Page 74 of Strike & Score
“I don’t believe either of you, but also don’t want to deal with anymore right now. Get out.” We’re dismissed, and don’t stick around to push our luck any longer.
“You happy, Masters?” Mads bumps my shoulder as we walk out.
“Nah, but Mayson will make it all better. Maybe you need someone to help you not be a miserable fuck.”
“Don’t worry about me or my dick. We’re both very happy.”
“I’m not worried. Maybe you have a made up girlfriend like Reyes.”
“Fuck off,” Eli calls out, and I shrug.
“Maybe you can deal with your own shit instead of worrying about the rest of us.” Mads tosses his shit back in his locker, and turns back toward me.
“My shitishandled.”
“You sure about that?” he questions, but walks out before I can clarify what he means.
I’m sure he’s just trying to fuck with me, but there’s a voice in the back of my mind warning that maybe he knows something I don’t.
I glance down at my phone to see a message from my dad, and my jaw clenches. It’s almost like he’s summoning us back home. I want to argue and fight it, but I’m also in the mood to fight.
I go home to see Mayson, and scoop her up. We have our parents to see.
Chapter 38
Mayson
The drive to Mercer Island feels like déjà vu, especially since I wasn’t able to prepare. Yet again, I’m being borderline kidnapped. I put up a fight since my team is going to the Championships and I really don’t have the time between that and finals to be taking a trip home. I try to physically and mentally prepare, but I don’t know what we’re walking into as far as our parents are concerned. Or what they’re going to have to say to us.
One thing I do know is somehow Colin and I are united in this. It’s us against them, no matter what they try to say or do.
Rationally, I know I’m anything but rational and that I shouldn’t have forgiven him for half the shit he’s done to me, but somehow I have. I’m sure a therapist would have a field day with the two of us, but I’m choosing not to think about it too much.
All I know is that I like how it feels when we’re together. Even when we’re fighting and getting under each other’s skin, it feels good. And weirdly it always has.
We get out of the car after parking at our parents’ house.Colin grabs my hand, but I yank it away. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I thought ripping the Band-Aid off would be best.” He shrugs.
“I don’t think walking in hand and hand like little kids is ripping any Band-Aid off.”
“You’re right. As soon as they see us, I’ll stick my tongue down your throat.”
I push him as he laughs harder than necessary at his own joke.
We walk inside, while I try to keep some distance between us. Colin does everything he can to stay as close to me as possible.
Luckily, as we walk in, neither of our parents seem to notice. Colin tries to yank me to his bedroom, but I fight him off.
I would rather hide, but we walk through the beautifully decorated house. There’s a large ornate Christmas tree in the front living room, garland and lights covering various surfaces. You’d think my mom put in a lot of effort to make the place look this nice. But I know better, and that it was really someone she hired to do all of this.
“I think it’s tacky,” Colin comments at the tree, standing closer to me than he probably should, his chest covering my back.
I like him being this close, and I’m not going to move. In fact, I lean back against him, just to feel more of him.
“Just say you hate Christmas,” I retort.
“Guess I’m just not a big holiday fan.” His head lowers to my shoulder, resting his chin there as he speaks. “Except Halloween, that’s become a new favorite of mine.”
