Page 52 of Catch Me

I clench up. I know exactly whose position Coach is trying to give him. Not that I blame Coach. He needs a player, and Oscar’s good.

“I’m a quarterback,” Oscar says through clenched teeth.

“Not for Spring Hill, you aren’t. Not while Reid Parker can play.” Coach sighs after a moment. I freeze at how close they must be. They’re literally on the other side of the door. If I hit one thing, our cover is blown, and they’re both going to know what we’re doing in this room. I don’t even know if there’s anything around me that I could accidentally bump into, but I’m not taking the risk. I’m staying right where I am. “Come on, Drego. I’m giving you an opportunity here. Even not at quarterback, you know they’ll watch you more if you’re here and not back at Rawley Heights.”

“I can’t go back to Rawley Heights,” Oscar says, voice dropping.

He’s not kidding. He’ll definitely get his ass kicked there. The guys that showed up at Spring Hill were serious.

“Then it’s settled,” Coach says. “Come Monday, I want you practicing with the wide receivers. Okay?”

A knot forms in my stomach.Oscar playing in my brother’s spot now? What next?

Footsteps sound beyond the door like one of them has started to walk away. Oscar says, “Sure thing, Coach. But your Golden Boy? You might want to check out his story.”

Then, the footsteps start up again and disappear. I look at Reid, who’s staring at the door with thin lips.

Check on Reid’s story? What the hell does he mean by that?

* * *

The party isn’t really muchof a party. Not for me, anyway. Ever since Reid and I overheard Oscar and Coach Jackson talking, Reid’s been in a mood. We didn’t finish what we started when Coach left the back area of the locker room. Not even close. Instead, Reid opened the door, sat me on the bench and went into the main area of the locker room to shower and change without another word.

While he’s in there, I keep wondering what the hell Oscar was talking about. Whatstoryis he referring to?

Whatever it is, it’s probably all bullshit. Oscar’s pissed. And I can see why. Yes, he was the fucker who Sasha brought in to take Reid’s spot, but from his point of view, everything just got pulled out from underneath him. I think back to the conversation we had over the fence and wonder if he really will try to get Sasha. I imagine he will, but there’s one thing I can’t see him doing, and that’s hitting her with that bat. I don’t know why. I know he’s not a good guy. I know he’s done questionable things, but I don’t see him doingthat.

Maybe it’s me seeing him in my brother and Reid, and in Lex and Cade, too.

Cade’s the one who comes back to get me. “Come on, Shortie. We’re about to go celebrate.” He’s got sunglasses on and a white button-up shirt with the top buttons open. He only has one side of his shirt tucked into his jeans. The other is fashionably out, making him look like he didn’t care, even though I know he does. The haphazard look works for him.

“You still hanging out with Hayley?” I ask.

He shrugs, turning his head a little. “Sometimes.”

Ha. Sometimes. I guess that means whenever she gets a text from him.

“Farmer, let’s go,” Reid calls.

Cade fake bows to me and holds his hand out. I take it, and we walk out into the main locker room together. Both Reid and Lex are dressed more down than their friend, but they all look handsome. They always have been.

When we get to the parking lot, Cade turns toward his own vehicle. “I’m going to head out and pick Jules up. Meet you there.”

He gets in his car, not leaving the rest of us with a chance to say anything. “Aren’t we going to his camp?” I ask.

Reid shrugs. “He already gave the keys to a lower classmen on the team, telling him to get things set up.” He opens the passenger door for me, and I scoot in.

Lex gets in next with Reid walking around the front of the car to get in the driver’s side. As soon as Reid gets in, Lex asks, “Are you going to talk to him or should I?”

“Cade?” Reid asks.

I look between the two of them while they share a look in the rearview mirror. “What’s going on?”

Reid shakes his head, but Lex asks, “You haven’t noticed?”

“Notice what?”

“Nothing,” Reid says, but it sounds like bullshit to me.

---