Page 43 of Why We Break

As soon as it’s in her hands, she runs back, holding it up while the squad all but tackles Caroline and Hannah. Most of the girls are crying, and I smile when I catch sight of Hannah, who’s always pretended she doesn’t cry, wipes a stray tear.

“Those girls really love Hannah and Caroline,” Seth says, watching the scene below us.

“Yeah, they do,” I agree, wishing that I could go pull her into my arms and congratulate her. But considering that everyone here thinks we can’t stand to be in the same room, plus the fact that the school would definitely frown upon it, I stay put, watching her and wishing she was mine.

“All right,guys, we have the Huntsville Hornets away on Friday, so in addition to the game, we also have a huge travel week,” I say, sitting down on my sofa with a beer Sunday afternoon to comb through the film I have pulled up.

“Shit, I am not looking forward to that ride on the bus,” Kent groans, and we all nod in agreement.

“Yeah, I can’t say it’s something I’m excited about either, but the boosters have offered to help us cover the cost of staying in a hotel outside of Huntsville for the night. Apparently, Blake’s dad has a connection and they were willing to give them to us pretty cheap. It’s not what I’d normally do, but depending on how late the game goes it could be after three in the morning before we got back, and I’m not comfortable being on the road that late after a game.”

“Hell, I can’t say I’ll complain about that,” Jason agrees, reaching out for a handful of chips off the coffee table.

The other coaches nod in agreement, and I grab the remote to start the first few plays of Huntsville’s last game.

I let the video play for a while, pausing them every so often to point out the things I noticed when I previewed this game last night. “I really think we need to think about moving Drew over here on the offense line when we run the new ‘24 dive’ play,” I suggest to Kent, just as I hear my phone ping with an incoming text.

HANNAH: Hey, are you coming by tonight? I wouldn’t mind a repeat of Friday

I smile at the text, before pausing and resisting the urge to curse at the realization that by the time I get everything ready for the week, it’ll be close to midnight.

WILL: I wish… As much as I’d love to, there’s a ton of stuff I have to get done tonight. What about tomorrow?

HANNAH: You know it’s Margarita Monday.

WILL: Crap, that’s right. And I have a booster club meeting Tuesday night and then Thursday, I agreed to drive the bus for the volleyball team since their coach has an appointment.

HANNAH: Wednesday is our late practice day this week.

I growl in frustration at the texts, feeling the good mood I felt when I saw her name on my phone drifting away.

WILL: Damn. I don’t know if I can make it this week.

HANNAH: I mean technically we made it the last seven years so I think we’ll survive…

HANNAH: I guess I’ll also admit that I’m a little sad about this. I was looking forward to sliding my mouth up and down your thick…

HANNAH: But never mind… I’ll just have to take care of myself. ;) See you Friday!

“Will, why do you look like you’re ready to punch something?” Marcus asks, looking over at me in concern. “Is there something wrong?”

I blink up from my phone, feeling all the coaches staring at me. “Oh, uh, no, I’m good. Just fired up for the game Friday,” I tell them, the lie sounding lame even to my ears.

“Oh, okay,” Marcus says skeptically, before sharing a look with all the other coaches.

Eventually, they all turn their attention back to the film, and I struggle to get my frustration under control. It figures that now that we both want to be together, even if she claims it’s just for sex, we’d have a full schedule. Eventually, I push those emotions to the side and grab my phone again to respond to Hannah.

WILL: Tease me all you want, but I’m coming for you on Saturday and I promise you’ll be begging by the time I’m through with you.

CHAPTER 33

HANNAH

“Oh my goodness, you’re getting so big,” I coo at Ruby as I open the gate to her pen on Thursday night. She lets out a happymooand comes over to where I’m holding the bottle I just made out for her.

“Such a sweet girl,” I say, reaching out and petting her soft head while she eats.

I hear my phone ring in my back pocket, and I reach for it, almost dropping the milk bottle in the process.

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