“Nate,” I sighed.
“Relax. I’m not looking to spill all your deepest, darkest secrets to anyone. Even if I wanted to, it’s not like I have anyone to tell.” He shrugged.
“Sorry, that was rude. I’m just a little on edge.”
“Things with Washington not going well?”
“I… what?”
“Come on, it wasn’t hard to figure out. The two of you are—”
“He decided I wasn’t worth it.”
“Ouch. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. But I didn’t bring you out here to talk about my relationship with Zane. I need some advice.”
His brows furrowed. “You have met me, right? I’m not sure any advice I can give you is—”
“Zane’s in trouble. At least, I think he is. And I’m trying really hard not to get involved because he made it clear that he wants nothing to do with me. But it’s not in my nature to do nothing. Not when my friends are in trouble.”
And Zane was more than a friend. Even if I would never be more to him. Even if he didn’t want it, he owned a piece of my heart now.
“I’ll remember that in the future.” Nate winked, and I rolled my eyes.
“Can you be serious for just a second?”
“Shit, sorry.” His expression sobered. “Go on, I’m listening.”
“Chloe said—”
“Of course little Carter is involved somehow. I swear to fucking God, she’s trouble wrapped up in a—”
“NATE!” His eyes widened at the sheer frustration in my voice. “This is serious. Zane borrowed money off a loan shark and Chloe is worried about what might happen. They all are.”
“Fuck, that’s…” He dragged a hand down his face. “Fuck. It sounds all kind of messed up, yeah. But I’m not sure what you want me to do about it.”
I wasn’t until this moment. But then it hit me, like the sunrise burning off the lingering morning haze.
“I’d offer to help him out,” he went on. “But my parents don’t exactly give me free reign of my trust fund. I’m not deemed ‘trustworthy’ enough.” He air quoted the word.
“I’m not asking you to give him money,” I clarified as the plan unfolded in my mind. “But I do need your help.”
Zane
“Tell me I’m seeing things.”Kye said, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.
It was the end of the third quarter, and the Hawks were leading by two touchdowns.
But my head wasn’t in it. So much so, Coach had benched my sorry ass after the first quarter when I got into a scuffle with one of the visiting team’s players.
“Chloe invited Miller?” Nix asked, accepting a bottle of water off another player. He popped the cap and chugged half the thing down.
“Thirsty?” I asked, quirking a brow.
“Unlike some of us, I actually work my ass off on the field.”
“That pussy had it coming.” I shrugged with indifference. He shouldn’t have gotten all up in my face and then maybe he wouldn’t have found my fist cracking against his nose.