Page 26 of Flame After the Fumble

Hartley

My veins thrum as hot blood pulses through them. I take a deep breath, attempting to calm myself from the inexplicable jealousy pounding in my chest. Liza isn’t mine. She’s made that fact abundantly clear with her words every chance she gets, but her actions tell a different story. I’m starting to regret those drinks I had because now I can’t drive. If Liza thought I was bluffing about finding a girl to take home, she was right. She’s all I see, but I needed to get under her skin the way she did to me. Ryan texted letting me know he was leaving and assured me that he would swing back around if I needed a ride, but I need to be alone right now to process all the wires tangled in my head.

One thing that’s always worked in calming my overwhelming thoughts is the water, so I take the two mile long trek to the small beach alcove on the outskirts of town. The beach at night is unmatched, and it’s exactly what I need to drown out the thoughts of her. By the time I reach the rocky shore, the temperature has dropped a few degrees, misting my skin with a cool breeze and dewy air. I sit at the first spot I see and tosspebbles into the water, watching them skip through the calm waves.

I left her on the dance floor because I didn’t trust myself not to cross the boundaries she set for us. Thelastthing I expected was for her to run off to Locke and put on a production for the entire bar to see. My head reminds me that she doesn’t see him as more than a fun time. My heart shattered at the sight of her making out with him tonight with her leg hiked against his thigh. I’ve seen them kissplentyof times before tonight, but this hits different. It physically pained me to watch it, but like most train wrecks, I couldn’t tear my eyes away. The first place she looked after that kiss was where I was standing on the dance floor. I want to tell myself that she did it to bait me into fighting or chasing after her, but I’ve thrown myself at her more times than I can count for more than a year. If she wanted me, she could have me.

“Ugh,” I groan, allowing my voice to travel into the dark waves that dribble against the shore. I’m too amped up tonight. Violet looked like she was having a blast, and I don’t want to ruin her night.

Me: Staying with a friend tonight. See ya tomorrow morning, sis.

Violet: (thumbs up emoji)

Guess I’m sleeping on the beach. Wouldn’t be the first time and won’t be the last. I lay down and rest against the cool touch of sand against my cheek. My hands dig into the sand and slowly allow small pieces to trickle through the gaps in my fingers as I lift them up. Repeated actions slow my mind down at night, so I do that over and over, until I drift into a buzzed sleep.

My body jolts me up before dawn the next morning. Wiping the drool from the corner of my mouth, I quickly check the time on my phone. Coach called a Sunday morning film session, so I take the peaceful morning walk back to my car and drive straight to the field.

Film practice moved painfully slow. I’d rather be running plays or doing drills. Sitting idle during film makes my skin crawl and my mind wander, so I decide to go for a run before heading back to the apartment. Rustling through a bag of clothes I keep in my car for moments like this, I find athletic shorts. That’s all I need since the humid temperatures of the Florida heat force me to skip the shirt. Popping in my ear buds, I scroll through my workout playlist to find a song that’ll pump me up for the run, but my wandering fingers slide to Morgan Wallen radio. "Wasted on You" seems fitting for my mood, so I click it, turn the volume up as far as it can go, and turn my brain off. After a two mile run around campus, I call it quits and head back to the apartment. I don’t want Violet to worry about my whereabouts, and if I’m gone too long, she will. I jump in my car and pull a clean towel from the backseat to wipe the sweat dripping down my face. I put on my favorite hat sitting on the passenger seat and drive back home.

I need a long, hot shower and a nap,I think to myself as I pull my keys out of my zipper pocket to open the apartment door. The sight that greets me is not one I was expecting. Onmycouch is a sleeping Violet, curled up in her favorite fuzzy blanket— that’s nothing new. The part that nearly jolts me out of my own skin is my teammate with his arms wrapped around her body, enjoying an afternoon nap. At a loss for words, my jaw hits the floor. I pace back and forth around the small living space, planning my next move.This isn’t happening.

Unable to keep my composure any longer, I scream to the two traitors nuzzled together. “Someone better tell me what’s going on right now before I lose my mind!”

