Page 48 of The Last Love Song
“Do you believe that?” Wade shook his head. “Pretty ballsy move right out in public.”
“They’re hidden by his truck.” She didn’t want to see any more. “I’m sure they don’t expect anyone is hiding under the bleachers. Come on.” She might have reason to dislike J.D., but she didn’t know for sure he was the one who’d built that stupid website about her, and she didn’t like the idea of him seeing his father being such a prick.
She tugged on Wade’s arm as she turned away from the parking-lot soap opera and led him out from under the bleachers toward the field.
“You think the guy has any idea his kid is still in the dugout?”
“I don’t know.” But she thanked her lucky stars Wade was with her for this. Ever since she’d told him about the text messages she had felt less alone.
“Like father like son,” he grumbled, shoving open the fence that led to the baseball field.
“What does that mean?” She stopped in her tracks, her tennis shoes scuffing into the dirt.
Wade paused. Turned. She couldn’t read his expression in the dark as he stared down at her.
“I thought you knew.”
A chill clutched her stomach and squeezed.
“He started dating Bailey before you two broke up.”
“Of course he did,” she muttered, since she should have known. Except she hadn’t. And she wasn’t sure who she felt more betrayed by—Bailey, who’d been her friend, or J.D., who shouldn’t have the power to hurt her anymore. “I’m just late to the party realizing how stupid I’ve been.”
Part of her had held out hope that somebody else must be trying to ruin her life. Someone besides two people she’d oncereally cared about. Tears burned her eyes, so she stared up at the night sky to try to make them drain back into her head. She would not shed idiotic tears for idiots.
Overhead, a plane blinked so far above, it didn’t make a sound. She wished she could trade places with someone on that flight so she could be headed anywhere but here.
“Hey.” Wade leaned over her, his face suddenly blocking her view. “He’s the stupid one, Meg. No one but a total dimwit would waste his chance with you.”
The teary feeling stopped stinging. She blinked, realizing how close Wade was. Her heart tripped over itself, the beats out of sync.
She didn’t know what to say. But she was saved from thinking of something when Wade eased back a step onto the trampled field.
“Let’s go find him.” He laid a hand on the center of her back and she forced her feet to move in the direction of the metal dugout.
J.D. appeared, stepping onto the infield’s grass. He was tall, too, but not even J.D. was as tall as Wade. Megan froze.
“What the hell are you doing here?” her ex-boyfriend asked.
“Looking for you.” Wade stopped on the grass a few feet away from him.
Megan fought the urge to tuck herself under Wade’s arm. And though she hated J.D.’s aggressive tone and his jutting chin, she turned to make sure he couldn’t see the parking lot from here. The bleachers helped block the view.
J.D.’s gaze went from Megan to Wade and back again.
“You don’t need my permission to date her, big guy.” J.D. hitched his baseball bag higher on his shoulder. “We’ve been done for a long time.”
“Longer than I realized,” she muttered, but Wade’s voice rose over hers.
“Someone’s hassling Megan. Sending ugly texts. Is that you, J.D.? Or one of your boys?”
“Someone’s sending texts?” J.D. rolled his eyes, an expression she could see, thanks to the moonlight. “That’s girl shit, man.”
“You think Bailey would do that?” Wade pressed.
“Hold up. I don’t like hearing you say her name. And I definitely don’t want some high school dropout talking smack about my girl.” J.D. stepped closer, his shoulders squaring.
“Don’t be such an ass, J.D.” Megan found her voice, anger surging that he’d try to intimidate Wade. “Whoever is harassing me sure sounds a lot like you online.” The whole business about her attending “Slutsville Academy” was the exact same thing he’d said to her in the cafeteria one day. “Or are you going to say you never put up a stupid website about me?”
