Page 17 of Catch
“Oh yes.”
I shake my head. “Oh no.”
“Come on, Ean, it’s like pledging. Suck it up and deal.”
“You’re as cutthroat as Jett,” I reply. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you guys were rooting for me to lose that game.”
“Us? Never.”
My brothers’ annoying smiles say otherwise.
CHAPTER 5
JETT
TWO HOURS LATER
Idon’t know why I’m nervous, but the closer my crew and I get to Ethan’s frat house, the more I want to run in the opposite direction. It doesn’t make any sense. I’m the winner, he’s the loser, and I’ve got nothing to be worried about.
My unease continues to build as we climb the steps to the house. We’re all wearing our Crew T-shirts, but mine feels like it shrunk in the wash. I tug at the collar, wondering why the hell the damn thing is suddenly so fucking tight. I can already hear what sounds like a party going on, and Archie nudges me with his elbow.
“What’s up with you?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I reply automatically.
He raises one eyebrow, and I offer a sigh.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I’m feeling off.”
“The shock of your breakup is finally sinking in?”
I shake my head.
“Oddly enough, no. I mean, I’m still rightfully pissed at Renner, but that’s not it.”
I don’t want to face Ethan. Something about the guy has all my fight-or-flight instincts kicking in. Then I realize that I’m probably overreacting. My anxiety always gets intense during competitions, and even though today was all in good fun, I guess my mind doesn’t know the difference.
Or maybe Archie’s right and it really is about Renner. Knowing that asshole cheated on me is going to take some time to deal with.
“Well, you might be onto something,” I admit.
“In a week’s time, you won’t remember his name.”
“But I’ll still see him around campus,” I grumble.
“Be grateful Renner’s not in the same department, he doesn’t live in the dorms, and he hates sports. It’s doubtful you’re going to run into him again, except maybe at socials.”
“I have a horrible feeling that Hailey was only one of many,” I confess and lower my voice. “And on that, prior to the game, I… I went to get tested. I’m fucking worried, Arch. I mean, what if he, you know, what if he gave me something?”
“Better to know now rather than later,” Archie offers with an arm around my shoulders. “At least you’re doing the right thing by getting tested early. You’re gonna be fine.”
“Always so confident.”
“Not always.” Archie smiles and shakes his head. “But I try.”
Like me, Archie was raised by his grandmother, and he doesn’t like to talk about his parents or family much because there’s nothing good to talk about. His home life was shit—his words, not mine. Archie, like every member of our crew, has fought hard to get where he is. Unlike Ethan and his frat bros, all of whom are probably legacy admissions. Then again, Ethan was good enough for a spot on the hockey team, so I suppose he has to havesometalent.
I stalk up to the door and rap on it, then I take a step back and run my hands down my thighs. My palms are damp, I’msweating through my shirt, and my face is hot. I glance around and my friends are all staring at me like they’re concerned.
