Page 56 of Fast Break
Well, fuck them.
I try Trey in the desperate hope that he might not already be on the other side of town but his dentist is out that way so I know the hope is in vain. I try the other guys but they are all well and truly on their way and I know it will be worse if two of us miss the game by making any of them turn around.
In the end I phone Quinn, knowing he’s busy but needing to hear his voice anyway. I must be close to tears because he picks up on it the instant he answers.
“JT? What’s wrong?” he asks. Just hearing his voice makes me feel so much better as all the emotions I’ve been holding in suddenly slide out.
“My parents decided their church event was more important than my quarter final,” I tell him.
“What?” he says, his outrage making me feel marginally better. I can hear the dull background noise of the restaurant he must be in, and I suddenly wish I was there with him. “What time is the game?”
“It’s at eight. I’m already going to be too late,” I tell him.
“No. Stuff that. I’m coming now,” he says. I can hear his mum and gran in the background, Quinn telling them something about me and an emergency and then Amy telling him togo, go, go.
“Quinn, no,” I say, voice cracking. “I want you to stay with your family. It’s not that important.”
“Fuck that, JT,” Quinn replies, steely determination in his voice. “I’m already outside at my car anyway. Be ready for me at the front of your house. I’ll be there in eight minutes.”
He hangs up before I can say anything as joy, relief and an emotion I’m not ready to name flood all the way through me. I can’t believe he’s coming for me—like my own knight in shining armour. I don’t even know why I’m so surprised by this either. Because while I should be used to my parents letting me down, it’s just as unsurprising that Quinn is ready to drop everything for me.
He is honestly just everything.
I suck in a few deep breaths, grab my sports bag and head for the front door. I wait impatiently as time slows down to a trickle before I hear the welcome purr of Quinn’s WRX and a moment later he is pulling up in front of me. He leans over and pops the passenger side door, looking up at me like all my dreams come to life.
“Jump in.”
I don’t hesitate, throwing my bag into the back seat while Quinn steps on the gas. “Find me the address,” he adds, throwing his phone at me where I quickly put the address into Google maps.
The GPS has me arriving at 7:54 p.m. which sounds really great because it’s before the game, but Google maps clearly does not know Coach Vizard because he is going to tear me to shreds. I might even end up benched because I’ve seen him do that to Vince when he rocked up late to a game earlier in the season just to prove a point.
“You okay?” Quinn asks as I sigh heavily, leaning my head back against the car seat. His hand squeezes my thigh. I love the feel of him there, steadying me.
“Not really,” I admit. I literally could not have had a worse preparation for a game if I’d tried. My heart is racing, adrenaline is pumping, and I know I’m going to drop soon which is exactly what I don’t want to be doing before a game. I also still feel like I’m going to cry at any minute.
“I’m sorry,” Quinn adds, voice gentle. I see the worried glances he’s sending my way.
“Don’t be sorry,” I tell him. “All tonight’s done is confirm for me that you’re the only one I get to rely on.”
Quinn is silent for a few beats before he squeezes my thigh again. “I’ll do anything for you.”
I love you.
I want to say it. I want to tell him those words that are stuck in my throat because I have never felt for anyone the way I feel for him. But I blink the words away. I need to get my head into gear and stop fixating on this mess my parents have caused me.
“Does Trey or one of your teammates know you’re going to be late?” Quinn asks as he runs through an amber light, speed hovering just above the limit.
“I should probably call him,” I agree. I let out a breath of air and then call my cousin. He picks up on the first ring.
“Please tell me you are on your way, cuz.”
“I’m on my way. Quinn came to get me.”
“Aw, tell him he’s our hero,” Trey gushes.
“You can tell him yourself. You’re on speaker,” I add. “But the GPS is saying I’m only going to be there just before eight.”
“Shit, cuz,” Trey replies.
