Page 19 of Away Game

“Yeah,” he answered and shoved his book and notebook into his backpack before he placed it on his shoulder. Fin walked slowly down the stairs, through the halls, and out into the warm afternoon sun. He moved as if he was in a slow-motion video.

The moment we were outside, I passed him only to stop in front of him. “Listen, I know I’m the last person in the world you want to talk to or confide in, but are you okay?”

“You don’t need to worry about me, West. I’m sure you’ve got more important things to focus on. Now, why don’t you run along and go study or something?” He walked away, moving his hair out of his face, dismissing my concern.

Maybe the next time I saw Oz, I’d mention it to him. He’d know what to do or not to do if that was the case.

Sitting down on a bench, I pulled out the lunch I packed early this morning before my workout, ready to forget about Fin. I’d barely swallowed the first bite of my chicken sandwich when Ford sat down next to me.

Kicking out his legs and crossing them at the ankle, Ford turned his hat, so the bill blocked the sunlight from his face looking at ease with himself. “Why don’t you ever join us in food commons to eat your lunch?”

“I enjoy being outside and people watching,” I lied and hated doing it, but there was no way I was going to say it was because I wanted to avoid Fin.

He tapped his fingers along his thigh. “While that may be true, I don’t think you’re telling me the whole truth, now are you, Weston.”

“Maybe one day, but I’m not ready to join you,” I admitted. I wasn’t sure if I ever would be either.

“That’s—“

“It’s not you, so don’t worry about it,” I interrupted him.

He tilted his head like he could see me from underneath his hat. “If you think I haven’t noticed how Fin’s demeanor changes every time you’re around, you’re wrong. What I want to know is why?”

“I’d like to know as well, but I don’t think I’m ever going to get my wish. You’ll probably find out before I do. Back in Santa Lucia, I thought it was high school rivalry.”

Ford sat up, flipping his hat back around. “And now?”

“Like I said, I have no idea why. All I can say is Fin hates me, and I try to do my best to keep things civil between us. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to eat my lunch in peace.” I was ready to pack up and find another location to enjoy the break between classes.

Placing his hand on my arm, he pressed down. “I got the message, and you don’t need to leave. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get a few rays of sunshine while I eat my lunch if you don’t mind.”

Taking another bite of my sandwich, I chewed and tried to decide if I wanted to deal with the consequences that might come with Ford’s friendship. “As long as you don’t try to drag Fin with you, I don’t see a problem.”

Being the house RA made the team standoffish with me. It was either that or Fin had threatened them if they were friends with me. I could see it either way. Although I didn’t think they were afraid of me narcing them out as much as they were afraid of getting caught and the wrath of Coach.

“He needs to get over himself, or poor Finny boy is going to find himself on the wrong side of the friendship tree.”

I laughed at that. If Fin heard anyone call him Finny boy, he’d punch them in the face. “Trust me, don’t do me any favors. You don’t want to get on Fin’s bad side.”

Ford stood with the grace of a gazelle, looking down at me. His brown eyes were full of something dark. “Maybe he doesn’t want to get on my bad side.”

I wanted to laugh in Ford’s face. As far as I knew, he hadn’t had the displeasure of being on Fin’s bad side. But until that moment, I’d also never seen Ford be anything but his usual happy self. Serious and threatening weren’t words I’d use to describe Ford Fitzgerald, and the fact that he changed his M.O. for me made me think I could call Ford a friend. It was nice to know someone had my back if I needed it.

“I’ll see you back at the house. Maybe you’ll join us for our Call of Duty tournament tonight.”

“You don’t want me to do that unless you like losing. I’ve only played a couple of times, and I suck.” I laughed at how badly I’d played, and my friend never asking me to play with him again.

“Maybe not play then, but you can still hang out with us.” He gave me a nod as if his word was final before walking away.

Ford was right. I had hidden away even though I told myself I wouldn’t, and it was time to stop.

A few hours later, I headed downstairs to where a loud chorus of cheers and yells ricocheted off the walls of the living room. It looked as if the entire house was spread out across the room. Ford locked eyes on me and patted the armrest to the couch he was sitting on. Giving him a chin lift, I made my way into the kitchen. I’d join them, but first, I needed to eat.

My steps faltered, finding Fin in the kitchen with his head stuck inside the refrigerator. He turned his head and narrowed his eyes at me. He must have heard me walk in, but I wasn’t going to forgo dinner because he was in my space.

“Have you seen my meals? I’ve looked at every container in here, and not a single one of them has my name on it.” He looked back inside. “Did that chick not deliver our food?”

“You mean Rebekah?” How did he not know the name of the person who cooked his meals every day of the week? I pushed Fin out of the way, making him rock back on his heels. “I saw her last week, but I don’t think I’ve seen her this week. Is it possible you didn’t pay her?”

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