Page 48 of Calm Before the Score

“I’m sure you do, but you lost that right when you abandoned her last night.” His yells echo through the complex. His jaw is clenched, and his face is on fire. He’s barely holding it together. Shoot. I don’t even know if we won last night’s game. If the team lost, I’ll feel even worse.

“Hartley,” I groan and keep my arms down. Hartley’s fists are balled up tight on my shirt. His face is so close to mine, I can feel hot breath on my skin.

“You were supposed to take care of her. Do you know how hot I was when everyone sent me videos of you exploding on her last night?Afterlosing the playoff game. I came home and punched a hole through the wall!” He pushes my chest back, and I tumble back with a hard jolt.

“I’m sorry. So sorry, Hart. I let the team down in a monumental way. I don’t even know what to do or say, but every time I think about it, vomit rises in my throat." I look down shaking my head in shame. "Look, I just need to talk to her. Please just give me that,” I beg my girl’s brutish best friend. I don’t deserve to see her, but this is all I have.

“Nice apology, but you can shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. Go wreck your own life. I know a thing or two about that but don’t bringherinto it,” he spits the words at me with venom.

“I love her. None of this was supposed to happen. I didn’t want her involved in my mess.” The emotions built up inside overflowinto anger. “I needed the money and did what I had to do. I kept her out of it to protect her.”

“Protect her? You did a stellar job with that. Keeping her in the dark and embarrassing her. Iknewthis would happen. I let my guard down, and you screwed her over. It won’t happen again.” He points a finger close to my face.

“Did you not hear me? I love her more than anything in my life.” My heart bursts out of my chest. “She’s the only thing that makes sense to me. I know I royally screwed up, but I need to see her. I need to hear from her own mouth that she doesn’t want me here. Then, I’ll leave.”

“Leave.” He walks me closer to the stairs.

“I’m not leaving without seeing her. Ineedto see her.”

“Leave or I'll–”

Before he can finish, the angelic voice of the only home I’ve ever known appears at the entrance to the apartment. “Both of you, stop!”

Our heads snap to face the girl that we both love in monumentally different ways.

“Vi,” I gasp because seeing her takes my breath away. I’ll never get tired of her, but I have serious ground to cover.

“Hartley, give us a minute,” she mumbles. Her eyes have dark purple circles painted on her perfect skin. Her hair is thrown into the messy bun that I love. Her voice portrays pure exhaustion.You did this to her.

“This isn’t a good idea. He’s lied to you once. He’ll do it again,” he says with anger.

“I can handle him, Hart.” My girl’s voice sounds so small. So entirely broken.

“Are you sure?” She nods. “I’ll be right inside if you need me.”

Hartley eyes me up and down with daggers before heading inside the apartment. Violet sits on the top step right outside herdoor. I join her and gently brush my knee against hers. I need contact with her, and I’ll take what I can get.

“Why?” She shoots me the prettiest eyes in the world, welled with tears waiting to break free.

“Baby.” I move to grab her hand, and she flinches. Her face scrunches with hurt covering her features.

“Don’t.” She scoots farther away. “You can’t come here and act like we are ok. We’re not.”

“I know we aren’t, and I know I screwed up.”

“Screwed up? You humiliated me. I was so scared that something bad happened to you that I searched the entire town trying to find you,” she explains.

“I’m-”

“Let me finish,” she says with tears rolling down her face. “Only to find you belligerent at the bar, treating me like I’m dirt under your shoe. Did I ever mean anything to you? Or was this just a game?”

“Let me make it make sense. Please, Violet. I owe you that,” I beg her.

“I was there. All I ever wanted was for you to let me in. You chose to shut me out. Ha. How stupid am I? I thought this was about game-time nerves.” She chuckles manically.

“I couldn’t ruin you along with me. You’re inherentlygood.I couldn’t handle the thought of dragging you into this,” I explain with the most honesty I’ve given her in weeks. “Mom’s bills were piling up, and my back was against the wall. She needed this, and I needed your presence more than I cared about telling you the truth.”

“What does that even mean?” she grabs my hands, twisting her body to face me. Dried up tears mark her face while fresh ones continue to roll down her cheeks.

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