Page 78 of Overtime
I’ve never been the center of attention, but that is nothing against the high I got from being the cause of Aran’s joy.
CHAPTER 23
ARAN
My phone starts ringing as I park at the library the next afternoon. I turn off the car and check the name on the dashboard. Frowning, I pick up. “What?”
“So, uh. I may have screwed up.” Archie clears his throat, and since I keep quiet, he continues. “I ran into Kelsey after class and, well, I didn’t want to be impolite. So we talked a bit, and your name came up.”
I rub my eyes. “You should’ve been impolite. Often, it’s better.”
“But other times, it gets you slapped in the face.” Very annoying that he has a point. Archie adds, “Anyway, long story short. I may have mentioned you were going to the library.”
“I know where you live, Archibald Bracken,” I say in a growl.
“Listen, I’m not the one who dated a menace to society.”
I hate even more that he has another point, and that these are the consequences to my actions.
“Fine, I guess I won’t go to the library.”
“What if she shows up at practice tonight?”
I suck in air sharply. That would actually be worse. If she shows up at the gym and makes another scene, Coach is going tohave my head on a pike. And it’s not like I can bodily keep her away.
Shit, it’s time to fess up. I need help.
“Archie,” I say, somewhat reluctantly. “Last time, Kelsey got me in serious trouble with Coach.”
“I’m not surprised. Is that related to why you’ve been acting all weird?”
“Yeah,” I admit, sighing in exasperation. “Coach wants me off dating for the rest of the season. If Kelsey shows up and makes another mess, he’s going to bench my ass for at least two games.”
“Whoa.” Archie repeats the word several times. “Bro, that’s way too harsh.”
“You know Coach Green, though.”
“Okay, wow. So your moodiness has been a serious case of no action under threat of suspension. You could’ve just told me instead of acting all precious.”
“Archie.” There’s a clear warning in my voice that he ignores, because he starts chuckling.
“I get it, don’t worry. I’ll make some anti-Kelsey plan with Mark and Jamal to cover your six.”
“If you tell them?—”
“You will murder me, I know. Trust me.”
I snort. “How can I when you just told Kelsey where I was going?”
“I’ll take that L and compensate you by not making too much fun of the fact that you can’t get laid for at least two more months.”
“Damn you. This is why I didn’t want to say anything.”
“’Kay, thanks,bye.” He drags the last word out like a kid and hangs up.
I don’t know why I put up with him when I want to throttle him half the time. But right now I have a more pressing concern. I scroll through my contacts until I find my tutor and press call.I know she’s already in the building because I can see her yellow Beetle a couple of rows ahead.
She picks up after too many rings. “Hey, Aran.”
