“You really want to know who I’m fooling around with?” I asked.
“You’re all jumpy about it. I figured it out,” Lay said.
“Figured out what?” I asked.
“We know who it is,” Abel said. “You can’t do this, Mav.”
“Says who?” I asked.
“She cheated on you,” Reid said. “I get the idea of wanting to prove your point. But you can’t get serious with her.”
“Cheated on me?” I asked.
“Kayle,” Matias said. “No. Katie? No. Chloe?”
“Chloe,” I said. “Oh. Shit. Yeah. Chloe…”
I took a deep breath and I smiled.
“What’s funny here?” Lay asked. “We’re trying to help you. You can’t get stuck in a trap like that. She’s going to use you up, man.”
“Don’t take on that kind of project,” Abel said. “She’s letting everyone in, you know? That’s messy.”
“Am I really going to take advice from you two?” I asked.
“I’m a settled man now,” Abel said.
I pointed to Lay. “And this guy shaves his pubes into the shape of whatever animal he likes best that week.”
“Actually, I started over,” Lay said. “Clean slate… want to see?”
“No!” I yelled.
“These idiots are right,” Remi said.
“See?” Lay asked. He pointed to himself. “This idiot is right.”
I stood up. “Believe me, it’s not what you think. I haven’t talked to Chloe since-”
We all heard a huge slam from the other side of the locker room.
Then someone yelled the wordfuck.
“Coach,” Reid said.
I glanced at Remi.
He gave a nod.
We all took off running toward his office.
There was more thudding and slamming.
“Is he being attacked?” Riff asked.
“I’ll fucking kill someone if they touch Coach,” Remi said.
“Remi, let me go first,” I said. “You have a wife and a dog at home.”