Page 195 of Did They Break You

But even still, the guilt I’ve wrestled with for over a year isn’t abated with her words. If anything, it makes me feel worse. Nothing was clear cut that night, and I know I should have walked away,with her.But hearing her say she hadn’t planned on going to the police, that her stepfather bullied her into it… I don’t know what the fuck to think about it.

“Something bad happened to Remi,”she said he’d said.

Yeah, motherfucker. I’m the one who fucking did it. And something bad just might happen to you, too.

When I rip my helmet off on the sidelines after the game, running both hands through my hair, I can’t stop thinking aboutit. About her. Him. That night. It’s all playing on a loop all over again, making me feel fucking insane.

It doesn’t help that I didn’t sleep. That Storm had nothing to say about her confession, like he couldn’t give less than a fuck. Like he wasn’t at all upset with her.

It doesn’t help that I’m fucking crazy about her, but I know this will never work, and I’m looking for any excuse to end it. And I know she’s right. I know her tears should’ve been enough. I know the entire night should’ve never happened.

But what I don’t know is what to do now.

“Cort!”My name from Maya’s lips makes me turn in the parking lot reserved for players and their families, tucked away behind the convocation center.

I grit my teeth as I see Maya and Chase walking toward me, and not a few steps behind them is my fuckingmother.

I toss my bag in the truck, close the door and turn to face the three people I have no interest in seeing, ever again. In my life.

I know Dad was in the stands today too, and he’s waiting for me at the house, and hopefully Tristan is there as well. He missed the game like he’s missed most of mine because he doesn’t want to be around Mom, and while it hurts a little, I also don’t blame him.

Her highlighted hair falls around her shoulders, and she’s wearing a black and orange EU shirt and a self-satisfied smile on her face as she reaches me, along with Maya and Chase.

“Good game today, man,” Chase says, and he lifts a hand, like he’s going to clap me on the back, but I narrow my eyes, and he slips his hand into his khakis instead. Clearly, he didn’t learnhis fucking lesson when I had my hand around his throat in my kitchen.

Maya twirls a curl of dark brown hair around her finger, beaming at me.

“Why are you here?” I ask her, my eyes locked on her big blue ones.

She feigns a pout, but it’s my mother who speaks. “That’s rude, Cortland. Don’t be rude.”

I shift my gaze to her, folding my arms over my chest. “Okay, I’ll askyouthen.Why are you here?”

She arches a brow, fluttering her fake lashes. She’s so unlike my dad, it’s unreal. I don’t even recognize this fucking woman, but then again, she’s always been a bitch. Maybe she was different growing up. Maybe living in poverty made her resentful, and now she’s gotta have the nicest things at the expense of everything else, but imagining Tristan in that hospital bed, her nowhere to be found…

I take a breath in through my nose. Out.

Better start fucking talking, Mom.

“I had to watch my son play,” she says, really turning up the Southern drawl, giving a small laugh, her light eyes shifting to Maya. “And I thought I could take you and your best friends out for lunch.”

I snort. “No, thanks. I have plans.”

Chase chuckles. Really chuckles, like a dumb fuck as he looks down at his Oxford shoes. “With Remi?”

Maya folds her arms, her brows pulled together. I think about her dropping Remi back in high school. About what Remi told me, with her stepdad and her sprained ankle. I think about her claims she took photos of her bruises.

I want to add a few fucking more right now.

I grind my teeth together as I keep my eyes on Maya. “Why don’t the three of you grow the fuck up, and find something else to do with your life besides riding my ass?”

Maya’s glossed lips pull into a smile. For some reason, she glances at my mom, who sighs, fiddling with a gold bracelet on her wrist. Then she nods, and Maya turns back to me.

I have a bad feeling about the fact the two of them have been talking a lot more than I realized behind my fucking back, but I’m not entirely surprised.

“Your case was dismissed,” Maya says, lifting her chin, “but you know Remi could always appeal. She still has time.”

I run my hand through my hair and pull before I drop my hand. “I’m not talking about this with you. Besides, the chances of that going anywhere are?—”

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