Page 68 of Foul Line

“She was so good at ball, you know?” he asks. “She did everything right. Played for our school’s girls’ team, of course, but she was captain and had stats as good as mine.” His eyes are far away. He flinches, and a wave of grief crosses his face. My stomach bottoms out as he says, “She died in a car accident two years ago.”

“Oh, God. I’m so sorry, Jacquin.” I reach out to run a comforting hand down his upper arm. “What was her name?”

“Kelley,” he says, a small lilt to his voice, like he wants to talk about her, but doesn’t want to at the same time. “She played shooting guard, too.”

I swallow hard. He lifts the tank he’s wearing. There’s a number nine tattooed right over his heart.

“Her number,” he says.

“Mine, too.”

He drops his shirt, covering his sculpted torso back up. “I know.”

“It sounds like we would’ve had a lot in common,” I tell him, but I don’t even know if he’s listening to me anymore. He’s looking at me, but he’s staring right through me like I’m not even there or as if he sees someone other than me. I’m not quite sure what it is, but it’s making my skin prick and warning hairs rise up on my neck.

“God, I miss her.”

I sidestep him, trying to create space. “That’s understandable. I bet she’d be so proud of you.”

My lips feel almost numb as I try to bring him back to the present. He’s too lost in his own head. He grabs my wrist and pulls me to him.

“Jacquin,” I say, my voice wavering a little. He’s so distraught. His whole face has morphed into sadness. His eyes are dull, almost dead looking.

“You remind me so much of her,” he repeats again.

I try to struggle out of his grip, but he’s holding on to me so tightly. He lowers his face to mine. I turn at the last second, so he kisses my cheek, his lips open like he’d expected a welcome.

“Please,” he begs, his lips moving against my cheek. “Just give me this.”

His huge hand clasps onto my neck, holding me in place. He leans down, and I press my lips together. He’s like a guy gone mad. His eyes are shut so tight, matching the rest of his strained face as he lowers his face to mine.

“Stop,” I tell him. “Jacquin.” I twist my wrist this way and that, trying to break free from his grasp. If I do that, maybe he’ll break out of whatever spell he’s under. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a close loved one like that, but I’m not her.

“Let her go!”

I turn quickly. Jacquin and I bump faces, which creates space. It’s a good thing because Alec rips him away after that. He pulls his fist back. “No!” I shout.

Alec doesn’t listen. His fist slams forward, catching Jacquin in the jaw. He stumbles back, and I move in between them. Alec’s usually beautiful green eyes are alive with fury. He sucks in ragged breaths, his shoulders hunched and tight. His gaze clashes with mine, and I see betrayal there. “You told him no.”

I step forward. “I did.” I look behind me. Jacquin has his hand on his jaw. The sound Alec’s fist made when it connected with it still echoes in my mind.He did that for me.My gut wrenches. Alec is a beast. “It’s not his fault.” I don’t even know what the fuck I’m saying, really. Is it his fault? I just don’t want Alec to get in trouble. Fighting is strictly prohibited. He can’t do that here. He shouldn’t want to do that here. Baseball is only a couple weeks away now.

“Not his fault?”

Jacquin comes up behind me. He pushes me out of the way with a quick movement of his arm. “Calm down, Christopoulos.”

The words could’ve worked if he hadn’t laid a hand on me. “I said don’t fucking touch her.” He launches himself at Jacquin Sellers. I’m so surprised I jump back. They fall to the ground. I reach down to try to pull Alec off, but all I do is allow Jacquin to get a shot in at him.

“What the…?”

Ryan runs in. He’s able to do what I couldn’t. He pulls Alec off, and I immediately intervene in front of Jacquin. There’s no way he’s going to get me out of his way this time. “What do you even care?” Jacquin shouts. “She’s not even your girlfriend.” He wipes blood away from his lips.

“The hell she isn’t,” Alec snaps.

If there wasn’t so much tension in the room, I’d swoon over that.

There’s so much commotion now that others swarm the room, including my dad and the other coaches. I sigh, there’s no way we’re going to cover this up now. Jacquin is bleeding. What excuse are they going to use? He tripped? He’s a phenomenal athlete. No, there’s no denying it. Alec isn’t even in the right place to try and downplay his anger.

“What the hell’s going on in here?” my dad barks.

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