Don’t.” Chase took my backpack from me and put it over his shoulder. “Don’t give them more ammo. You’ll only prove to the that you really are Farm Girl.”

I frowned. “I am a farm girl. I live on a farm. You now live on a farm.”

“I know, but they think that’s beneath them. I know how Hadley’s crowd thinks, I’ve heard what they say.”

My frown deepened, and when he reached for me, I pulled back. “How you used to think? Does it bother you that I would rather clean this up than make someone else do it?”

Lachlan dropped his hand to put his arm around my shoulders.

I think what bothered me most was they had no idea how much my dad owned. How big his empire was. He hadn’t even told me, not fully, but I wasn’t oblivious. My dad believed in raising an honest, hard-working kid, not wanting me to turn into someone like Hadley. Someone like Chase.

Chase looked wounded by my words. The bell rang, and students shuffled around to get to class.

“Babe, he didn’t mean it like that.”

I stepped out of Lachlan’s hold. “Then, how did he mean it?” I asked, genuinely curious for him to explain it. Lachlan…didn’t like that. It was the distance I put between us, not my words, that had his eyes flashing.

Someone I didn’t even know walked by and chose that moment tomooat me. Lachlan had him pinned to the lockers by his throat faster than I could even react. “It was a joke,” the guy gasped out, clawing at Lachlan’s arm.

“Dude, Lach!” Chase tried to pry his hand away.

“Apologize to her.” Lachlan spoke through clenched teeth.

“I-I-—” The guy tried to speak, but Lachlan squeezed more tightly.

“Not. You.” His eyes were piercing, terrifying, as they turned to Chase.

Chase took a step back and nodded. “You’re right. Bailey, I am sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t want them looking down their noses at you. I see you more than that, and I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“It’s fine.”

Lachlan turned on the guy. “Fuck off,” he said as he let go of him. The guy gasped for air, falling to the ground before scrambling to his feet and running down the now-empty hall. “Shit.” Lachlan reached up, grabbing fistfuls of hair and yanking at the light blond strands. I just stared at him for a moment, not sure what to do, what to say.

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