Page 86 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
I try to remain serious, but my face breaks out into a smile. I change the subject, though, because I’ll never share those details with anyone.
That’s one thing I can’t abide, men who dish about the women they’re with. Maybe it’s because I have a sister and my two younger cousins, who, for all intents and purposes, are like my little sisters. But to me, that’s the height of douchebaggery, blabbing about a woman sexually.
Holy shit, I have a daughter now, who has to deal with assholes like me and my friends.
God help any man who disrespects her.
I have a newfound appreciation for how protective Rider is about his daughter. Last year, I didn’t get it. I thought he was blowing things out of proportion, but now I see the light.
After an hour of weights, I’m covered in sweat. I’m wiping my eyes on a towel when I hear a commotion on the other side of the room.
I look up and see Winston slapping some of the guys on the back. He struts in like a peacock with a big dick.
I’ve seen his junk in the locker room. It’s nothing to brag about.
I finish my last set on the bench press with a grunt.
“Nice job.” Olly steps around the equipment where he’s been spotting me.
I’m about to respond when Winston and Derek Fowler walk up to us. Everything in me tenses. I’ve been waiting for this moment since I picked up Sienna from the hospital. Before I say anything, I think about the way Winston hurt her. About the stitches in her scalp and the way her face bruised. About how her clothes were covered in blood.
He may not have thrown the bottle that knocked her out, but he’s sure as hell responsible for creating that situation.
“Hey, assholes,” Winston says with an annoying grin. “Did you catch that interview with Coach Krugman on ESPN last week? He said he’s been following my career since high school. High school! Can you believe that? But you know who he didn’t say anything about, Benny-boy? You.”
“All right, fellas, let’s break this up.” Olly grabs my shoulders and tries to get me to move, but I’m curious about what else Winston will say. At some point, I’ll have a come-to-Jesus moment with this dumb fuck, but here in the gym with half the team watching isn’t the time to kick his ass.
Winston shakes his head with mock sympathy while Fowler stays silent at his side.
For the first time in years, I can’t say I’ve been watching ESPN. I shrug and wipe the sweat off my face. “Guess he’ll have to live with disappointment when he learns what you’re really like.”
I’ve known this guy for years. I can see why girls like him. He’s all smiles and charm in public, and everyone thinks he’s a decent human being. But you get him in the locker room, and the snake slithers out of hiding. I’ve never met a bigger Jekyll and Hyde in my entire life.
Since the seniors graduated, his head is even bigger than it was last year. Sully was coach of the year for a reason, able to get us all working together, but now I know nothing will repair the rift between me and Cal Winston. Not after how he treated Sienna.
Winston scratches his chin and laughs. “I’ve been hearing some wild rumors about you, dude.”
“Funny how I don’t care.” I turn away and start to head to the locker room, but he grabs my arm to turn me.
I freeze with my fists tight at my side. “You might want to rethink touching me, asshole.” We’re both lean, but I’ve got another two inches in height and fifteen pounds of muscle on him. Except for the trip to the lake, I spent every single day this summer in the gym or running. And I’m guessing all that partying at the coast is gonna take its toll on Winston. Hopefully in front of our new coach.
Winston’s eyes widen, but then he plays it off. “Must be the baby at home that’s got you ovulating. It’s cool.”
“Don’t talk about my kid.”
Olly lowers my arm as Winston tries to get in one more verbal jab. “Who’d you knock up, huh? Some dumb bitch who couldn’t keep her legs closed?”
One of the assistant coaches runs in and heads for us, but before he gets close, I smirk. “For a guy who just slept his way through half of South Texas, are you really one to judge? By the way, I hear the clinic’s open if something starts to itch.”
Everyone laughs, and Winston sneers at me. “Fuck you, asshole!”
Sienna showed me all the shit she got tagged in while we were at the lake, photos of Winston kissing girl after girl while they were on vacation at South Padre Island. I’m relieved she didn’t look heartbroken. If anything, she seemed embarrassed that she’d given him the time of day. I can relate. I don’t know how the fuck I got wrangled into anything with Janelle.
It crosses my mind to mention that Sienna and I are together now, but just as I’m about to open my mouth, I realize it’ll make a bigger impact if he sees us together. Honestly, I can’t fucking wait. I’ve heard he’s been asking about her. If he thinks she’s sitting at home, crying over him dicking her around, he’s in for a rude awakening.
Olly and I walk away while Winston keeps trash-talking.
He’s not worth getting kicked off the team.
I keep repeating it to myself. If I say it enough, maybe I’ll believe it.
I’m gritting my teeth the whole trek to the locker room. After a quick shower, I check my messages and see one from Janelle’s father, and my anxiety ratchets up another notch.
His familiar voice fills me with relief, but also confusion. “Janelle’s fine,” he says. “I told the policeman she’s okay, and I thought you might want to know that too.”
That’s it. No explanation about where she’s been or if she has any intention of seeing Lily or why she disappeared. No mention of the fact she probably vandalized Sienna’s house.
Mr. Lopez doesn’t pick up when I call him back. Throughout the afternoon, I leave him three messages asking if we can talk, but he doesn’t return any of them.
What the fuck is going on?
