Page 15 of The Lie
And that’s it. The end of the game and the Rebels lost.
I sit there and stare at the screen. There’s no way Roman would have missed that catch under normal circumstances. He could do that with his eyes closed. He must be more injured than anyone thought; he shouldn’t have been allowed to play at all. He needs medical attention, not a helmet and gloves. I’ve been worried all day about this, remembering that feeling in my chest. Roman needed someone to tell him to sit this one out. He'd needed me.
The Warriors are all cheering and celebrating, and the Rebels walk away looking so defeated. A few of the guys are tapping Roman on the shoulder. They must be telling him it’s not his fault they lost. Because they, like me, know he’s blaming himself for missing that catch.
“I’m sorry, Mila. That’s got to be hard on Roman. I know because Asher is the same when he misses. He shouldn’t have been allowed to play right after the accident. It’s obvious he’s injured. He must have broken fingers or something.”
I nod. He might have, but he’s played with broken fingers before. Hunter told me that Roman plays with broken fingers and ribs all the time. That it’s normal for him to have something broken and ignore it. So, whatever this is, it’s much worse, and my stomach won’t settle at the thought.
When they replay the catch on the screen, they slow it down. I look closely for his injury. But the way his fingers curl around the leather…His eyes, they look down at his hands, like he’s just caught a live grenade. It only happens for a split second. His right hand releases the ball just before he can grip it tight, fumbling it, then it drops to the ground and bounces.
The look on his face isn’t one I’ve seen before. He looks at that ball like it wants to kill him, and he can’t get away fast enough. It’s a strange reaction to have.
I’m not sure anyone else sees what I do; Madison hasn’t said anything, but then she doesn’t fully get football. And no one gets Roman like I do. Why would he drop that ball when he clearly had it?
Oh god. No…
I freeze, feeling like someone is pressing on my chest and I can’t breathe.
Roman lost the game…on purpose.
SEVEN
JACE
It was the perfect throw. How could he fumble that? It fell right into his waiting hands like a baby. All he had to do was cradle it, take a few more steps, and we would be celebrating right now.
But no.
We lost the game because Roman couldn’t hold on to the fucking ball. Something a child could do. He came out of nowhere yesterday, begging Coach to play, and Coach agreed to let him suit up for tonight’s game.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t happy at the time. I needed him; there were scouts again out there, watching me, and I had to play well tonight. I needed the boys. But Hunter is a fucking asshole, so I didn’t pass to him if I didn’t have to, even if the play called for it.
Roman was my choice all night…but that last catch. I should’ve known when he fumbled it earlier that he wasn’t up to playing. I thought it was a one-off. Apparently not.
It's almost like he wanted to drop it. Like he was trying to get back at me for not coming to see him…or Mila. Hunter didn’t play last week because of her. I just couldn’t see them. I didn’t want to see how bad it really was, so I stayed away. Mom told me how they were. She visited every day.
“Don’t worry, Roman. It happens to the best of us,” our teammate Zack consoles him as we leave the stadium.
No, it doesn’t happen to the best of us. The best of us wouldn’t have dropped that catch. But I hold my tongue; I don’t want to start shit here. Even though I feel like he did that to punish me. He knew the scouts were out there. The fumble reflects badly on him more than me, but I wanted to win—we all did. Why would he punish the whole team because he’s mad at me? The Roman I know would just hit me and get it over with.
Hunter and Roman walk off toward Hunter’s Audi, appearing like nothing has changed between them. I guess Roman doesn’t care that Hunter has been going to visit Mila every night since she got back from the hospital.
I’ve seen Hunter over at Mila’s, staying till late and shit. I haven’t spoken to him at all since Mila and Roman ended up in the hospital. He tried to talk to me, but I didn’t care. Fuck himandMila. He made his choice. By choosing her, he fucked this friendship.
This was why we’d always needed the pact. But none of it seems to matter to Hunter. He doesn’t care if he loses me or Roman. He wants Mila, and nothing is stopping him.
Only, does she want him? She said we all give her butterflies. Not just Hunter. Fuck it, I don’t care. They’re perfect for each other. Two assholes in love…Or three.
Fuck them all.
I don’t need either of them in my life. She kissed my brother. I hate her. For what she’s come back and done, destroying us all. The moment she stood beside her father’s truck and waved at me weeks ago, I knew this would happen.
I knew it then, and I know it now.
We’re done. What we all once had is gone, and my two best friends have left me. I’m alone. But I’m better off being alone if that’s who they choose over me.
“Hey, baby. Good game.” Britney slides up to me, and I want to gag at the pet name.
