Sweet Fall

My heart set off thundering in my chest and my palms began to sweat. Molly’s hand froze on my back, and I knew she’d felt my tense reaction. At least she was the one person who was more private that me; she wouldn’t say anything.

“I just don’t, Cass. Let’s draw a line under that conversation, ’kay?”

Cass sighed and threw up her hands but let it go when I moved to check out the time on my phone.

Hell, I’m late!

I jumped from the bed and grabbed for my purse.

“You okay, darlin’?” Ally asked in concern, and I nodded with rote enthusiasm.

“I-I-I got a practice I g-gotta get to,” I sputtered evasively and began searching around my room for my car keys. I actually had my session with Dr. Lund, my shrink, and lately, they were essential. My thoughts were skirting into dangerous territory.

Ally’s eyebrows pulled down. “The cheer squad doesn’t have a practice tonight.” I froze, kept my back to my friends, and tried to come up with an excuse. I’d slipped up. Ally had only just quit the cheer squad to focus on her studies. She knew the schedule inside out.

“I… I set up a private session with Lyle. We’re gonna work on our stunts. Talk to you guys soon.”

As I exited the door, Cass gripped my hand. “You sure you’re okay, Lex? You’ve been real distracted lately. You’re not being yourself.”

Painting on my biggest faux smile, I nodded my head and adopted my go-to fake cheery persona. “Of course I am, Cass. My life’s just crazy hectic right now. I’m good, sweetie. I promise.”

With that, I fled out my door, dropping the act and becoming the real me for a little while.

Chapter Four

Austin

“And then this chick just dropped to her knees and ripped down my zipper—”

“For f**k sake, Reece, shut you’re goddamn mouth!” Rome threw down the barbell he was lifting and just glared at Reece, the freshman second-string QB who’d started to follow us around like a needy f**kin’ puppy.

“What? It’s not like you ain’t getting plenty ’a pu**y, Bullet. Some of us are just happy with your castoffs. It was that redhead you screwed a few months back. The hot one with the huge rack.” He lifted his hands and motioned out from his chest.

I shook my head at the kid. Rome was about ready to rip off his head.

“Reece, man, go get two Gatorades, now,” I ordered. Shaking his head, the surfer-looking freshman hightailed it to the break room.

Rome walked toward me, clenching his fists. “I’m gonna wind up killing that damn kid before the year’s out,” he said tightly.

“He’s just young. You were like that once.”

Rome then glared at me, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “I was never that f**kin’ desperate,” he bit out. “I mean, f**k! Waiting for my slutty scraps?”

Standing up, I slapped him on the back. “You never had to be like him. Born pu**y magnet, even as kids. No doubt you’ll get drafted this year and go on to marry a damn supermodel.” A strange look crossed his face, but I ignored it. Whatever was eating him was his deal.

My cell gave him a quick reprieve as it vibrated in the pocket of my training shorts. Pulling it out, I read the screen:

Axel: On campus. At Denny Chimes. Got business. You around?

My heart sank to my stomach.

It can’t be. It can’t be him who’s dealing. He wouldn’t do it to me. Not Axel. The motherfucker had better not be doing this to me!

“I gotta go,” I said to Rome and grabbed my towel, slinging it over my shoulder.

“Need me to come with you?” Rome asked sadly.

Stopping midstride, not looking back, I shook my head. “Nah, man, I’m good.”

A hand gripped my arm, and I let out a frustrated sigh and glanced over my shoulder. Rome was staring at me, concern in his eyes.

“Carillo, don’t f**kin’ take on this shit on your own. I have your back. Axel isn’t screwing up your free ride here with the Tide. I’m not gonna let that shit happen. Not to you. Not now you’ve got this far.”

Running my hand over my head, I pulled my arm back and backed away. “Rome, don’t. I’ll take care of it.”

Before he had a chance to argue with me, I burst outta the door and into the warm night air. Casting a look around, I set to sprinting to the south side of the quad. Hell, I was flying, needing to stop my brother dealing on school ground.

It took me less than two minutes to see movement from behind the Denny Chimes, the large tower in the quad, protected by the shade of trees. A tweaking-looking kid scurried past me, stuffing a small white packet into his cargo shorts. I kept my head down so he wouldn’t recognize me, but I saw what he’d just bought.