My best friend groans and lets out a drawn out yawn before replying, “You already have, Hartley. I’m exhausted, and you’re acting like a maniac.” She remains nuzzled against Ryan’s chest, unphased by the anger brewing inside of my body.

Violet and I rarely disagree or argue, but now isn’t the time for her blasé attitude. “Iwill notlower my voice when my best friend is about to get naked on our couch with my teammate.” Throwing my hat on the floor, I point directly at the two traitors. They thinkI’mlosing my mind?

“We were not about to get naked,” Ryan and Violet simultaneously answer followed by a lighthearted chuckle. Awesome. Great. Super. They both find this funny.

“Liars.He’s grabbing your hand, and you were cuddled up against him. I will take you to the ground, Shane.” I lunge toward him, but he doesn’t move an inch away from my little sister. Instead, he scoots closer and wraps his arms around her tighter. Hmm. Interesting.

“Enough.” Violet leaves his embrace on the couch to scream in my face. “Cool it. We’re hanging out, and it’s none of your business. I didn’t question you about where you were all night. Let’s not forget that I’m an adultnappingwith a boy on the couch. No rules have been broken.” I wish I could tell her about my night and how broken I was. Seeing the girl I can’t stop thinking about all over another guy hurt, but that’s not the pressing issue at hand.

Taking a deep inhale, I allow my mind to process what I’ve seen for a moment. Violet doesn’t bring guys around that often, and if Ryan is going to protect her, this might not be a bad thing. “Is this a thing? If this is a thing, let me know right now. No sneaking around. Be upfront with me.”

Violet lifts herself up from the couch and slowly backs away into the hall. “It might be. That’s for us to decide. Also, you might want to go on a wine run tonight because I accidentally drank all of yours.”

“You little—” I run after her in a fit of laughter before catching up and tackling her on the bed. I might not love the idea of Violet “hanging out” with Ryan, but she’s right. She’s not a little girl anymore and can make her own decisions. If he breaks her heart. . . Ryan Shane will see the crazy he wishes he never unleashed.

19

Liza

Hartley and I have a tutoring session today, and it’ll be the first time I see him since the home opener. My stomach rumbles with sickness as I think about how that night went down. I toss my backpack down and rummage through my things to find my sketchbook. I need to start brainstorming ideas for the portfolio project with a clear mind. I settle for a shaded grassy area under the huge oak tree at the center of all the old buildings that surround it. I’ve spent countless nights thinking about this portfolio project and what I’d like to draw as my common theme. One idea has consumed my thoughts, but it requires me to enlist the help ofhim.My pencil dances along the thick art paper, carving yard lines, stands, and end zones. Art always helps to clear my mind when it’s scattered. After drawing a background I’m satisfied with, I stick my supplies back in my backpack and trudge across campus to our session.

Walking into the muggy library, I scold myself for not allowing enough time for a coffee stop before our session. I make my way through the racks of books until I reach our study room. I sneak a peek through the surrounding glass before enteringto see a worn-out Hartley hunched over the wooden table. His head rests in his hands as he massages his eyelids repeatedly. My breath catches when I see what’s sitting across from him. A large strawberry acai drink with a small brown bag, no doubt containing a chocolate cake pop. My favorites, again. My tense muscles soften and a cheesy grin spreads across my face. My hand shoots up to my chest at how sweet the gesture is.

“Hey.” I tentatively walk into the room, not sure how to act around him.

His head pops up from the tight grip of his hands as he shoots me a lazy smile. “Sup, Goldie.” That smile forms into a mischievous grin I’ve grown to look forward to more than I’d like to admit. Of course he’s acting like we didn’t cause a scene like two complete psychos outside of the bar the last time we spoke.

“Mine?” I grab the cold drink and tip my head in question.

He scoots the drink across the table. “All yours.”

“Thank you.” I peel the wrapper off the green straw and poke it through the lid to take the first sip. “You’re spoiling me, now.”

“It’s nothing.” He shrugs and grabs the back of his neck to rub.

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