Page 33 of The Golden Boys
I manage to smile despite still feeling bad for having caused a disturbance in her home.
“Don’t sweat it,” she assures me. “It’ll take more than some stupid post to scare me off, New Girl.”
She’s tough, and those are the kinds of friends needed to weather a storm. We might, literally, be from different sides of the track, but it seems we’re still cut from the same cloth. West may have gone out of his way to make me feel like an outsider, but I told him he wouldn’t win.
And I meant it.
* * *
@QweenPandora: Ashes, ashes, we all fall DOWN! Too soon PrincessParker? Let’s hope that nasty spill doesn’t mean an early end to your dance season. But don’t cry too hard, Princess. I hear KingMidas made sure you got the help you needed right away. Hopefully, NewGirl doesn’t take it to heart that her boo might still be hot for an old flame. You know what they say, a king with two queens may as well burn down his own palace. Actually, no one said that, but I should totally start putting this stuff on t-shirts.
Later, Peeps.
—P
* * *
Chapter 10
WEST
We’re all at our best this year, well-conditioned and completely focused. Every practice, we’re showing improvement. In the very least, we’ve got State semifinals on lock, which willdefinitelyup the ante for college next fall.
With NCU’s star quarterback set to graduate next spring, this is guaranteed to put me in the running for their QB-1 slot. With any luck, my soon-to-be coach, Coach Wells, will allow it.
“So, Pandora got it right, huh?”
The question jars me from my thoughts, and as I glance over my shoulder, I catch Austin’s nosey ass waiting for a reply.
“What are you talking about?” There’s a clear lack of interest in my tone, as I toss my helmet into the locker with the rest of my gear. Somehow, he misses it. Slipping off my jersey, I’m down to just pants and ready to shower.
“She says you and that new chick are into each other,” Austin clarifies, filling me in on what the queen of gossip has had to say about my run-ins with Southside.
“What’s her name again?” Trip asks. “Blue or something?”
“It’s weird, but she’s hot enough that I don’t really care.” Now Ryder’s getting in on this, too, and things are quickly headed in the wrong direction.
Up to this point, only my brothers and Parker and her girls know Southside has a target on her back, but now I’m thinking I should’ve cast a wider net. Should’ve known my boys couldn’t look past a set of nice tits and an ass any one of us would happily eat a meal off of.
But that’s beside the point.
“So, you hitting that or what, West?” Austin finally gets to the point he’s been trying to make all along.
This conversation might take a while, so I get comfortable, lowering to straddle the bench.
“Depends,” I say calmly. “There a reason you’re asking so many questions?”
When I peer up at him, it looks like he regrets bringing it up. Only, now, there’s nothing left to do but follow through at this point.
“Just saying, it’d make sense that she knocked Parker on her ass today in gym. You know, if you two have a thing,” he explains.
The fact that he wasn’t even there, and yet already has the play-by-play isn’t a surprise. Not at this school. Not in this city.
A frustrated sigh leaves my mouth. I’m tired, drenched in sweat, andthisidiot wants to gossip like a couple grannies sipping tea on the porch.
“I mean, cause let’s just put it out there,” Trip jumps in again, “chick’s sexy ashell. There’s all kinds of fun I could have with a body like that,” he adds. “You know, if you’re not already hooking up with her, that is.”
That’s his attempt at showing respect if, in fact, I do confirm that Blue and I are a thing.