Pulling my cell from my pocket, I find her contact and shoot her a message. It’s a long shot, but I can’t help myself.
Zayn: Are you still in school?
It’s read instantly, but no reply comes.
Lifting my hand to my head, I rub my palm over my short hair.
I want to fix this. I want to make Preston leave her the fuck alone and I want to do things to her that I really fucking shouldn’t, but I can’t help thinking that both of those things have disaster written all over them.
In just one afternoon, I had beaten the shit out of Hellburn and I’ve almost gotten Poppy off in the locker room. Where the hell is this going next?
The fact I haven’t already been dragged into Hartmann’s office surprises me. I touched him on school grounds. If I were smart about this—and clearly, I’m not—then I would have waited until after our session this afternoon. Organized to meet him somewhere neutral, not have a fake note sent to him pretending that Coach wanted to meet him before the last class of the day. It was stupid and I need to be smarter where he’s concerned if I’m going to do anything about getting him off Poppy’s back.
“So?” Shane asks as he follows me to my truck and falls into the passenger seat.
“Ugh,” I complain, dropping my head to the headrest behind me.
“Hellburn had it coming to him.”
“Agreed. But why today, what’s happened?”
“You gotta keep this to yourself, man.”
He nods. I don’t even need to ask, I know it goes without saying.
“He’s bullying Poppy.”
Shane’s eyes go wide. “Poppy? Poppy as in Jake’s Poppy?”
“The one and only,” I say, something I’m not sure I like swelling in my chest at the thought of her.
“Fuuuck. Has that prick got a death wish?”
“I’m starting to wonder if he has, yeah.”
“Jake doesn’t know—”
“Obviously,” Shane adds.
“I don’t think anyone really knows. She’s kept it well hidden but I fear this might have been going on for a while.”
“Right. Okay,” he says as he digests what I’m saying. “So what are we going to do about it?”
I glance over at him, my lips curling at his need to help with this.
Shifting in my seat a little, I think for a second.
“I have no fucking clue. He needs to be taught a good fucking lesson, though.”
“More so than you did today?”
“You saw the smirk on his face all afternoon. He was fucking loving it.”
“He just wants the attention. Probably his reason for going after Poppy in the first place. That guy craves the spotlight and he’s desperate to fill Jake’s shoes next year.”
“Not gonna happen.”
“We know that. Jake and Coach know that. But apparently he never got the memo.”
“Fucking hell,” I sigh.
“You gonna tell me the rest of it, or just leave me guessing.”
“The rest of it?”
I glance over to find his eyebrow raised as he stares at me.
“Chelsea and I saw you New Year’s Eve, man. You might not have claimed victory on that tag, but I know you won.” His eyes sparkle with delight.
“Fuck.” I run my hand down my face, scratching at my jaw.
“This is more than fighting for Poppy’s honor because of Jake, isn’t it?”
“I… I just… fuck.”
“Oh, bro. You are so fucked.” He chuckles.
“That’s it, laugh it up.”
“I’m sorry, it’s just nice to focus on someone else’s drama for a little bit.”
“How’s Chelsea doing?” I ask, desperate for the conversation change.
“She’s good, man. She’s got a little bump going on, it’s pretty awesome.” His eyes go all soft and sappy, and as much as I want to rib him for it. I just can’t.
“I’m happy for you, man. Maybe a little freaked out for you, but happy nonetheless.”
He laughs at me before his face turns serious once more and he looks over at me.
“Nice try, by the way. What about Ruby?”
“What about Ruby?”
“I thought you wanted her?”
“Nah, she’s hot, but it’s just casual fun between us.”
“Does she see it that way, she seems pretty keen, man.”
“Yeah, yeah she does.” I think back to the last party where Ruby and I fooled around, I remember the sadness in her eyes every time she looked at me. It was like she was disappointed that I wasn’t someone else. I know Harley is worried, she said that something had happened with a guy last year but I don’t know the details, but she was never interested before whatever that was. Now, it’s like she just needs an escape. I was always happy to provide that service. I figured it was better me than some of the other guys who might take things too far.
Ruby might act like she’s playing it easy, but I see the barriers she’s built up around herself. She doesn’t really want to be one of the cheer sluts, she’s just lost and trying to find where she fits in life now.
Shane raises a brow but he doesn’t push any further.
“So the girl in the locker room earlier was Poppy then, I assume.”
“Yep, she stormed in to rip me a new one for getting involved with Preston.”
“She told you to leave it alone?”
“Sure did. I rearranged that fucker’s face anyway.”
We both let out a sigh, probably both thinking of the mistakes I’ve made already.
“You should listen to her.”
“That’s just the thing, she won’t tell me anything. I think… I think it’s bad, but she won’t admit it. Just keeps trying to brush it under the rug.”
“Then maybe stop trying to force her, just—”
“But what if something happens?”
He shrugs. “You want to help her, support her, then you just need to be there. Do as she asks and stop trying to be the hero that she doesn’t want.”
“Fuck me, Shane. Where’d all this sensible advice come from?”
“I’m about to be a dad, I need to start figuring shit out.”
Silence fills the car for a beat as I think about what he just said.
“Thanks, man. I needed that.”
“Anytime, and if shit gets really desperate, I know a couple of girls who can help with all the advice you might need.”
“Please, don’t…”
“Tell anyone about this?” He guesses when I trail off. “No worries there. I’ve been on the end of Thorn’s fists, not a place I want to be again, I can tell you that much.”
“Great.”
“You need to tell him.”
“Doesn’t that kinda go against your previous advice to just be what she needs?”
“Uh… fuck. Yeah, I guess it does. Okay then, well. How about just watch your back. When he finds out you’re banging his cousin he’s going to be after your balls.”
“I’m not banging her.”
“But you want to, and you always get what you want, so…”