Page 17 of Saving the Halfback

“Looking for someone?” Lachlan asked, a smirk of his own directed at me.

“Yeah, scanning for Hadley to make sure the coast is clear. How many days is the welcoming committee supposed to show me around for?” I asked, covering up my disappointment at not seeing a certain brown-eyed girl waiting for me.

“Three.” We began walking to the cafeteria. “Just tell her you don’t want her around, that you know where you’re going.”

Me? Confronting an annoying person and telling them to back off? Nope, not going to happen. Some parts of my introverted self were ingrained, and I couldn’t change, no matter how hard I tried.

When my phone buzzed in my pocket, I knew who it was before I even looked at the screen.

Dad:Your snap was sloppy and pitch uncoordinated.

*video attachment*

I didn’t play the video, knowing it was of me during practice, and I didn’t need to dissect it at this moment. I followed Lachlan as we went to the buffet table the kitchen staff set out for the team and grabbed a plate of eggs while Lachlan settled on a piece of toast and two strips of bacon. We made our way to the table.

“Nolan!” The voice was an excited shriek that sent shivers up my back. “Thought I’d catch you here.” Hadley stopped across from me. “What’s your first class? I don’t want to get into trouble with the welcoming committee if you’re late again.” She pouted.I had found the more fake I was, the more extroverted I tried to make myself seem, the easier it was to pick out others being fake. I guess likes really do attract.

I took a drink from my water bottle, trying to clear my mouth while also biding my time as I contemplated what to say. I was saved from a response, though.

“He doesn’t need you, Hadley,” Lachlan snapped, his voice cold.

Hadley glared at him. “It’s part of student council. I don’t have a choice.”

“Yeah, but he does. He’s just too nice to say he doesn’t want a leech—”

“Fuck off, Lach.” Chase walked by, sliding his arm around Hadley’s shoulders. “She’s just doing her job.”

I flinched, wishing to be anywhere but here. My eyes swung around to a pretty brunette, pulling her ball cap down to cover her face and standing just outside the cafeteria doors. Bailey looked cute, still wearing my jacket. She was holding a container in her hands and seemed indecisive about whether to come into the cafeteria at all.

“Bails!” I called out. I felt more than one pair of eyes on me, and the argument with Lachlan and Chase halted, but I didn’t care. I should’ve, and I probably would’ve, if I wasn’t more concerned about not letting this girl slip away. Her eyes shot up to me, and I waved her over. I saw the ghost of a smile playing at her lips before she nodded to herself and made her way to the table.

It was only then I notice Chase and Hadley had moved away from us, Chase now glaring at me. Ignoring it, I slid over a bit so Bailey could sit between me and Lachlan. “So, breakfast is provided by the school?” she asked.

“It’s actually provided by Corbin Farms,” Lachlan said.

Bailey smiled.

“What?”

“We actually own Corbin Farms now.”

“Wait… what?” Lachlan raised an eyebrow. “When did that happen? Why did no one say anything? Something must be off with the small-town grapevine.”

She waved him off. “NDA. Technically, I shouldn’t say anything. The Corbins still work the farm, it’s just owned by McCormick.”

“Wow, I won’t say anything, then.”

“What’s this?” I asked, tapping the container she now held on the table.

Bailey opened it up, and right away, the scents of apple and cinnamon hit me. “My mom made these, in case no one ate breakfast this morning,” she said sheepishly. “I didn’t know they fed you here.”

Lachlan snatched one up right away. “Dear God, save me, I’m about to die and go to heaven. It’s been so long since I had your mom’s baking.” All earlier tension from Hadley’s presence was gone as he took a bite and moaned, his pupils now blown wide, making his eyes go soft.

I tried to hide a smile at his antics. Bailey slid the container to me. “Want one?”

I looked at them. They had a crumble on top and everything, causing my mouth to water. Damn, the amount of sugar in those things, though. It wasn’t that I was hungry—I could fill up on the eggs—but when was the last time I’d had something sugary? When was the last time I’d had a treat?

“I will warn you, they are addicting,” Bailey said, picking one up and taking a bite out of it. Her tongue darted out at some crumbs on her lip.

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