Page 16 of The Lie
Well, not totally alone.
There’s just something about the way Britney says “good game” that has me shaking her off, irritated. But she’s all I have now. I might be friends with guys on the team, but Hunter is great friends with everyone. If they take sides, I won’t have many standing beside me. Even my own brother would take his side. I know it.
“Baby?”
Fuck, I can’t deal with her.
I need Roman on my side. He needs to make a choice, because I can’t just wait around with him not talking to me and hope he doesn’t fuck me over and take Hunter’s side on this. I walk toward where they stand beside Hunter’s red Audi and some old white junk car that Roman leans against. Where’s his Harley?
They’re talking and Roman’s shaking his head at something Hunter said.
“She wants to see you,” Hunter begs him.
Roman shakes his head again. Maybe I haven’t completely lost him. Hunter broke the pact rules, and it’s now or never to convince Roman to take my side.
“Hey,” I call out. They both turn to me as I throw my bag on the ground and curl my hands into fists.
I’m riled up and brimming with pent-up anger and energy that needs to be released. Hunter’s smug face is the place my first hit lands. I don’t even realize I’ve swung at him until his face snaps to the side, and he whirls back, gripping his nose as the blood starts to pour.
“The fuck, Jace?” Roman roars from beside Hunter. He holds Hunter’s shoulder and turns him to inspect what I just did to his face.
It has me seeing red. He’s already chosen Hunter over me. Fuck them both. “No, Roman. I should be asking you that question. What the fuck was that shit out there?” I point back to the field.
Roman doesn’t speak; he just stands there and stares me down, his chest puffed out, ready for a fight. Normally, I would back down. I’ve seen Roman in the ring enough times to know I’m no match for him. He has more bulk and muscle on him than I do, and he will win against me any day of the week. No doubt. But I’m also not in the right frame of mind to walk away from this. He fucked up tonight.
I throw my fist at his face, but he grabs my arm, blocking my hit before I can make contact. He pulls me toward him, and I stumble. He takes a cheap kidney shot and I grunt, the pain making my stomach turn.
“Fucker,” I hiss out as I stumble back, gripping my side as I look at him.
With his back straight, he’s standing tall, ready for me if I go after him again. “Fuck you.” He doesn’t blink; he just watches me, anticipating my next move.
But I’ve gained enough brain cells now to know he could have done much worse, and I don’t want to end up limping home tonight. Nothing would be more pathetic than that.
“There’s no way that wasn’t a perfect throw. You fumbled that shit. You dropped it,” I scream out at him, and I realize pretty soon that we have an audience as Britney makes a sound behind me with a few players and their girls.
“Go home, Jace. You’re angry about the loss and spouting shit.” Hunter shakes his head at me. His fingers are covered in bright red as he tries to control the bleeding.
“Fuck you.” I point at him, then I point at Roman. “Fuck you too. I’m not talking shit.”
Neither of them moves. They just watch me, their expressions unchanged by my words. I’m not hurting them, and they seem to think this is a joke. I’m a joke to them.
“On second thought, the two of you can go fuck Mila. You’re dead to me—we’re done.”
“Jace Montero.” I hear the disappointed gasp of my mother. Turning, I see my father beside her, shaking his head as my mom looks between Roman and Hunter.
“Hunter, oh my goodness. Who hit you?”
I grit my teeth as my mother goes to Hunter, and he just stares at me. His eyes never leave mine as my mom tries to get him to sit down so she can take a look at the damage I caused him.
He doesn’t tell my mom who hit him, but she puts two and two together as she takes in his nose and my fists.
“You hit Hunter?” She pins me with a look that has my shoulders slumping.
“He broke the pact; he picked Mila over our friendship. They both did. They don’t care about loyalty.” I look to my dad for help. He’s a guy—he’ll understand what I’m talking about.
My dad glances at me briefly before shaking his head and speaking. “I don’t know who you are right now, Jace. But no son of mine hurts his friends for being there for one another. Mila was in the hospital, and where were you? You weren’t there for her, and now you’re breaking Hunter’s nose? Why? What does this gain?”
“But Dad…” I start to defend myself, but then I see the figure behind him.
