Page 62 of Play Dirty
And now she knows.
I don’t know how much she saw, but I can imagine which part she saw. My stomach churns, my intuition signaling to me that I’m right. The car turns down the street, past the school entrance. I glance out the window, and when I spot Thiago’s car, I see her.
Slumped against the leather seat. My fingers clench so hard I nearly snap my own wrist. I look away before Wyatt notices.
“Everything good?” he asked, his eyes still focused on the road.
I nod, jaw tight. “Yeah.”
But everything’s not good.
Because now there's no hiding.
No more pretending.
Shiloh knows what I’ve been having to do to survive, and the worst part is she had to witness this, and I didn’t stop. I keep picturing those big blue eyes glistening with tears. I let her see it.
I made her watch, because I’m a coward with too many secrets that need to remain buried. A coward who can’t even look at her in the face but showed her my darkest truth.
I look down at the message that changed the game. The one that causes my heart to sink and my stomach to clench.
Anonymous
You passed the test. Good boy.
I suck my teeth, not sure if I want to cry or laugh. ‘Good boy.’ Like if I’m a fucking dog. Like all this pain is just a fucking performance. And somehow…. I still crave the praise.
By the time I get back to the dorm Zayden stands outside, hitting a pen. Smoke curls around him as Wyatt pulls up and parks the car. His stormy eyes lock onto me the second I step out of the car, like he’s been waiting all night just to throw a punch at something.
I could relate.
“I’m heading out, gotta do some business. Reyes, you need to fix that.” Wyatt says from inside the car before rolling up the window and driving off. I bring back my focus to Zayden who hands me the pen. I take a deep hit, inhaling the herby smoke letting the marijuana flood my system.
“She almost got hit by a car. If I didn’t get there when I did...” He stops and looks at me. His eyes were full of torment.
“I read the message.” Is all I say because what else can I fucking say. I bite the inside of my cheek until I taste blood. Zayden scoffs, flicking the pen once more before pocketing it.
“Did you, now? How do you plan on fixing this?” His eyes narrow and in the dim light he looks older and meaner than his usual self. “Because youknow that asshole is going to make this your problem, not his.”
I know that too.
“What am I supposed to tell her? Hey Shiloh, I didn’t only date your best friend but I also fuck your dad.” Zayden’s restraints snap and his fist connects to my jaw. The pain dulls my thoughts as we break out into a small scuffle. My fist connects with his midsection, he tackles me into the ground. Knocking the wind straight out of my lungs. I’m too tired for this shit, my knee jerks up connecting once again with his stomach and he stumbles back. “Fuck. Reyes.”
He falls on his ass, placing his arms on his knee caps and letting his head hang. “This is bad, everything with the coach and now her. Someone is fucking with us, Nico.”
I let out a breath, remaining on the ground. “I don’t know how to fix this, Zay.”
“I know.”
“You think it’s possible? That whoever killed Fer… did this to June too?” I ask, letting my thoughts be voiced out loud. It’s been a long time since I spoke about her, let alone mentioned her name. There was never a body for us to bury, for us to mourn. Grams was able to recognize her thanks to the sunflower tattoo on her wrist. But her injuries were too extensive for us to have a proper goodbye. We didn't even have money to bury her remains, so we cremated whatever was left of my sister.
He takes a deep breath in. “I don’t know, I wouldn't put it past them. But the coach? That really took me out of the game.”
“What are they going to do with him?”
Zayden shrugs. “Not sure, we have a game coming up. They will probably teach him a lesson and let him continue his role.”
I nod in agreement.
