Page 13 of Broken

“Nothing. I swear. It’s not him.”

She stiffened. “Does that mean…” She trailed off, and it took me a second to realize what she thought I must have meant.

“Oh, God, no.” I stepped back, wiping my eyes. “Nothing like that. Not really,at least.”

“So, this…” Her eyes swept down my body and back to my face. “You and Tucker?”

I flushed and nodded. “We’re safe. I promise. But please don’t say anything to my mom,” I quickly begged. “With everything she’s going through right now… I mean, I don’t want you to lie to her, but I want to find a way to tell her myself. To tell her we’re together, not that…”

Jenna’s lips pressed together in a way that was all too similar to Tucker. “Okay, but don’t wait too long to tell her. She’s my best friend. Like you said, with everything she’s going through, she’ll be hurt if she finds out we’re keeping this from her.”

I nodded.

“Now, tell me how long you’ve been sleeping with my son.”

My face dropped into my hands.Oh, God.

Jenna laughed. “I’m kidding, Izzy. As long as y’all are safe. I know he’s been active in some capacity for a long time. At least tell me it’s not a fling. It’s official with y’all. Isn’t it?” Her hopeful green eyes studied me, and I sighed in relief.

“Yes, we’re definitely official.”

Jenna squealed and threw her arms around me in a hug. After swaying me back and forth for a few seconds, she leaned back. “Now, what’s going on with my son?”

Crap.

Chapter 5

JET

I stayed late after practice, going through last year’s game tape for plays to add to my highlights. I was actually shocked at how much we were able to pull. While I’d been in freefall emotionally last year, I’d left it all out on the field, using it to drive me through the games. My highlight reel I’d put together before was going to be nothing compared to what this new one would be. I had a few spectacular moments to still pull from sophomore year, but damn. Going for a football scholarship was now starting to look like something stupidnotto do.

Wow. I was starting to hear myself. I wasn’t God’s gift to football by any means, but I was still impressed. Last year on the field had beengood, damn good, even if I barely remembered it.

“See here, how you dodged that tackle to still make that pass?Thatwas a damn good play.” Coach jotted down another note forwhich seconds to pull as my phone buzzed in my pocket for the fifth time. “Got somewhere to be?”

“No. It’s probably just Annie checking in. I’m her ride. She stayed to watch practice.”

“Yeah, I saw her up in the stands. Let’s go ahead and finish up for today. Can you stay late tomorrow? I want to put this together as quickly as possible. Get your name out there now that your head’s in it.”

I nodded. “Absolutely.”

“Great.” Coach grabbed the remote to cut off the TV. “We’ll keep updating your highlights this semester, too.”

“Sounds good.” I stood, grabbing my bag, and headed out the door, sliding my phone from my pocket. My eyes widened when I saw the texts.

Tucker: My cousins are about to be dead. Are you out of practice?

Tucker: Jet, pick up.

Tucker: Shit, man. I need you to have my back. Wtf?

I quickly called him back as I pushed through the metal door to the outside. Annie was waiting a few yards away on a bench, a book in her hand, but she hopped up as soon as I came out to run over and frowned when she saw the look on my face.

“Tucker,”I mouthed as my phone started to ring, lacing her fingers through mine so we could head to my car.

“Fuck, man. Are youstillat fucking practice? I’m losing it here. All that shit Zane said today was true, but it’s so much fucking worse.”

“What? How?”

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