Page 11 of Catch Me

He shuts my door, walks around to the other side, and gets in. “Hey, how did you get out of the house again?” I prod. Lex made it seem as if his mom had him on lockdown.

“I told my mom you were going to school today, and that I wasn’t going to let you out of my sight. I swear she’s only agreeing to any of this because it’s you. If it was anyone else, she’d probably have me chained to the bed. She really likes the idea of you and me together.”

I hope my parents feel the same way. “But what about the doctors, Reid? Are you well enough to go back to school?”

“I’ve been feeling fine, really. Just a headache. Sometimes I can’t concentrate, but there’s nothing physically limiting me from going back. Plus, the quicker I get back to school, the quicker I can go to practice and show Coach I’m ready to play.”

I stare straight ahead as he pulls out of the driveway and points the car toward school. I hadn’t thought about Reid going back to football. I tried not to think about him, but when I did, I pictured him injured. Laid up with broken bones. I was not prepared for him to say he was going back to playing so soon. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

Reid keeps one hand on the steering wheel and places the other on my thigh. He sends me a cautious look. “It’s…yes. Briar, I’m going back to football. I love it. Not going back isn’t an option, plus, you know college scouts are out already. That’s my ticket out of here.”

He sounds just like Brady. I know how much football means to all four of them, but haven’t there been enough injuries now? What if he gets hurt again? What if Cade or Lex get hurt? Or worse?

Panic claws at my chest. Preemptively, I slow my breathing, counting to five as I inhale and exhale to keep it under control.

“I know it’s hard,” Reid says, “But just remember what I said. If it’s in my control, nothing’s happening to either one of us. I’ll be extra careful. Lex already feels like shit, so he’s going to be watching like a hawk. Trust me, when I get back out onto that field, I’ll be one-hundred percent. You won’t have to worry at all.”

His words soothe me a little. Maybe just a fraction. I’ll still always worry, but I know I can’t let that interfere either. “So, they’re playing Barnhardt now?” I ask, referring to the backup QB.

Reid takes a left and then returns his hand back to me. “Yeah. Coach has to. I’ll be back at practice, so hopefully I can help him until I can get back out there.” Reid makes a face, and I remember a time when Brady had lamented Spring Hill’s backup QB. There’s a clear reason why he’s the backup and why Reid’s the starter. Barnhardt probably never thought he’d get the chance to play. Reid’s the real deal. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets multiple offers from different colleges. He’s been All-State every year since we were Freshman, along with Brady, Lex, and Cade.

I place my hand on top of his. “I’m sure he’ll do his best and that you’ll be good at coaching him until you’re ready.”

Reid doesn’t answer because the school looms in front of us. Thanks to the guys, I don’t have as much nerves as I did when I first came back at the beginning of the year. “Lex got your homework for you. I’m sure he has it on him.”

As if on cue, there’s a knock on my window. I jump, my hand going over my chest. Relief floods me when I realize it’s just Lex, and I smile. He pulls the car door open. “Sorry, Briar. I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s not your fault,” I tell him. “Just jumpy I guess.”

Like Reid thought, Lex offers me my homework. He has it organized by class in a singular folder. Behind him, I see Theo Laughlin walk by and wonder if I still have any shot of beating him. I turn toward Reid as he gets out of the car. I only see his profile before it disappears above the frame of the car, but that’s enough. He told me he loved me. I can’t imagine not going to the same school he’s going to. Or to the same school as all of them for that matter. They’re my group, my tribe, myfriends.

An arm drops around my shoulder from behind and a kiss drops to the top of my head. “Shortie, look at you.”

I smile up at Cade. His dark hair is longer than it was only a week ago. It’s past the time where he usually gets it cut. It almost looks unkempt, giving Cade even more of that bad boy look that girls love.

“Tell me you’re going to practice tonight,” Cade says, looking over at Reid. He lowers his voice. “I think Barnhardt’s going to shit himself.”

All three of the guys laugh. Quick footsteps come up behind me, and I turn in time to see Jules making her way over. A lot of the worried texts were hers, so I open my arms and hug her like I should’ve done yesterday. “I promise we’ll talk,” I say, whispering in her ear.

She softens at my touch, hugging me back. “We better.”

When I pull away, I say, “I’m grounded though. I have to be home right after school.”

“I’ll take you,” she says. “Maybe we can talk then?”

I nod. Now, my stomach twists in anticipation. I know she might not have the nicest things to say to me right now, and she’d be right. I have to listen to it. I have to take it all in and figure out how I’m going to make it up to her.

Turning back toward the school, my eyes drift from the top of the flags waving in the wind right down to the front doors. All five of us move forward as a group. It isn’t until we’re halfway to the glass doors that I realize that walking into school together was probably all planned. They wanted to be here for me.

Or, it’s because they don’t trust me to be where I say I’m going to be. Either way, I’m glad they’re here.

“Hey, isn’t that…?”

Cade stops. He hits Reid in the chest, and then like a domino effect, each of us stop to stare as Sasha gets out of a Lincoln SUV near the front of the school. My blood curdles at the sight of her, but that’s not who has all our attention though. It’s the dark-haired boy walking next to her.

“You’re shitting me,” Reid says.

Lex growls. “What the fuck?”

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