Page 78 of Rookie Moves

I don’t want to live the rest of my life under my father’s thumb. But I wouldn’t be surprised if my decision causes friction between us or triggers an argument so big our relationship is beyond repair, but if I don’t try, I’ll only live to constantly wonder what if, and I don’t want to get to eighty and regret not putting myself first.

Colby’s worth it, and selfishly, so am I.

Since the night at the park, I’ve tried to see Colby every day. Sometimes it’s at his, and other times I pick him up, and we go for a drive until we find an abandoned parking lot where we make out on the back seat and make each other come with our hands or our mouths.

Tonight, however, I’m spending the night with him, and I figured it would be the perfect time to play for him.

I haven’t played in front of someone since I left high school, but since Colby fired that question at me the other day, I haven’t been able to think about anything else.

Aside from him, of course. Colby takes up most of my conscious thoughts when I’m not elbow-deep in textbooks or writing papers.

Stepping over the fresh mountain of clothes on the floor, I shove some clothes and toiletries into my backpack and zip my guitar into the case before heading downstairs, leaving the mess of my closet to worry about tomorrow.

I find my housemates sitting in the living room, watching a playoff hockey game on TV, when I walk past the open door.

“Yo! Becksy, where are you going?” Eric calls out.

I take a few steps back until I can peer around the doorframe and try to keep my face neutral to avoid any awkward questions. “Out.”

“Obviously.” He rolls his eyes. “But where? You’ve gotta be going somewhere if you’re taking your guitar with you.”

“Who are you? My mom?” I snark, trying to keep my tone light and playful, but I can feel the heat crawling up my neck as I catch Liam watching me, his eyebrows pinched in a frown. “I’m taking it over to a friend’s, who’s going to look at something for me. It hasn’t been sounding right for a while.”

“Fair,” Batesy replies, taking a sip of his beer.

“Didn’t realize I had to get my plans approved by the housemate committee,” I grumble, and as I’m about to walk away, Colby’s face appears on the TV during intermission. One of the show hosts is talking about the upcoming draft.

“Ha! Look who it is. Whilton U’s superstar,” Ritchie quips, pointing at the screen.

“Do you think McKay will end up being first overall?” Eric asks.

“Oh, yeah. I’d bet my left nut he’ll be first,” Liam adds with zero hesitation. “Kid has got killer talent.”

My lips curl at Liam’s choice of words. Colby is far from being a kid.

“Do you not think the whole thing with McKay is a bit… overhyped? I mean, yeah, he’s good, but is he really that good? Plus, he barely speaks. Like, how can you be the face of a franchise when you have the personality of a doorstop,” Ritchie snorts mockingly. “I don’t get it, man.”

My hands clench into fists at my sides, teeth grinding as I resist the urge to walk in there and make him shut up.

“You ever thought that maybe he didn’t want to speak to your boring ass?” I snap.

His head whips around to where I’m still standing in the doorway to the living room, glaring at him like I wish I could make him disappear into a puff of smoke.

His mouth opens and closes a few times, like a fish breaking the surface, but I don’t give him the chance to respond. I turn on my heels and head toward the door.

I’m so fucking angry my hands are shaking as I reach for the door handle.

“Tyler, wait,” Liam calls, the sound of his feet loud against the wooden floor of the hallway.

I pause with my hand on the door handle and turn to face him. “What’s up?”

Liam stands in front of me, eyes searching my face, seeming to think carefully through his next words.

“Is there something you wanna talk about?” he finally asks, keeping his voice low so the others can’t hear in the other room.

My spine stiffens, heart dropping into my gut like a block of iron. I’ve had a hunch for a while that Liam has clocked on that I have feelings for Colby. He’s not as dumb as he acts, but there’s no way I will ever tell him, because that means exposing Colby’s secret, and I’d never betray Colby’s trust. No matter how much I know Liam is a good guy and would only have Colby’s best interests at heart.

“Like what?” I ask, trying to act oblivious.