Page 34 of Pieces

Twenty minutes later, and I’m still stewing.

“I’ve got to get to class,” Quinn says, gathering her supplies into her tote. The rest of us chip in, passing her scissors and tape rolls as she packs up. “See you guys soon.”

Miles heads out with her. Seb and Indie start whispering and sneak off. Which just leaves me and Jay.

The room is quieter without the others. Jay scrolls on his phone, but I can feel the weight of his attention even though his eyes stay fixed on the screen.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he says. “About the whole looking for a student thing.”

I scoff, leaning back in my chair. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Jay’s gaze flicks to me, one eyebrow raised. “Really? You’re gonna try that shit with me?”

Dragging a hand down my face, I can’t help but groan. “Fine. I want to find her. Happy now?”

He snorts and shakes his head. “Sometimes, I feel like I have a kid, who is you, by the way. Or maybe an overexcited puppy, one that chews everything it shouldn’t and pees on things. Totally uncontrollable.”

“I don’t pee on things or chew things,” I retort, indignant. “So your analogy sucks.”

He sighs dramatically, dropping his phone on the table before he turns to me, full of that older-brother energy he likes to wield when I’m being, in his words, “difficult.” Which is a huge insult. I’m not difficult, I’m awesome.

“Hudson, I’m going to say this again.” He pins me with a look that could burn through steel. “If you go sniffing around her, you’re gonna end up in hot water. Boiling water. And while youmighthave had one night with her—”

“One amazing night,” I correct reflexively, then instantly regret it when his glare sharpens.

“Hudson,” he groans, exasperated. “One night. That’s all it’s going to be. So. Let. It. Go.”

“But what if I don’t want to?” The words slip out before I can stop them. I know I shouldn’t argue the point, but I’m stubborn, and I can’t leave it alone. Not now that I know she’s here.

Jay leans back, crossing his arms as he gears up for one of his lectures. “Okay, let’s look at the facts.” He rolls up his sleeves. “You sleep with her again. Maybe it becomes a friends-with-benefits situation because, let’s face it, you’re not looking for anything serious. By some miracle, you keep it from Coach. But thensurprise!she catches feelings.”

I open my mouth to argue, but he steamrolls on.

“You, being you, call it off because‘that’s not what we agreed to.’She goes crying to her dad, who, let’s not forget, is your head coach, the same guy who told you specifically to stay the hell away from her. Then,bam!” He claps his hands together with a loud smack that makes me jump. “You’re running drills for the rest of your life. And not just any drills, the evil ones he makes up when he’s in a bad mood.”

I wince, remembering Coach’s face the last time he caught me slacking off in practice. That wasn’t even that personal, and it still felt like he wanted to bury me six feet under. “It wouldn’t be like that,” I say weakly, but even I don’t sound convinced.

Jay leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Look, man. I get it. She’s hot. She’s funny. She probably said some shit that got under your skin or has some magic over your dick. But you’ve gotta think about the bigger picture. One night isn’t worth tanking your entire career. Not when it’s hardly begun.”

I don’t answer right away, because what can I say? He’s right…on paper. The logical part of me knows it. But every time I tell myself to move on, my mind drifts back to Daphne. To the way she nibbled on her lip, innocent and full of sin. The way she laughed… God, I want to hear it again.

Jay watches me, his expression softening like he knows exactly where my thoughts are. “Look, if this was anyone else, I’d tell you to go for it. Hell, I’d help you track her down. But this is Coach’sdaughter. There’s no universe where this ends well.”

Swallowing past a lump in my throat, I nod. “I know, you’re right.”

He slaps my shoulder, but it does little to comfort me. “You’re doing the right thing. And I’m proud of you for changing things in your life to be better. I’m getting a full night’s sleep so far this year because I’m not woken up by you. It’s glorious.”

I laugh, feeling a little lighter. At least one of us is benefitting from something here.

Chapter sixteen

Daphne

Todayisamess.No, scratch that, it’s a royal fucking mess. I’m a mess. I slept through my alarm, missed my first class, didn’t have time for breakfast, and now I’m so far behind, I might as well give up and go back to bed, which is all I really want to do, anyway.

It’s lunchtime, but it feels like I’m late for that, too. All the good cafeteria food is gone. I’d been dreaming of that hot, melted grilled cheese on white bread all morning, but there’s none left. My chest tightens as I stare at the bland, dry salad in my lap. Why did I pick rabbit food? I don’t want rabbit food.

A prickle stings my eyes. I try to blink it away, but the urge to cry swells.

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