Page 69 of What We Knew Then
In this moment, I know I’m going. Freddy won’t expect it—I’ve only ever shown up as his plus one. But this isn’t about him.
If I want to go, I’m going.
Chapter 43
LANE
Mybodyisexhaustedfrom practices and games but there’s no way I was missing tonight.
We cut down the main street toward the basketball house, shoes scraping against salt-stained sidewalk. Leo’s in front, talking with his hands like he’s narrating a documentary about the migration patterns of college idiots in their natural habitat.
“…and this,” he says dramatically, sweeping his arm toward the glowing house at the end of the block, “is where poor decisions go to thrive.”
Troy laughs, low and steady. Matty shoves him lightly.
I walk between them and let the noise wash over me.
When Leo texted earlier—Basketball house tonight. You in?—I didn’t even have to think about it. My teammates including me is a definite plus, but the second I knew Cora was going, there was no way I would miss it.
Leo glances back at me now. “You’re quiet, Lane.”
“I’m cold.”
“Liar. You love this weather. It makes you brood better,” Leo jokes, bumping into my shoulder.
I snort despite myself. “I don’t brood.”
All of my teammates stop, soaking in the pause of me pushing back. I get a few steps ahead of them before looking back. The guys look to me and back to each other before bursting into laughter.
“Sure you don’t,” Matty teases, clapping me on the back.
The basketball house comes into full view, lights blazing against the dark like it’s defying the season. Music pulses faintly through the walls and gets louder when someone opens the front door.
And with every step closer, my stomach tightens. Because this is Freddy’s house.
Starting guard. Fuck boy of campus. Smiles like he’s been told his whole life he’s untouchable. Cora’s ex.
The word ex should make it simple. It doesn’t. I know he still texts and calls her. She doesn’t hide it from me—not that I’m worried about Freddy. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel Cora’s frustration. A few weeks back, we went through the entire Freddy era—dating, why they broke up, how he treats her now—and it’s fucking infuriating.
I’ve seen the way Cora’s shoulders go rigid when his name pops up on her phone. He probably knows exactly how it makes her feel and keeps doing it—selfish prick.
Freddy is the type of guy that doesn’t want anyone straying too far after cutting them loose. Some call it a plan B, jealousy, or a fall back plan, but I know he’s a manipulative asshole. There’s no way to sugarcoat when your high school sweetheart takes you to look at diamonds for god damn engagement rings, or plans for an on-campus apartment, only to dump you weeks later.
What a fucking dick.
We’re almost to the steps when Troy turns, close enough to me to keep his voice low. “Listen. We need to be smart tonight. No letting Freddy get under your skin. Or any of you, really…” Our captain looks around the group, pointing at all of us.
Everyone nods and Matty jokes, “Pretend Freddy isn’t a dick… got it.” He claps his hands in fake enthusiasm.
To them, they just think we’ve had a few odd run-ins; that I’m protecting Cora because she’s practically part of the team. No one knows that I’m hoping she finds her way back to my place after tonight is said and done.
Cora is mine. Even if it’s a fact no one else knows.
Not the guys walking beside me. Not the team. Definitely not Freddy.
It was supposed to be a bad idea we both walked away from. Instead, she fits. And that makes everything complicated.
There’s something about being around her. Maybe it’s what pulled me to her that first night at Shore Thing. Or pulled me back. The way she confidently sat down, needing me, even if it was for something as stupid as helping some guy get lost and leave her alone.
