Page 36 of Everything In Between
Like how I’m feeling right now.
“Bro, look at this one.”
Jersey uses star QB to make Corey jealous: “Take me back or else”
Right below the main headline is an interview with her ex. I can’t help but notice he’s looking awfully smug in the freeze frame.
“Do you think she’s using you like this one says?” Beckett asks and I’m not sure if I want to gut punch him for asking or for sounding like he’s actually curious.
“I don’t think so.” I go for diplomacy. “She said they broke up. And you should’ve seen her. She was definitely annoyed when he showed up and tried to sit next to her.”
“Click the video.”
“No. I’m not going toclick the video.”
Beckett leans over and presses his finger to my phone screen, clicking another link before I can snatch my hand away from him. I scowl at my friend. I don’t need to see this shit.
“You gotta know for sure. You’ve only been talking to her for a few weeks, not even a month yet. Can you confidently say you know she wouldn’t be capable of doing something like this?”
I want to tell him to fuck off, but I don’t. Beckett is just looking out for me, like he always does. Grumbling, I look down at the screen, pressing play on the video even though I already know I won’t like hearing what he has to say.
“Yeah, I don’t know what else to say other than she really let me down,” Corey says on the video. “Tonight was supposed to be about us. Getting a chance to be out together, to mend bridges, and rekindle what we had before. I miss her. And I know she misses me, too. She doesn’t have to hook up with athletes to try to make me jealous. I’d take her back in a heartbeat.”
My irritation increases tenfold and I click out of the video before I can hear him spew any more of his bullshit. The media might be willing to fall for his story, but I’m not.
“Geez,” I mutter and run my hand over my hair.
“You’re sure you’re okay with this?” Beckett asks from where he stands at my side. “This is about to be your life now.”
I roll my lips together and glance down at the headline again. I can’t lie. I don’t love the thought of being the center of the media’s attention all the time. Scrolling down the page, I find more photos of me and Jersey at the gala. The two of us are sitting side-by-side at our table. She’s leaning one elbow on the table and has her chin propped up against her hand, looking at me as I tell her something. Another captures us perusing the auction items. I’m looking down at her with a look of pure adoration. My hand rests on the small of her back as her body leans into mine.
I felt so fortunate to get to spend that evening with her, even with the paparazzi crashing it at the end of the night, even with Corey Shrader running his big mouth.
“It’s going to be different. Take some getting used to,” I admit and Beckett nods. “But she’s worth it. I know that for sure.”
“Howdo you know that for sure?” I know he’s looking out for me. Beckett is a skeptic when it comes to love. “How do you know she’s not going to get in the way of your goals?Ourgoals?”
“I don’t.” I shrug. “But if that happens, then we’ll deal with it.”
“Come on, Hayes.”
I slide my phone back in my pocket and walk toward the squat rack to do my final set. “If the other night was any indication, there’s something strong between us. I’m not going to let that pass me by without taking a chance on it.”
“She’s so high profile. This could seriously affect your professional reputation.”
“Well then, it affects my reputation,” I say a bit too sharply.
“I’m just trying to protect you, man,” Beckett defends as he comes over to spot me at the rack.
“I know.” I grunt between reps. “And I appreciate it.”
“I don’t want you to jump in headfirst and risk being the one to get hurt in the end. Tell me you’ll think about it. I know she’s beautiful, but you’ve got a lot on the line, too. Like I said, you’ve barely known her for two seconds and already you’re all over the internet in a negative light. You’ve never been involved in tabloids like this before. Your name means something. To the sport and to the team.”
I grit my teeth and do two more reps before racking the bar and sitting up. I swipe my towel over my forehead and sigh. He might be right. Associating myself with Jersey Matthews and all the publicity—good and bad—she brings with her could be detrimental to my career. The career and the name I’ve worked so hard to build for myself.
Maybe he has a point. I do hardly know her. But I know Beckett, and I know he’s only looking out for me.
Begrudgingly, I look up at my best friend and give him a nod. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”
