Page 49 of Side Out

Theo falls back on his ass, gripping his face in pain as he lays still in the sand.

And as agitated as I am, I’m not a monster.

Jogging over to him, I crouch down to see if he’s okay. “Let me see.” His furious eyes look up at me, but he does as I say. Slowly, he moves his hand from his cheek, and I already see the giant red mark forming. “Shit. Sorry.”

He raises his brows. “Are you?”

I shrug. “Mostly. Good thing you weren’t wearing your glasses. It’d be a shame if we lost those.”

His eyes search mine for a moment. “Yeah. A shame.”

“Come on.” I stand and hold my hand out for him to grab. And when he does, it hits me like a tidal wave. Every memory of his skin touching mine crashes into me so hard I almost fall to the sand myself. The two of us stand there, hand in hand, staring at each other until Austin’s voice finally breaks us out of our stupor. Quickly, we let go of one another and take a large step apart.

“Okay, I’m back. Thanks for—Oh shit. What happened?” Austin worriedly examines Theo’s face.

Before I can say anything, Theo waves him off. “There was a cute puppy. I got distracted.”

“Ugh, I don’t blame you. I’m dying for a puppy, but the boss says no.” Austin sighs regretfully before patting Theo on the back. “Anyway, you sure you're okay?”

Theo nods. “Yeah. Nothing a win won’t fix.”

Austin laughs. “Well we can do that, can’t we, Baker?”

I smile, but it doesn’t reach my ears. “Sure can, Ward.”

CHAPTER30

TEQUILA!

THEODORE

Knock, knock, knock.

“Coming!” I hop off my bed while simultaneously kicking myself in the ass for not making up some reason to get out of this.

I barely have the door open before Coach Taylor is talking. “You ready to go? We’re gonna be late, and you know how I am once I’m running behind.” His eyebrows raise in warning.

I do know, in fact. He iscertifiablewhen he’s behind schedule. So, I nod and step out of my hotel room, letting the door swing shut behind us.

Coach insisted on me tagging along to celebrate Jax and Austin’s tournament win. He said something about not wanting to be the only old guy going out with a bunch of twenty-one year olds. I about died at the thought of him insinuating I was somehow in the same age bracket as him. But, I get where he’s coming from. Especially considering they’re college students… in Vegas… on a Saturday night… with a flight not leaving until tomorrow afternoon.

Chuckling at his antics as we speed-walk down the hallway, I tease, “Coach, we’re going to a bar with ‘donkey’ in the name of it… I don’t think we’re going to be late for anything.”

“I have a strict personal rule that I never stay out past eleven with my players,” he states matter-of-factly.

“It’s nine, bud. Take a chill pill.” I nudge his shoulder with mine and laugh. But I can’t help but think to myself that I hope tonight goes significantly better than dinner last night.

I think I’m going for a margarita. That’ll solve all my problems. Maybe Coach needs one… or three.

Coach is so wound up all the time. Not that I necessarily blame him. As someone who spends their life around college students you have to develop a spine of steel. But the guy seriously seems like he needs to unclench a little. But then again… I haven’t taken the time to get to know him very well. Outside of passing conversations, he and I have barely spoken now that I come to think of it. Last night was the first time I’ve ever even heard him talk about anybody in his life. I silently chastise myself, knowing full well that if I actually took the time to get to know the people around me it might actually improve my life rather than hinder it.

?*I’ve always been so focused on getting better and doing the next thing. I’ve kept my head down and done what I needed to prove I could succeed. Always moving. Never stopping. So, personal details just have never really been my thing.

Ever.

Except when it comes to Jackson Baker. I’ve wanted to know everything about him since day one. And despite howfriendlywe have tried to be or how pissed off he is now, I can’t seem to shake it.

“What the hell happened to your eye?” Coach asks as the two of us ride down to the lobby in the elevator.

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