Page 147 of The Forever Play

He almost looks offended, and I shake my head and glance at Wily.

He gives me an encouraging smile, nodding and silently telling me to get on with it.

My legs buckle and I plunk down on the closest bench seat, resting my elbows on my knees and letting it all out.

I don’t hold back and tell them every ugly, dirty detail of my life at Kelsey U. I can’t look up at their reactions, so I keep my eyes trained on the floor, confessing my darkest sins and hoping they won’t kick me out of the house.

“So, when Coach offered to let me go with him, I jumped at the chance.” I sigh. “I know I don’t deserve it or anything, but… I just had to get away from the Titans.”

I finally stop talking, smashing my teeth together as I wait for them to respond.

The silence that follows is painful, and my knee starts bobbing as I wait it out.

“Well, fuck me,” Grady mutters, taking a seat beside me and shaking his head. “How did we not know about this? I’m surprised it wasn’t splashed all over the media. That’s a huge scandal.”

“The school managed to keep it quiet. To be honest, I was really grateful for that, although…” I shrug. “Maybe it would have been better if it was publicized. Maybe that’s exactly what we all deserved.”

“I would have killed those motherfuckers,” Carson hisses. “That asswipe is lucky you only broke his jaw.”

“We should have tackled harder at Saturday’s game.” Tyrell’s tone is just as dark as Carson’s.

Wily takes a seat on my other side, nudging me with his elbow. “No wonder you’re so paranoid about drinks and drugs at our parties.”

I glance at him and nearly can’t believe his smile.

He’s smiling? At me? After everything I just told him.

He laughs at my expression. I don’t know what my face is doing, but he elbows me again. “Dude, what? Are we supposed to hate you now or something?”

I blink and shake my head. “I… maybe?”

“Oh, please.” Carson rolls his eyes. “So you were a little shit for a year. I’m a shit all the time, and you guys still let me live with you.” He shrugs, throwing on his practice shirt. “You could have told us this ages ago, man. It’s not like we would have kicked you out of the house.”

“I just… hate myself for what I let happen. What I did. What I became.” I cringe, running a hand through my hair.

Tyrell shrugs. “We all make fucked-up choices we regret. That’s life. When it came to the crunch, you did the right thing.”

“Yeah, man.” Grady squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t waste your time beating yourself up. It’s done. It’s over. You gotta live in the now.”

I let out a surprised laugh, shaking my head. “You guys are…” I huff out another laugh, then swallow and look around at them all. “Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about.” Wily slaps my back, then stands tall. “Come on, let’s go play some ball.”

With a nod, I stand and give each of them anothersilent thank-you before letting them know, “Sienna and Zoey will be back tonight.”

“What?” Carson whines. “Are you fucking kidding me? They’re not moving back in for good, are they?”

I clench my jaw and give him a nod. “I want them with me, man. Sienna’s my woman, and Zoey’s my daughter. They belong with me.”

“They can’t live at Football Frat. It won’t work.”

“Well, I’ll just have to figure out some new living arrangements, then.” I shrug, hating that idea, but?—

“Are you kidding me?” Wily argues, lightly shoving Caron’s shoulder. “We’re not breaking up the crew.”

Carson shoves him back. “We can’t add to it with some chick and a toddler!”

“Fine, it’ll be a temporary solution.”

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