Page 33 of Foul Line

Surprisingly enough, River stays on the court and keeps his mouth shut. He even plays better without Lake here. Don’t get me wrong, I still think he’s the number one asshole in training, but when out of the clutches of his brother, he isn’t so terrible. Except for when I try to give him advice on his jump shot, he stares at me like he wants nothing more than to see me shrivel up and die. When Jacquin is out of earshot, he says, “How many points did you score last season?”

I glare right back at him. “I think if you’d compare playing time to points scored, you’ll find I did even better than your brother. But who’s counting, right? Your brother and I are on the same team.”

He shakes his head. “Not if he has anything to say about it.”

I narrow my gaze at him. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lake did try to do something to my position on the team. Find a way to kick me off, get me injured, or maybe even worse, make it so I don’t want to join the team at all. I think that’s what he tried to do this past year. He thought if I couldn’t have the guys, I’d leave. But I didn’t transfer to RHS for the Ballers, I transferred for the team. I transferred for basketball, period. Nothing more. Alec and Sloan, and feeling like I was on a team again, were just added bonuses. Even though I didn’t have those things for very long at all, they were great while they lasted.

“Tell him to bring it, Baby O’Brien.”

His nostrils flare. “You might have Hayes on your side now, but the others will be harder to get.”

“There are no sides, and if your brother was smarter, he’d realize that.”

“You challenged him directly. You transferred to Rockport, you signed up to try out for the team all knowing you both play the same position. That’s a challenge. You don’t belong there.”

From behind us, Jacquin sighs, “Oh, wonderful, it’s Dale’s boyfriend.”

I turn to find Hayes trudging up the small hill toward the outdoor courts. He’s by himself, his dirty blond hair flopping over his forehead. There’s a ring of sweat around his collar that ends just over his chest. It looks like my father’s been working the Centers hard.

My first reaction is to tell Jacquin Hayes isn’t my boyfriend, but is he? Does he want to be? He’s come to my aid, he’s told me he likes me, and he’s freaking apologized to me multiple times. Shit, I don’t know what he is right now. I don’t know what any of them are to me right now. River says the others will be harder to get to my side. Do I even want to do that?

My face heats when I remember what it was like to be with Sloan and Alec. The Ballers as a whole—minus Lake, of course—have always sent my heart skittering through my chest like I’m on speed.

“I saw Lake walk back early, are you okay?”

Before I can say anything, River shakes his head in disgust. “You’re supposed to be one of his best friends. Did you ask him if he was okay?”

Hayes ignores him completely. It’s as if River means nothing to him. His voice doesn’t even show up as a blip on “Ice Man’s” radar.

“I guess we’re done for the day,” Jacquin says from behind us. “If you don’t mind, Irving, can I talk to Tessa alone?”

Hayes looks me over, his deep blue eyes clouded in anger as he glares at Jacquin. I walk over to him. “What’s up?” I whisper.

“You played well today. This is probably going to make me sound like a dick, but I was hesitant when your dad told me his daughter played and was invited to camp. You’re really good. To hell with those other guys. They obviously don’t love the game enough if they’re going to hate on a female player. Skill is skill.”

My chest expands.Wow. That was really nice of him to say.“Thanks, Sellers.”

He winks at me, then places the ball that was in his hand in the last spot on the basketball rack before walking back toward camp. When I turn to face Hayes, River is gone, too.

“What did he want?” Hayes asks.

“To tell me how good I am.”

He peeks at him over his shoulder. “I don’t like him.”

“You’re not a fan, ‘Ice Man’?”

He turns toward me, a smirk on his face that makes me shiver. He traces his fingers around my ear, taking the flyaway hairs that escaped from my ponytail with them. “I’m only sharing you with the Ballers, Tessa.”

My heart skips a beat. I stare into his eyes, and even my toes curl inside my sneakers. Why does that sound like such a promise?

17

Lake and River aren’t in the cafeteria for lunch, so I actually sit with the Ballers and a few of the other guys. They’re all happily talking about each of their individual sessions. Hayes doesn’t talk much, but I get from the other Centers here that my dad put them through the wringer. I can’t say Jacquin was that hard on us, but I think he was getting the point across in a different way. I have a suspicion he knew me working with Lake and River would end up the way it did; he was just waiting for it.

Sloan and Alec keep staring at me. I’m pretty quiet throughout lunch, only because this is the first time I’m sitting with them at all, and I feel like it’s only because Lake isn’t here. What if Lake were here? I’d probably be sitting by myself since the lacrosse team isn’t here either. Ryan, though, asks me how our session went. I leave out the fact that I accidentally hit Lake, and he made a big freaking deal about it. I told him Jacquin was a good Coach, and that he impressed me. He didn’t show me anything new, but he did make a point with Lake that needed to be said. This isn’t RHS. He doesn’t own the fucking camp like he owns the school. He needed to be taken down a notch.

Afterward, we all break, the guys groaning that they can’t wait to get in the shower. Trust me, I’ve been in rooms with a bunch of sweaty guys before, and it’s not always pleasant. Hayes, though, has this bit of sweet aroma. He doesn’t smell bad at all, even though I can tell he worked hard. I wish I could have seen him practice and watch how my dad worked them. I miss being my dad’s student in a lot of ways.

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