Page 45 of Quarterback Sneak
No, but I have to go with him.Out loud I say, “Thank you for helping me earlier.” His eyes search mine, and he says nothing. I don’t know what else to say, so I take a step back, ready to go with Jace.
“Wait. I have something for you.” Zane jogs over to a picnic table nearby. When he comes back, he’s carrying a white Styrofoam box I recognize and a big pink bag—not like a gift bag. No, it’s an actual bag that you’d use for the beach or a day out. I take the bag and the box. I can already smell the orange chicken, and my stomach growls loudly.
“What is this?” I ask, lifting the pink bag.
His eyes meet mine. “Just something you needed. It’s not a big deal.” I’m pretty sure it is because it’s kind of heavy, but I don’t argue.
“Thanks, Zane,” I say softly. A strange urge to hug him comes over me. It’s so strong, I almost move on it. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to be wrapped up in those strong arms, against that hard chest. I blink as tears almost fill my eyes.
I take a step back.I must be hormonal.I don’t trust myself to not do something stupid like wrap my arms around him, so I don’t make eye contact with him. But before I can get away, he reaches out and touches my arm. I fight the instinct to lean into his touch. I don’t understand how I can be repulsed by one man’s touch and nearly crave another man’s touch, one I barely know. And yet, everything about Zane screams safety and protection. After last night, it’s just all too much. I blink back tears, feeling so alone right now. I make the mistake of looking up at him. I watch as his eyes widen in concern, and it nearly undoes me. I take another step back, dislodging his hand from my arm. “Thank you.” I can only whisper the words. And then without another word, I turn away from him, feeling like I’m doing the completely wrong thing. Honestly, it hurts me to think that I might be hurting Zane. I’m definitely not choosing Jace over him, not that Zane is even asking for anything with me. All I know is I need to end things with Jace, whether there’s anything between Zane and me.
“Be sure to eat,” Zane calls out behind me, and I nod so he knows I heard him.
“Where are we going?” I ask Jace, and I can hear the despair in my voice. If he notices, he doesn’t acknowledge it.
“We’re meeting up with Sam outside the coffee shop. She got tacos for us, but it looks like she might have wasted money on dinner for you.”
I refuse to let his words bother me; I don’t owe him anything. I walk beside him silently as we walk to the shop. I can’t help but look over my shoulder. My eyes meet Zane’s for a moment before I turn away. He’s still standing where I left him. Part of me wonders if I can hurry and talk to Jace and then get back to him. I look up at Jace and decide to just rip the band aid off. I don’t want to humiliate him in front of Sam either. “Jace.” He glances down at me. “I don’t want—”
“Shh,” he says, interrupting me.
“What?” I ask in confusion.
“I know what you’re trying to do, and I’m not going to let you.”
I stop walking and stare up at him. “You’re not going to let me?”
“You’re trying to break up with me, and I’m not going to let you.” His eyes become earnest. “I messed up, Evie. I acknowledge that, but I’m not going to let you throw this away just because I made a mistake. Don't give up on us so fast. Is that how little you value relationships? You run the first time we have a fight?”
His words shock me into silence.Is that what I’m doing?
“Come on, Evie. Fight for us.”
He takes my silence for agreement because he starts walking again, and I’m forced to hurry to catch up with him. We reach the table where Sam is sitting before I’m ready. “Hey, Lovebirds.” I swallow and try not to visibly react. “Are you hungry?” I pull out a chair and sit across from her, feeling numb. Jace sits next to me, and I fight the urge to lean away from him when his leg touches mine. “What’s that?” she asks, nodding at my box.
Jace grunts. “Just Blackwood butting in where he’s not invited.”
Sam narrows her eyes at me. “Is he messing with you?”
I blink in confusion. “Zane?” A strangled laugh comes out, but this is anything but funny. They both stare at me, and I resist the urge to sigh. “No, Zane isn’t messing with me.”
Chapter 21
Evie
Sam gives me a look of concern and then exchanges a look with Jace. “Are you sure, Evie?” She reaches out and puts her hand on mine. “Do you want Jace to talk to him?”
I shake my head at the ridiculousness of all this. I open my box of orange chicken and half fried rice and half chow mein. It smells so good, but suddenly, I don’t feel like I could eat a single bite. I close the lid and face Jace. “Jace, I’m sorry; but I don’t want this to continue.” I swallow hard, feeling so uncomfortable, especially when his face falls.
“What are you doing?” Sam asks.
I take a deep breath. “This just isn’t going to work out.”
“You guys are perfect for each other. What’s not to work?” Sam asks in obvious confusion.
I don’t want to throw Jace under the bus, but I also need them both to understand. Jace surprises me by speaking up first. “I blew it last night on our date.”
She turns to him, eyes narrowed. “What’d you do?”
