Page 160 of Saving the Halfback

Just like that, those ice-blue eyes melted, softening as he leaned forward. “I don’t think I could ever say no to you, babe. Do you know that? “

I smiled, his sandalwood scent intoxicating. I could feel the warmth of his hands through my clothes. One hand on my hip while the other one settled at the base of my neck. “Kiss me,” I whispered.

He didn’t need any more convincing. Lachlan nipped gently at my bottom lip, then he took it in between his, sucking softly. When his tongue swiped across, I was only too willing to open and give him access, deepening the kiss. The coolness of his lip ring tickled a little. I ran my tongue along it.

Lachlan’s fingers dug into my hip, eliciting a gasp from me before he pulled away, breathless. “We are getting carried away.”

“Take me away.” I grinned.

Lachlan chuckled as he sat up. He helped me adjust, so I was sitting in the seat properly instead of my legs everywhere. I peeked around him at the others. No one was paying any attention.

I kicked off my shoes and curled up on the seat, leaning against Lachlan. He put his arm around me and handed me back an ear bud. He turned the music off, and we took turns playing a few games on his phone.

We took our halfway pit stop at a truckers’ stop. Most of the bus left, though we had to return to the same buses to ensure the head count was correct. “Do you have to go to the bathroom?” Nolan asked.

I shook my head. “I’m good.”

With the bus now mostly empty, we had free range, and right away, the guys and I moved to the back, where there were five seats in the last row. Coach had saidmove your feet, lose your seat, so there were no assigned seats. Lachlan sat against one window, then I sat with Nolan to my other side, Ethan, and then Chase. I looked out the window as Hadley met up with her gang, all talking. Her friends had been on the other bus.

Something in me snapped, and all I could think was,how dare she?“Why is she even on this bus?”

“You should’ve seen her before you got on,” Lachlan said. “That’s why I was sitting next to Chase at first. She was practically throwing herself on him.”

Nolan nodded. “She definitely had intentions of sitting next to him.”

“I told her multiple times to back off.” Chase huffed.

“Don’t worry, I trust you, babe,” I said distractedly. Hadley was walking into the truck stop with her friends, likely to use the washroom. I stood up, and my eyes caught on Chase, who was grinning. “What?”

“Babe?”

“Oops, slipped.” I grinned and moved to get out, but Ethan grabbed my hip, holding me back.

“Where are you going?”

“I realize I actually do have to go to the bathroom.” All four guys stood, and I rolled my eyes. “I’ll be fine. I’ll be quick.”

“I’m coming,” Ethan growled, getting up and following me out. Ever the bodyguard.

I didn’t have to look over my shoulder to know Ethan was only a couple of steps behind me. I walked into the station and, right away, saw Hadley and her friends in a circle. I busied myself looking at a shelf of candy, glancing up now and then. They were all on their phones and talking to one another. Hadley threw her head back, laughing at something Katie whispered to her, and I didn’t know why it made me so angry.

We did nothing to her, and she went out of her way to hurt us. Lachlan was right. Everything in this world seemed to want to tear us down, but I was done with it. My time was on a clock, and I was determined to ensure the guys would be taken care of.

“On the bus in five,” the cheer coach called out. Hadley broke off from her group and went into the bathroom, so I moved forward.

Ethan grabbed my arm, stopping me. “Bailey.”

“I’m not going to let it go… Too many people look the other way.” We couldn’t rely on anyone but ourselves. I shook his hand off and stalked off to the bathroom. I walked right through the door, letting it fall shut behind me. On the other side, I could hear Ethan tell someone the bathroom was out of order.

I took a deep breath, not really knowing what I was going to do, just knowing I had to act. I had to put a stop to this. I was so tired of standing aside and taking it and keeping the peace. Someone had to learn a lesson, and this time, it wasn’t going to be me.

Hadley stepped out of the stall, and I froze. “Ew, what are you doing here?” She stepped up to the sink. “Were you listening to me pee?” she asked in disgust.

“You have to back off the guys.” My voice was more timid than I wanted.

“What? Scared of a little competition? You aren’t the only one that can hold more than one guy's attention at a time, you know. It’s only a matter of time before they ditch you.” She turned the water on and started washing her hands. “Chase, well, he knows what he’s missing, and he always comes back for more. And Nolan? He’s a quarterback. He’s going to get bored with you in no time. Ethan shows no interest in anyone, but that’s the kind of challenge I like. And Lachlan?” She chuckled. “Well, I practically had to fight his hands off me on the bus already.”

The fact that she spoke their names at all—and confirmed that she was, in fact, trying to make moves on them when they so clearly told her no—made me sick. But when she spoke Lachlan’s name, when she said he was the one to initiate, when she had no idea the kind of panic and trauma she brought out in him with her little move…that pissed me off.

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