SAM: Hey, girl!
SAM: Want to hit the track tomorrow after school?
ME: Got cleanup duty with Preach first, but after?
SAM: SURE!
ME: Sweet. Could I ask you a major favor?
SAM: Of course!
SAM: What’s up?
ME: Is there any way you could give me a ride to school tomorrow?
SAM: Of course!
SAM: Preach have something going on in the morning?
I snuck a peek at him, and a swirl of heat ignited in my belly. It was more like what was up with me. By the way Preach acted at the track today, he would have been perfectly content spending the rest of our practice kissing under the bleachers.
But I wasn’t. Icouldn’tbe.
Being around him for community service, training sessions, and track…that was enough. I was thinking about him too much, and I needed to calm it down. Ineededsome space from him.
ME: Eh, just need a break.
SAM: Fair enough.
SAM: Text me your address!
ME: Thanks. I owe you.
Chapter Twenty
Preach
“Oh, sonowyou’re ready to talk?” Brodie shoved by me and then stomped down the hall toward the cafeteria.
“Come on, man,” I said, chasing after him.
He’d legit dodged me this past weekend, including the entire day yesterday, and we’d been off school. He’d stayed at Willow’s until late, then came straight home and shut the door to his bedroom. He’d even taken Caleb with him over to Willow’s.
Dammit, I sure messed up.
We’d fought before. But only once, when he’d lied to me about dating Willow while she was on the team. It’d ended with me tackling him. It had taken a while, but we managed to work through things. He had to know how sorry I was, and texting it to him wasn’t enough. I had to own up for being an asshat to him these past few weeks.
I raced after him and caught him as he made it to the cafeteria. He reached for the door handle but I shoved him to the side. He whipped around, his face red and his jaw tense.
“Hear me out, then I’ll be scarce.” I showed him my hands in surrender. “Seriously. I’m sorry, man. I screwed up royally. I get that.”
“Do you, Preach?” Brodie leaned in. “Because I seem to remember some pretty pointed texts telling me to fuck off.”
“I was drunk. I—”
“Drunk.” He shook his head. “Preach Armstrong drunk. Dude, we’ve been friends since the fourth grade. You’ve been by my side through some major shitstorms. I was trying to be there for you through this and you turn to Pax?”
“I’m an idiot.”