Page 59 of Hate the Game
Squeezing my phone so tight that it creaked, I bent forward to stave off a new wave of nausea. “You weren’t wrong, Marla.”
“This isn’t some throw away essay for the country fair, Savannah. This is the big leagues. If you fuck this up, you’ll have to get used to writing out menu boards or something becauseno one will touch you for anything serious again.” Marla cleared her throat and softened her voice. “I don’t mean to put pressure on you but… Yes, I do. I mean to put all the pressure because this isn’t just for the magazine, Savannah. It’s personal. I want Carrrington’s balls crushed under my heels. Understand? Give me what I want or I’ll end your career before it even starts. Now. What do I want?”
I winced. “Coach Carrington’s balls under-”
“No! I mean, yes, but no! I want progress, Savannah. I want to see that you’re working here. Jesus. I need another blow job.” She heard my surprised choke and laughed. “The shot, honey. Goodbye, S. Lane!”
I stared at my phone after she hung up on me and shuddered. Marla Knight was terrifying. It was just one more person I was going to disappoint, one more person I was going to make hate me. No big deal.
By the time I got back to USC the sun was up and I felt like death warmed over. I went straight to Blaire’s room and she pushed me towards the showers with one of her towels and her caddy. When I stumbled back to her room a bit later I was barely standing and she had a t-shirt and bike shorts waiting for me. I didn’t even bother hiding as I put them on.
“Sit.” She gently brushed my hair out and then braided it before pushing me into her bed and crawling in after me. She giggled as she wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug and made me her little spoon. Her pregnant belly poked into my back but it was oddly comforting. “Go to sleep. Everything will be better when you’re rested.”
I felt like I blinked and then Blaire was shaking me awake and pushing my phone into my hand. I didn’t even look to see who was calling, I just answered.
“Where the hell are you, Vannah?!”
Blaire groaned. “Why is he screaming? Tell whoever that is that you’re not well and that you need your sleep.”
I rolled onto my back and looked at my phone screen. I’d been asleep for a while but I still felt like shit. “Cash? What-?”
“Where are you, Savannah Lane Ford? You were supposed to be here. You’re not, though. We’ve looked all over for you.” He sounded genuinely concerned but I had a hard time feeling bad for him after what I’d witnessed the night before.
“I’m home.”
“What? Where? I swear to god I’ve looked everywhere for you.”
I blew out a harsh breath. “I’m at USC, Cash.”
“Home? That’s not fucking home, Vannah. What happened? Why aren’t you here?” He was working himself into a real mood but I was so angry at the men in my family that I couldn’t access my normal empathy.
“It’s my only home right now, Cash. I was there last night. I saw y’all. Shit-faced and god knows what else. What the fuck was that? The entire house was trashed. People were fucking in my room and someoneshitin my closet. Everything I own was ruined, Cash. People were doing lines of coke where I make my breakfast. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with y’all but that house isn’t my home. That wasn’t a normal party and if that’s what y’all are doing now, you need help.”
He swore. “Someone shit in your closet?”
“Oh, yeah.” I climbed over Blaire so I could pace. “I went to Dad’s next and his new teenage fling asked if I was their third. So, no, Cash, that place isn’t home for me right now. Everything I own is here with me at USC. I’m so angry at y’all. You didn’t protect my home. YouknewI was coming home. You know where I am now. I’m safe. Goodbye, Cash.”
Blaire stared at me as I hung up and tossed my phone into my bag. “You okay?”
I wasn’t actually sure. It seemed like my world wasn’t finished tilting off course. “I think I need to go talk to the guys. I don’t know why. Am I nuts?”
“No, you’re not nuts. You need some male attention and affection right now and there are three men you want it from right now.”
“So I’m not nuts, just pathetic.”
She got up and hugged me tight. “Never. You’re a strong, confident, beautiful woman. Now say it to yourself a hundred times.”
I snorted and smiled as I eased away from her. “Now you’re nuts. It’s spreading.”
“Haven’t you heard? I’ve been nuts.” There was something sad in her eyes when she said it. “Go on. Do you need something different to wear?”
I shook my head before pulling her back for a hard hug. “You’re not nuts. You’re brilliant, kind, funny, and so pretty I should hate you. You also make the best damn brownies in the world and I will be back at some point for more.”
It was her turn to push me away. “Get out of here, weirdo.”
I grabbed my stuff and paused at her door. “Is it too soon to tell you that I love you?”
She groaned and fanned her eyes. “How dare you! You can’t say sweet shit like that to a pregnant woman!”
