Page 28 of Go Deep (A Bad Boy Sports Romance)
10
Cassidy
Sunday morning came around, and I read Slade’s text from Saturday night after the game, probably while he was pissed drunk at the after party. I didn’t reply because I wasn’t sure how to respond. We had moved into uncharted territory, and there was no guide book for this transition.
Miranda was missing in action all day Sunday, so there was no one to talk to about what seemed to be happening here. Not that I was ready to tell her, but I thought for sure she’d be around to try and drag it out of me. She was probably crashing somewhere after the frat party. I didn’t understand how she was able to maintain it, or how she didn’t get herself in trouble. Neither of us were old enough to be drinking, not that being underage ever stopped anyone on campus. Then again, maybe that was why she always went to parties instead of bars. It was easier to score drinks underage if no one was inclined to card her. That still didn’t explain how she was able to manage a double major while getting sloshed every weekend. But she wasn’t my problem, I reminded myself. Slade, on the other hand, apparently was.
We’d crossed a line when we slept together, and even though I’d had a couple of college one-night stands before, this was the first one to haunt me every day since. I’d managed to keep my distance since that night, but some unknown force made me go talk to him after last night’s game. I guess I felt bad for him, with the crowd practically ready to string him up to a light post for his choices. Seeing him looking all defeated didn’t help either.
I spent Sunday failing in my effort not to think about it and trying to ignore his text message that was still unanswered on my phone. After a while, I did my best to get through my other coursework and prepare myself for the week ahead. By the time I went to bed Sunday night, Miranda still wasn’t back. I was concerned, but only slightly. She had a way of getting carried away with her paranormal buddies at times.
Monday morning rolled around and Miranda was back in our dorm as usual. As was our usual start of the week routine, we got dressed and headed to the coffee shop down the street from our dorm.
“That was some game Saturday night,” I said over my coffee, as this was the first real block of time we’d had to chat since then.
“It was. What the hell was going on out there on the field?” Miranda asked. “It was like they forgot about their plays and were just scampering around the field aimlessly.”
“I don’t know.” I caught myself defending Slade again. “They tried. There was some fierce competition from the other team too.”
She looked at me, eyebrows cocked and head tilted, as though I’d grown an extra head while we sat there. “Have you gone crazy? Or are you making excuses for your boyfriend?”
“Please, Miranda.” I tried to dismiss the boyfriend part, but she was right that I was making excuses. I really was going soft on him.
“Slade could have done more to help win that game. Evan was standing there wide open.Wide open,” she stressed again, shaking her head. “If he’d just passed the ball to Evan, the game would have ended differently.”
“You don’t know that, Miranda.”
“Nope. I’m sure of it. Slade got spooked by how aggressive the defensive line had become, and made a bad call when he decided to run the ball. Dumbass.”
“I don’t know,” I continued holding out. Something was going on with Slade. He’s missed our project meetings, and lately he looked tired and preoccupied all the time, even on the field.
My phone buzzed on the table, and Miranda looked over at it.
“Maybe that’s him now, calling to let you know he won’t be in class. Something’s up, Cassidy. You should keep an eye on him.”
“Since when is he my responsibility?” I picked up the phone and checked the number. “And it’s his brother, Shawn, for your information. I’ve got to take this call while I head to class, hun. See you this afternoon at practice.” I got up and walked outside, keeping my eyes open so I didn’t run into anyone again.
“Hi Shawn,” I answered, curious. He’d never call this time of day normally. “Is everything all right?”
“Hey, Cassidy. Yes, everything’s fine. I only have a minute, but I wanted to ask you something.”
My heart sank into my stomach. Shawn was my best friend, and all the other times when he’d started a conversation with‘I wanted to ask you something’,it meant‘we need to talk’. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
“Okay.” I swallowed hard.
“Did you sleep with Slade?” he asked flat out.
“What?”
“Come on, Cassidy. Did you sleep with Slade?”
“Where is this coming from, Shawn?” I had to say something to avoid a direct answer. And really, I was curious about why he’d called out of the blue and only to ask me about whether I’d done the nasty with Slade.
“Answer the question.”
“You know how I feel about your brother, Shawn.”
“Yeah, I think I do. I think I’ve known for a long time. And you’re still not answering my question, which makes me sure the answer is yes. Look, you told me you two were working together on a project, and then you started defending him on that very same call. So, tell me, have you slept with my brother?” I could hear in his tone that he wasn’t about to back down until I answered.
