Page 96 of Falling Offsides

Nobody that has tied me in all these fucking knots.

Nothing that makes me want to ruin anyone who gets too close. That dares to breathe her air. To exist in her orbit.

“Fuck,” I growl at myself, incapable of talking myself down from the fucking ledge I’m looking over.

I slam the heel of my hand against the wall, trying to shake off the frustration, the need.

A pulse of pain flares up my arm—not enough, but it helps.

“Hey, man—” I freeze at Jayden’s cautious voice. “—you good?”

Really? What kind of stupid fucking question is that?

My glare turns on him, frayed around the edges with a constant red throb. Meanwhile, he just leans against the wall, silent as he spins his keys around his finger.

Fuck me.

“Gotta be honest, I did not see you falling for Coach Nilsson’s kid.” He chuckles. “Matheo is totally stupid enough to do that… but you? I did not predict that.”

“Now is really not a good time for?—”

“I get it, she’s pretty. I even get that maybe you feel shitty for what happened on day one. But Coach is going to castrate you in front of the whole team.”

“Don’t you have anywhere else to be?”

“Is she worth it? That’s the only question you should be asking yourself.”

“Yes.” The reply leaves my mouth without thought or warning. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“It is my business when your actions have consequences for the whole team. We’re all working our asses off to make this fucking season count after we fucking choked during the Play Offs.” Twisting onto his side, he blows out a long breath. “If you’re into Courtney and she’s into you, that’s cool, just… like… I know you’re a good guy, but make sure your intentions are legit cause, if that was my sister, you’d be fucking dead by now.”

Morrow’s sister loves me. Kailey would wear my jersey over his any time.

“For what it’s worth, it’s obvious that she’s into you. Soooo… maybe take it easy on the wall, take a few breaths and go back to the table. Just be less, you know—” He makes a hissing sound with claws. “—grrr. Chill.”

With that he makes for the back exit, where he parked earlier.

“You leaving?”

“Yep,” Jayden replies with a shrug. “Going to check on Eli and call it a night.”

He disappears with a wave, still spinning his fucking keys as he calls, “Try not to murder anyone tonight.”

Shaking myself off, I ignore the fact that my hand is still throbbing from my attack on the concrete wall, and walk back to the table.

The lights feel too bright, the music loud, and the keening shrieks of the group murdering an ABBA song on the stage annoying as nails on a chalkboard.

Courtney and Cecelia are finishing a shot of cachaça from the middle of the table. She looks green when she puts the glass down to a lecture from Matheo.

“You’re not meant to shoot it. Cachaça is meant to be savored. Like sip it and let the heat and the flavor amalgamate in your mouth.”

Amalgamate?Where the fuck did the asshole learn that word? His vocabulary is not that sophisticated.Who the fuck is he trying to impress?

My stare narrows on Matheo. Watching him intently as he leans over, across Courtney to show her and Cecelia how to drink a damn shot. His arm brushes her shoulder…

Motherfucker.

Every cell in my body bunches up. I want to drag her out of here. To throw her over my shoulder and walk straight into the night, not let go until she admits she wants me—wantsustoo.

---