Page 98 of The Plan

“God, does she think you love her or something?” When neither of us answers him, a playful smile appears on his face. “Doyou love her or something? Oh, this is so much better than I thought.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” He opens his mouth to answer me, but Sire grabs my arm.

“Nothing, let's go.” He tries pulling me away, but I pull my arm out of his grasp and turn back to Brent.Wouldn’t you want to know something, even if it hurts you?

As if he read my mind, a sinister grin forms on his face. “You can’t be that stupid. I know you’re not just a pretty face. I’ll let you put the pieces together.” I am so confused. When he doesn’t make a move to tell me what the fuck he’s talking about, I try figuring it out.

He asked what was special about me besides my mom. I look down at the jersey of her team. I don’t think he’s ever met my mom, but I can see how she would be special, considering how well-known she is. My mind keeps raking through everything he said.Sire already got what he wanted. What did he want?

“You’re almost there, come on.” Is this a game to him? Sire places his hands on my waist and turns me toward him. He doesn’t look as pissed anymore but worried instead. It only makes me want to know even more.

“Let’s go,” he pleads with me. He isn't as demanding as before, and I feel a pit in my stomach.

“What did you want?” I stare into his eyes and try to figure it out. As far as I know, graduating was at the top of his want list. That and…No.I go still, and I hear Brent chuckling beside us.

“So she’s not just a pretty face.” I turn to him and look between Sire and him.No. He’s lying. He wouldn’t.

“You’re lying.”

“I didn’t even say it.” His grin grows twice in size, and I feel a tightness in my chest. As Sire takes a step toward me, I take one back and keep my eyes on Brent.

“You still look a little lost. Do you want me to spell it out for you?”

“Brent. Shut the fuck up before I knock your goddamn teeth out.” Sire’s in his face now, but Brent clearly still finds this amusing.

“I think it’ll be easier coming from you.” He fakes his sympathy and places a hand on Sire’s shoulder. Sire immediately shoves his hand off and pushes Brent.

“Woah, what did I miss?” Buzz, their other teammate, stumbles between them with a bottle of tequila and a stuffed penguin. “Can you hold my son, please?” He hands me the penguin, and I take it instead of questioning him and his very drunk self.

“Sire, hi. I didn’t see you there.” Sire ignores his drunk teammate and keeps his gaze burning on Brent.

“Buzz, perfect timing. Sire was just going to tell Vidia about the plan.” Before I can question him, Sire’s fist connects with his jaw. Brent loses his balance and stumbles backward.

“What plan?” As the words leave my mouth, Brent sends a sinister smile my way.

“How he’s been using—” Once again, Sire punches him but a lot harder this time, and Brent actually falls to the ground.

He’s been using? Did he relapse?! Brent spits out blood on the ground next to him and stands but doesn’t swing back at Sire. Instead, he chuckles like he wants to get hit.

“Did you…” I stop myself from asking because I don’t want to bring up his addiction in front of everyone out here who now has their attention on us. Sire turns to me with regret covering his expression.Please say no.

“I didn’t.”

“But he said you’ve been using—”

“You.” My head snaps toward Brent, and then I slowly look over at Sire.Me?

“That’swhat this is about?” Buzz says, but I keep my eyes on Sire. “I thought we already discussed this.”

“Discussed what?” I ask against my own nerves.

“Nothing.” Sire tries dismissing it, but I don’t let him.

“Discussed. What,” I ask again, my voice more firm, my eyes still on Sire.

“The plan, you know, Sire sleeping with you so that your mom can call in some scouts and secure his seat in the MLB.” Buzz says it like it’s simple math, maybe because he’s drunk as fuck or because it was that simple for them. Either way, I feel the heaviest weight on my chest hearing it out loud.

Sire briefly closes his eyes, knowing he fucked up, then opens them and stares at me, waiting for a reaction, but I trust him. I trust Sire, and I know he wouldn’t do that.He wouldn’t.

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