Page 40 of Rookie Mistake

Great. It’ll take one person recording a video for social media, and both of us will be fucked. Coach has been cracking down on us for social media practices, and that’s why I’ve been working so hard to clean my act up so he sees that I’m serious about wanting to earn my spot as a starter.

“I think it’syouthat feels threatened, Guidry. As much as you bring up that starting spot, seems like you’re scared that you’re not good enough to get it.” He smirks as he dips a shoulder. “Damn, it looks like you’re not getting that spot or my fucking sister. Asshole.”

He pushes me again, and this time when I return the smile, he rears back and punches me. For a six-foot-two, two-hundred-pound guy, he moves fast as fuck. I barely have time to move before his knuckles land on my brow bone, splitting it open as I stagger back, hitting the wall.

Immediately, I feel the trickle of warm, wet blood as it trails down the spot above my eye and onto my cheek.

The crowd starts chanting, “Fight, fight, fight.”

My adrenaline is fucking pumping, and my vision is hazy from anger, and right now, with as mad as I am, I feel like saying fuck the consequences.

Reaching up, I swipe the blood off my face and wipe it onto my jean-covered thighs.

“You wanted a fight, so here you fucking go. Now, hit me back,” he taunts, stepping up to me, his chest bumping mine.

I don’t even have a chance to return the punch because a five-foot-nothing spitfire with midnight hair and bright green eyes that always seem to take hold of my throat steps between us. “What in thefuckis going on?”

chapter thirteen

Zara

“Power Trip”— J.Cole, Miguel

Idon’t think I’ve ever been so angry in my entire life.

Actually, angry doesn’t even touch what I’m feeling right now.Stabbyis more like it, and I’m pretty positive my brother is going to be the recipient of said anger.

Davis has blood pouring from a cut above his eye, and Oliver has the audacity to look guilty, and I know that he’s the one that caused all of this since he’s not the one bleeding.

I don’t doubt that Davis participated in whatever happened, but for it to resort to physical violence? No.

Hell no.

“I cannot believe youhithim, Oliver!” I hiss, trying to keep my fiery temper under bay. Sucking in a deep breath that’s meant to calm me, but no such luck, I exhale through my nose. “I want to talk to you both. Not here.”

It’s at that moment that my idiot brother does a slow scan of the crowd that’s gathered around them as if he’s just now realizing that he’s acted like a complete fool in front of hundreds of people with their phones out. His throat bobs as he swallows, and he nods. I then look over at Davis, who also nods, and I brush past them, pushing through the throng of people toward the back door of the Kappa house.

Once we’re outside, I glance around the backyard and see that even though it’s not empty, it’s not nearly as packed as the inside of the house, and it gives us a bit more privacy. This conversation is happening either way, but I don’t want to do it in front of an entire frat house full of drunk people.

I whip to face Oliver, months of pent-up frustration and exhaustion finally boiling over. He’s got his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans, a contrite expression on his face, and it only makes me more angry. “I can’t believe that you did this, Oliver. It’s low, even for you. I told you that I didn’t want you getting involved in my personal life, and what do you do? Get into a fight with someone I’m seeing. Not only did you completely disregard every single thing that I asked you, you jeopardizedbothof your careers when Davis has donenothingwrong. You really said fuck my boundaries, huh? They don’t mean shit to you and your agenda. It just shows me that you have no respect for me.”

I realized that I’m not just angry that my brother hit Davis or that, once again, he’s trying to control my life and make decisions for me, but his stupid decisions affect us all, not only him. “Are you okay?” I ask Davis, reaching out and grasping hischin so I can turn his face to the side and get a better look at the cut.

He nods. “Yeah, Trouble, I’m good.”

“Okay. Can you give me a second?” I say quietly.

For a second, he hesitates, as if he wants to make sure I’m okay, but when I nod, he says, “Yeah, of course.”

He gives me a small smile before walking over off the back porch and into the yard.

I turn back to face Oliver, who’s now strangely silent when just moments ago, he had so much to say inside the house. “I’m tired, Oliver. I’m seriously just exhausted from doing this, and tonight was the final straw. I can’t and won’t keep doing this fighting with you. Even if it wasn’t Davis, it would be someone els?—”

“Zara, he’s a fucking prick, and I told you that you can’t keep seeing him!” he interjects, his voice shaking with anger.

My brow quirks, tense silence lingering heavily between us. After a beat passes, I step forward until I’m nearly chest to chest with my brother, even if he’s six two, and I’m five two in combat boots. My attitude is six five, and if there’s anyone who knows not to push me to this point, it’s him. And now that he has, he’s going to listen to what I have to say. “Look, I understand you want to protect me and that when I dated one of your teammates in the past that it didn’t end great, but that doesn’t mean that you get to boss me around and try to control me.” Pausing, I shake my head. “We had this same conversation weeks ago, and you clearly didn’t hear a word I said. So, I’m done. I’m packing my stuff, and I’m going to stay with Harper. Indefinitely. And don’t worry, I’ll call Dad, too, and have the same conversation with him. Neither of you are going to make decisions for me. Behaving like this? Acting fucking insane and fighting people? That’s how you lose me forever.”

His eyes widen in disbelief. “Zar, you can’t justmove out. I’m supposed to look out for you, an?—”

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