Page 25 of Foul Line

He shakes his head. “Lacrosse guy.” His gaze passes over me. It’s half jealousy, half fear of not wanting to let me go.

“I’ll be fine,” I tell him. “I’ve gotten through seventeen years without you, I can manage.”

“I have no doubt. I just don’t want you to.”

The way he says it sends goosebumps across my skin. I try not to let my mind go there…to the fact that I might actually have an ally in this after all. Part of me still rebels against the idea. Look what happened with Alec and Sloan, but Hayes just seems different. I told him before he had the least amount of apologizing to do, and I meant it. I just don’t know if I can give in anymore. I don’t want to deal with the aftermath if something bad happens again.

He stands to leave, and I watch him. It’s awkward for a moment. I can tell he wants to hug me. Or more. Definitely more with the way his eyes rake over me. I’m not ready to let him in like that though, and I think he can sense it. “I’ll be around,” he says.

I nod while he leaves. The door creaks and then slams as he exits.

I certainly didn’t think this would happen when I woke up this morning. At least I got a shot in at Lake.

13

I’m so bored I resort to calling my father. He answers, but he’s at dinner in town with all the coaches, so I decide to go for a run instead. I really wish Dawn had her own car, so she could have spent the day with me today even if David couldn’t come. For a moment, I even briefly consider asking my father to buy her a used one just so she can drive up here to keep me company and tell me what to do with all these guys.

I take the same running route we’ve been taking on the morning runs with Jacquin leading the way. I haven’t let one of the Ballers beat me yet. Jacquin and I are always neck and neck, no matter if I feel like I’m going to throw up afterward or not. There’s a lot of inner competition that goes on in camp, and I’m not about to let my guard down for one second. I did that once with Ryan a few years ago and look what happened. Basically, it got me into this mess with the Ballers to begin with.

While I’m running, I daydream about Hayes. I wonder what his story is, why he doesn’t like to talk, and why he’s apologizing the most to me. He’s such an enigma. If he really did like me this past year, too, how could he sit back and let Alec and Sloan take up all my time? It seems odd, and unlike the persona he tries to portray. Quiet, and like he doesn’t care.

I see a figure running in the opposite direction as me. I’m almost at camp, and I get to the mouth of the entrance before I realize it’s Sloan Ivy. I want to roll my eyes. Yes, he told Lake to knock it off, but maybe it’s a little too late for that. I act as if I don’t even see him, turn the corner, and continue my run. Ivy’s never one to let me get away with that though. Even when he’s not supposed to be talking to me according to Lake. “I had to take a shower, you know.”

“Finally smelled yourself?” I toss over my shoulder.

“Ha. No, I’m talking about the juice this morning.”

I shrug, trying to keep my breath under control.

“Not that he didn’t deserve it.”

“You all deserve it.”

“So you keep saying.”

“Because it’s the truth.”

He smiles. “You’re so cute when you’re mad.”

I stop, my sneakers sliding in the gravel a bit at the sudden motion.

Sloan passes me, then looks over his shoulder and laughs. He, too, comes to a stop, then walks back. The smile has slipped from his face though. He looks down my body, then back up to my eyes. “He was right about one thing. I do miss you.”

“My cunt, you mean.”

I push past him, but he grabs my hand. “You and I both know I don’t have any real first-hand knowledge of that. That was just Lake being himself.”

I shrug him off. “I’m not really in the mood to have this conversation with you, Ivy.”

He swallows and looks away. “But you’ll talk to Hayes?”

He looks so vulnerable in that moment that it takes me back to the circles under his eyes and the stories about his home life. Betrayal tries to combat the other feelings rising to the surface inside me, but they all just sit there in my stomach like a lead weight. “I talked to Hayes. Yes.”

A small smile spreads over his lips. “He’s not much for talking.”

I find myself smiling back at him. “I guess he is with me.”

He looks out toward the trees surrounding us. “I shouldn’t be surprised. I knew he liked you, we don’t keep secrets, but I am a little shocked he’s throwing himself out there with you. He usually keeps to himself. I hope you like him back.”

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