Page 55 of Pieces

I shrug, feeling that very color creeping onto my cheeks. “I like pink, and I’m not ashamed.”

“I love that you love pink,” Daphne says with a genuine smile.

My cheeks radiate with more heat that I can’t control as I look at her. “Yeah? Cool. I mean, you should come to the club. I can show you my book, uh, if you want?”Jesus, be cooler, man.

“You’re being weird,” Indie says.

Before I can come up with a defense, Seb stands abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “Hudson, come get a drink with me,” he says quickly. I’m mostly grateful for the reprieve to exit because I’m scared of what I might say next.

“The waitress will be ov—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“Now.” His voice is firm, almost biting.

I glance back at the table. The others are already deep in conversation, Daphne laughing at something Jay just said. I force myself to nod and follow Seb toward the counter. As soon as we’re out of earshot, he spins around, his expression stormy.

“What’s going on, man?” he asks quietly. “What are you doing?”

I blink, caught off guard. “Uh…following you to get a drink?”

Seb crosses his arms, giving me a no-bullshit look. “Come on, Hudson. Don’t do that. You know what I mean.” He glances back toward the table, where Daphne is still chatting with the others. “You’re suddenly friends with Coach’s daughter? After what he said? After we saw her on the field that day?”

My chest tightens, and I swallow hard. “It’s not what you think,” I tell him, though the words feel flimsy even as I say them.

He studies me for a moment, his eyebrows pulling together. “Tell me how it isn’t what I think.”

“It’s just…” I sigh. “It’s not, okay?”

He assesses me before saying, “This is my last season, Huds. My last shot at getting us to the championship. I need everyone focused. You’re one of our best players. I can’t have you distracted, especially not by something that could blow back on all of us.”

“I’m not distracted,” I argue, though it sounds weak even to my own ears.

“I’m not saying you are. Yet. You’ve been killing it this season.” He exhales, dragging his hand through his hair. “But you know how this looks, right? If Coach eventhinksyou’re messing around with her, we’re all gonna pay for it. You know how he gets.”

I wince. Coach finding out sends a shiver down my spine. I know it’s going to happen, but not for the same reasons Seb thinks. Still, it’s not a pretty picture, but it’s not the full picture either.

He doesn’t know what I know.

The thought sends a wave of resolve crashing through me, clearing away some of the guilt Seb’s throwing my way. I can’t tell him, can’t tell anyone else yet, but I know what I’m doing. There’s no way I’m walking away from her now. Not when she’s carryingmykid. Not when she’d have to face this alone just because my captain says it’s a bad idea.

“You don’t get it,” I say quietly, my voice firmer this time.

“Then help me get it,” he pleads. “Help me understand how this doesn’t end in disaster?”

And as much as I hate that he’s grilling me right now, I also hate lying to him. Seb’s not just my captain; he’s one of my closest friends. But this isn’t about the team or the championship or hell, even Coach. This is about Daphne. I glance back at the table, my gaze landing on her. She’s smiling softly at something Indie said, and I feel it again, that sharp pull in my chest. Something I can’t quite explain when I look at her. Something that makes me feel scared, yet I already feel something more for her, for them both.

I take a deep breath and meet Seb’s gaze again. “I can’t promise it won’t end in disaster, but I promise you this…I won’t hurt her.”

Seb’s expression softens as he shakes his head. “Huds… This isn’t just about her. If Coach finds out, he’s not going to care about promises. You’re risking everything. Are you sure about this?”

I nod, the conviction in my chest solidifying. “I am.”

Seb exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair as he looks away for a moment. When his eyes meet mine again, there’s still a hint of doubt, but there’s something else too. “Alright,” he says. “But if you’re doing this, you’d better make damn sure it’s worth it. For her, for you, for all the team. Because if this blows up, it’s not just you who’s going to feel the heat.”

“I know.”

But there’s nothing I can do to stop this now.

Chapter twenty-five

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