Page 69 of Wicked

“Is that so? Did she tell you she cheated on her boyfriend with his older brother, Shephard?”

“We don’t keep important shit from each other,” I emphasize, my voice firm and deadly low.

“Did she tell you sheaccusedmy boyfriend of raping her? Or that Shephard shot mydefenselessboyfriend? Harper Garrix is nothing but a liar and a whore.”

The women in line gasp. My teammates cover the kids’ ears. Harper goes pale. Everyone’s attention swivels to her. Her eyes shimmer, and she rushes out of the line. The kids hurry after her, shooting worried glances my direction. A nerve ticks along my jawline. I count to ten. Keep my focus on stacking food on my plate.

“You don’t know jack shit. Harper is none of that. She’s the best person in this room. More so after what she went through.”

Her hell on earth.

“Whatshewent through? How about what the families of the dead boys suffered through? Her guy killed them. Shephard shot them dead.”

I clench and unclench my jaw, move it side to side, forcing it to relax and not give in to the anger building inside me. The anger wins out.

“You keep your mouth shut, Missy,” I growl.

“Are you threatening me?”

She crowds my space. Her big tits push on my arm. My body stills. I’m holding on to a thin thread of restraint. Now that the kids and Harper are out of earshot, I can snicker and posture like the douchebag I am. Instead, I aim for the highroad.

“Don’t put words in my mouth.”

I leave the line and go in search of Harper and the kids.

“They’re coming, Ryker,” she calls after me. “For every part and piece of her. You better keep her close.”

I smirk. Who is threatening whom now, and in a crowded room no less? I find Harper near the door of the gym, consoling the kids.

“Hey, you guys okay?”

“We want to kick that mean girl’s butt.” Collin glares in the direction of the food line. He and the other boys smack their fists together.

“I get it. But violence isn’t it, kids. Harper’s lived through it and doesn’t want anymore of it. We stick with her wish, okay?”

The boys nod. The girls have tears in their eyes. My girl’s eyes tear up too.

“Here’s my choice for you all. Now, this is a test of character, but if you’re not up to facing that test today, I understand. Should we run with our tails tucked between our legs at being bullied by that evil witch? Or do we stand our ground, let her words slide over us, and party the night away?”

They look to their leader. Harper smiles and shakes her head. She opens her arms. The kids gather around and take turns hugging her before they face me as a singular force to be reckoned with.

“Harper wants to stay. We stay.” Collin speaks for the group.

My throat tightens. I choke up. Nod. These kids . . .

Harper puts out her hand. “Together.”

We stack our hands on top of hers, and like the little cheer team we are, we toss our hands in the air and yell, “Together!”

25

Harper

The night was a bust no matter how hard Ryker tried doing damage control using his natural charm and booming laughter.

For the rest of the auction, his teammates left us alone. The coaches and the coaching staff too. I don’t think they did it to be mean. In their situation, I wouldn’t know what to say either.

It didn’t help that Missy slept her way through half the football team the minute she transferred in junior year from Chicago.

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