Page 31 of Saving the Halfback

“Shame, mainly. Everyone made me feel ashamed for what happened. I didn’t want to feel the shame from you guys—you were my family. In the end, I lost you guys. There was no strategic way around any of it. I tried.”

“You didn’t lose me.” I held my hand out to him. “I was just…floating.”

“Floating?” Lachlan stared at my hand for a moment before threading his fingers through mine.

“Yeah. Like you’re there, but you’re not. Floating in space, lost in my own self.”

“Drifting. That’s what I call it.” His eyes shone with so much understanding. His fingers twitched in mine, almost as if he was testing the hold. “I want to know what happened, because Ba-Bailey, I know something happened. I know you’ve been battling, and I want in on it.”

I wanted to tell someone—needed to tell someone—and maybe…maybe Lachlan was safe. He didn’t know Ed, not really. “I will tell you…if you tell me. I know you didn’t kill some biker with your bare hands or rob a bank and flee the country.”

Lachlan chuckled. “You sure?”

I rolled my eyes and bumped him again. “Trust me with your truth, and I will trust you with mine.”

“That’s fair,” Lachlan agreed, and I was somewhat surprised. Was it as easy as that? Lachlan pulled his phone out and looked at the time. “Ready for your first full practice?”

I took a deep breath. “Bring it.”

12

Bailey

Lachlan seemed reluctant to let go of my hand as we got out of the truck.

“Hey, man.” Nolan walked up to us, his helmet tucked under his arm. Lachlan gave him a nod and bumped his fist with Nolan’s. “We good?” Nolan asked in a hushed tone. I pretended I hadn’t heard him and moved to get my gear out of the back of the truck.

“Yeah, thanks for that.” Lachlan’s tone was also low.

“Why’d you skip out?”

“Just, I’ll let you know later, ’kay?”

“If you need help again, text me.”

I turned back to them as I pulled the massive duffel bag over my shoulder. Lachlan and Nolan slapped hands and bumped shoulders. I paused and looked around, knowing I was missing something. “Damn it, forgot my water bottle this morning.”

“I have an extra one,” Nolan said, pulling a red bottle out of his bag. “I haven’t used it.”

“Thanks.” I took it from him, and we walked together toward the school, Lachlan and Nolan on either side of me. “Ugh, it’s so cold out.”

Nolan wrapped his arm around my shoulders, moving his hand, as if to warm me up. I probably shouldn’t have, but I leaned into him. His leather jacket wasn’t the softest, but I could feel the warmth coming off him. “It’s only going to get colder. Last year, it was snowing during our playoffs. But you’ll warm up after the first few tackles.”

“Now that, I’m looking forward to. Think we will do some tackles today?”

Lachlan laughed. “Out for blood, are you?”

“Maybe.” I grinned. I had to admit, I was most excited to learn how to tackle. It both scared the shit out of me and pumped me up, especially the chase before the tackle. How far could I get before they would come for me?

I followed the guys down to the gym locker rooms, where Coach stood in the hall, talking to another player. “Bailey.” As he looked at me, Nolan dropped his arm. “Do you have a specific number you want?”

“Number?” I asked.

“Your jersey,” Nolan clarified.

Oh. “No—”

“Twenty-three,” Lachlan said.

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