Page 60 of Catch Me

“I agree,” Reid says. “I don’t think Sasha has the ability to know about my doctor’s appointments, but it doesn’t matter right now, anyway. She cornered me after practice.”

“You’re kidding.”

He shakes his head. “She told me she knows my note’s a fake. I told her I have evidence she was the one who paid Eli to sack me, so if she tells everyone about the note, I’ll tell everyone about her mission to get rid of me.”

I shake my head. This all sounds so cloak and dagger. Why can’t high school just be about first boyfriends and homework?

Then again, I don’t have it as bad as some people do. At least I have a nice house, plenty of food to come home to, and don’t have to worry about getting my ass kicked.

“You think it worked?”

“It better. She tried to act like she didn’t care, but I don’t believe her. I saw a flash of fear in her eyes. She wanted to see what I had, but I didn’t show it to her.”

“She’s probably going right to Eli.”

“No doubt,” Reid says. “He won’t be happy to see her.”

“Who is?”

* * *

Reid picksme up like usual before school. He gets to my house in enough time for Mom to make him breakfast, which I think she secretly loves doing. When we get to school, Cade and Lex are already there. But that’s not all, Sasha is leaning against the school in front of them, acting like she owns the place.

“What the hell is this?”

I groan inwardly. Cade and Lex wouldn’t be talking to her for no reason.

Reid parks the car and then waits for me in front of it, so we can walk toward the school together. Lex gives him an apologetic look when we get closer. “Hi, Babe,” she smiles, her eyes practically twinkling at Reid when we look up.

I’m used to her games, so I don’t even let her words faze me. She’s just delusional, and I know Reid wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole, so it’s easier to tell myself she doesn’t have a chance.

“What do you want?” Reid asks, his voice bored.

“Oh, I was just thinking about the conversation we had yesterday.” She kicks off the school. “The one where you tried to threaten me?”

“The one where you tried to threaten me first?” Reid counters.

Sasha rolls her eyes. “You used to like it when I played games.” She gives me a dirty once-over. “Now you’re just a stick-in-the-mud.”

“Leave Briar out of this.”

“Gladly. Why don’t you shoo along, Briar? Adults are talking.”

I lift my hand to flip her off. What I really want to do is put my fist through her face. She doesn’t care what she does to hurt people. First Reid. Then Oscar. She walks over people like they’re shit, and she’s the queen. “I think I’m fine right where I am.” I smile at her, and the guys close ranks around me.

She acts like it doesn’t bother her, but I see the tiny wrinkles near her eyes. “We have a problem, Reid. Kind of like that time when you couldn’t stop fucking me when my parents were in the next room.” She sighs like it was the best moment of her life.

I grit my teeth.

“Except this is a messier problem. I know your doctor’s note is forged.”

“So you told me,” Reid says, choosing his words carefully.

“I’ll be forced to tell everyone if you don’t do it first.”

“Why? You got another quarterback in your back pocket?” I ask.

“Ahh, Oscar,” she says. “He was getting annoying, wasn’t he?”

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