It wasn’t in my plan to ever be anyone’s dirty little secret.
“I’m going to ask Coach if I can ride back with you and Jessa,” Nix said.
“Seriously?” My brow arched.
“Fuck off, Z. You don’t get it.”
“No, I really don’t.”
They couldn’t even go a couple of hours without seeing each other. It was fucking embarrassing.
“You should ride with the team,” Harleigh said, kissing the corner of his mouth. “You get to sleep with me all night.”
“Damn right, I do.”
“I should probably ask Celeste if she wants to ride with us.”
“It’s fine, she can ride with me,” Nate said, and my eyes snapped to his, a strange crackle going through the air.
“Relax, man. I’m not into her like that.”
“None of my business if you are.” I got up. “I’ll be outside.”
I walked straight out of the diner, ignoring the calls of my teammates. The air was frigid, my breath turning to fog as I exhaled.
Pulling out my cell phone, I dialed Grams.
“Zane Thackeray. You’re late.”
“Sorry, we stopped at a diner. Coach treated us to dinner. I would have called soon—”
“Hush now. You called, that’s all that matters.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. I-I was hoping you’d take me to the center again tomorrow. Mr. Clarkson called. He might have some information for me.”
“On a Saturday?”
“He’s very committed to his job.”
“Sounds like he needs to get laid if you ask me.” My mouth twitched.
“Well, I didn’t. And don’t be so crude. He seems like a very nice man.”
“I’m sure he is.” The smile dropped off my face as I added, “You’ll be okay until I get home?”
“I’ll be fine. Nothing’s changed yet.”
But it would if she couldn’t get the treatment.
The hollow pit inside me yawned wide open.
“Okay, bye.”
She said goodbye and hung up, leaving me cold and angry.
It was bullshit.