Page 47 of Without Bound
“Oh. Coach Michaels. Hello,” she says, her voice sounding very displeased.
“May I speak with you for a moment? I need to ask you a question regarding the game.” I turn on my heel and head for the closest tree, assuming she is following.
I clench my jaw, trying to keep my emotions under control, and hear her come up behind me.
“Why would you need to talk to me about the game?” she asks as she steps closer.
“What are you doing?” My tone is harsh and the words bite.
“What am I doing?” Her arms cross over her chest and her face hardens. “I’m talking with my friends. Why do you care?”
“All of those guys are your friends? Guys like that aren’t ‘friends’ with girls like you.”
Her head flings back as if she’s been hit. “Girls like me? What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means you're nice and sweet and naive, and those guys are looking for one thing, Anais.”
“Oh I’m guilty of being naive alright, but only where you’re concerned. I was naive to think you actually liked me. I had no clue you were just getting your rocks off.”
My chest aches at the thought of her thinking I was using her.
“That’s not how it was, Anais, and you know that.”
“No. I don’t know that. What I do know is that one minute you’re coming all over your hand because of me, and the next you’re telling me to stay away from you. You said I play games, but you’re the biggest fucking player I know,CoachMichaels.” She spins, putting her back to me, and I grab her arm.
“Anais. I’m sorry–” I start to apologize.
“Please don’t touch me. I can’t handle you being nice to me. Not anymore.” Her eyes flood with unshed tears.
“Butterfly.” I drop my hand and soften my voice.
“Don’t Bishop. Just leave me alone.” She swipes at her eye and gives me a parting look before turning around and calling out, “Hey Dex. What are you doing on Saturday?”
A pain in my heart has me clutching at my chest as I watch her walk away, carefree and happy. But not because of me.
I stare out the large glass windows and down onto the field as the game draws closer to a win. A win that will send the Wranglers to the playoffs for the second year in a row. I’m happy for my best friend, but my mood is sour as I listen to Anais’ laughter every time that douchebag Dex opens his mouth.
What the fuck kind of name is Dex, anyhow? Sounds like the name of a privileged little prick, and I want to kick his ass just for being him.
“He seems like a nice kid,” Camille says, bumping my arm with her shoulder.
I look down at the woman that I call sister, and try to smile as she beams up at me.
“Hmpf,” I reply. “How’re you feeling little mama? My niece giving you a hard time?”
“We don’t know it’s a girl, Bish.” She rubs her hand over her small belly that you can barely see under the Wranglers jersey she wears.
“Eh. I have a feeling,” I say with a wink.
I hang my arm over her shoulders and turn my attentionback to the game as the pitcher throws another strike, putting the Wranglers just one away from the win.
“You need to talk to him, Bishop.”
I look down at her, confused. “What are you talking about?”
Her eyes float over to where Anais stands and I follow her lead. “Anais. You need to talk to Phoenix about her. Clear the air and see where he stands.”
My jaw clicks when I grind my teeth together. “Why would I need to talk to Nix about her?”
