Page 80 of Breaking Rules
Chapter Twenty-Three
MONTANA
After droppingoff my college applications to the guidance counselor, Ms. Shepard, I headed down to the football field. Mom and I had filled out the college paperwork the night before. We had also talked more about Nina and how I believed she was the person setting me up. Mom had said something similar to what Elvira had. It wasn’tifNina would get caught; it waswhen. I was hanging on that cliché, but I also had to work more on Ferris. I would bet my life that he knew something. Maybe if I confronted him without Train, he would be more open with me.
Speaking of my swoon-worthy boyfriend, he and I had spoken right before I went to bed. We’d chatted more about college than about Nina, Ferris, or what had happened that day. He was stoked that I’d applied to USC’s art program.
I thought it would be cool to attend the same college as my boyfriend. I giggled at the word “boyfriend.” Nikko had been the last steady guy I’d dated, and that was over two years ago. But I was high on Train. My heart was on board too, although at the moment, I was worried.
Train hadn’t shown up for school. I’d called with no luck. I’d also sent several texts but received no response. Reagan and Elvira had no clue. My stomach was in a ball of knots. I hadn’t eaten. I was on the verge of freaking out. In history class, I asked Austin where Train was. He didn’t know and couldn’t get ahold of Train, either.
The odd thing was I hadn’t seen Nina at all in school, which also made me think that Train and Nina were together. He’d wanted to talk to her, but if he was with her, she wouldn’t have let him talk. Instead, she would have stripped him naked.
He wouldn’t let her do that.I didn’t know Nina that well, but she’d shown me enough of her personality that I knew she would do whatever she needed to do to get Train. And since he wasn’t the type of guy to hurt a girl, he might not have a way to stop her.
I navigated the halls down to the locker room. Since school had let out about thirty minutes ago, the guys were probably changing. Before I checked the locker room, I stuck my head into Coach’s office. Mom had heard back from Joey Dennison.
I knocked.
He lifted his head from his computer.
“I came down to tell you that Joey Dennison is in Europe. I’m sorry.” Mom had gotten an email yesterday, explaining that he was on vacation.
Coach frowned. “Thanks anyway.”
“Maybe he can help out next season.” I didn’t know that for sure, but I felt bad for Coach. His face had brightened when he found out that my mom had dated Joey.
“Sounds good.” He resumed reading his computer screen.
I bounced down the hall, and as I approached the locker room, my stomach tightened. Maybe Train was having second thoughts about us, considering I attracted trouble, and he couldn’t let anything jeopardize his USC scholarship.Stop thinking the bad thoughts.The voice in my head was having a jolly time, leading me to believe the worst.
I rolled my shoulders back as I entered the stinky room, my gaze searching every boy who was either stripped down to his skivvies or shirtless. The voices hummed but died when the guys laid eyes on me. Derek jumped off the bench and blocked me with his hulking physique.
I peeked around him to no avail. “I’m looking for Train.”
He folded muscled arms over his equally sculpted chest. “He’s not here.” His tone was curt.
“Bull.” I stepped around him.
He blocked me again. “Do yourself a favor and wait until after practice.”
Sweet Lou, Elvira’s new beefy boyfriend, sidled up to Derek. “Train is in the weight room, Montana.” His voice was friendly as he glared at Derek. “Please remember that things are not always what they seem.”
I pushed Derek out of my way, although he let me. “Nina’s in there, isn’t she?”
I kept my gaze ahead until Austin emerged from in between a bank of lockers, dressed in his football pants and no shirt. His blond hair was pulled back with a black bandana. “Montana, he’s only trying to get answers.”
Nina wouldn’t give Train any answers, not ones that were true.
“Austin,” I warned.
He slid out of my way, clearing my path to the door that seemed ominous ahead. When I glanced through the window, a knife went through my heart, and I lost my breath.
Train had Nina pinned against the punching bag like he’d done to me. I saw stars, bright and blinding, and flattened my hand on the wall to keep me upright. It sure didn’t look as if Train was trying to get any answers.
Nina was touching Train’s face as she batted her eyelashes up at him. If that wasn’t painful to see, then her hand on his ass was enough to make me vomit. Scratch that. Bile rose quickly into my throat when I finally absorbed Train in nothing but his boxer briefs.
With my pulse beating loudly in my ears, I pictured ripping out Nina’s thin hair, strand by strand. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with Train. Whether he was talking to her or not, he was too fucking close to her, and that closeness was driving that knife further through my heart.
