Page 90 of Forever Defiant
Me:Do you think this is your best idea?
I stared at it; it was probably too confrontational. Even though it was a good, honest question, I deleted it.
Noah covered a laugh with a cough. I glanced up at him.
“What?” I snapped.
He laughed. “Sorry, this isfunny.” He held his hands up. “C’mon man, you’reyou. You’re a confident guy when it comes to women, and here you are, sweating over a text message.”
“Go away.”
He snorted. “Can’t. This is too entertaining.”
I typed out another message.
Me: Let me know when you’re back.
Short.
Neutral-ish.
Reasonable.
I hovered over send, and then I deleted it.
Noah groaned. “Send the text!”
“I’m not doing this with you watching.”
“Fine.”
He stood and began getting ready for the showers. “I’m not looking, okay?”
He was a dick. “Have you always been a dick?” I grumbled.
Then, before I could talk myself out of it, I fired off a quick message.
Me: Just text me when you’re back.
I hit send, and the phone made the whoosh sound to say it was gone.
Instant regret, or instant relief. Fuck. She scrambled my head, and I hated it. I tossed my phone onto the bench and leaned back, staring at the ceiling tiles like they held the answers to life.
Maybe she wouldn’t reply. She’d probably ignore it. I deserved that. But maybe — just maybe — she’d text back. And if she did? I know I’d read it a hundred times.
“This is shit.” I stood up. I wasn’t some pussy-whipped boyfriend. Fuck, we weren’t even friends. What the heck was I doing worrying about her?
“Slater!”
I jumped as Coach Sutherland screamed at me across the locker room. “Whoa, what?” I saw the glare. “Yes, Coach?”
“When I call your fucking phone, you answer your fucking phone! My office. Now!”
I looked at my phone. Shit. He’d called? I was too wrapped up in Hadley—
“Slater, why thefuckare you not moving?” Coach Sutherland bellowed.
“Yes, Coach!” I hurried across the locker room, seeing Dante’s perfectly schooled expression and Noah’s quizzical frown. I jogged to the door, my cleats clicking on the tile. He didn’t wait for me. I followed him, my steps slowing when I saw Dean Cole standing in his office.
