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Off-Limits 18
“He’s just worried.”“Yeah,” I slammed my locker a little too forcefully. “Well, I just wish he’d stop. Nothing even happened.”“Really?” Ashleigh gave me a pointed look. Peyton was across the hall, being pressed up against the locker by Sean.“Does she even like him?” I mused.“Does she ever?” Ashleigh shrugged. “You know you can tell me anything, right? Judgment free zone.”“I know.” I nodded. “I’d better go before she makes a scene.” I took off down the hall and knocked on the guidance counsellor’s door.“Come in,” she said, beckoning me inside.“Hey, Mrs. B.”“Take a seat, Lily.”“I know my dad probably asked you to check in on me, but it isn’t necessary—” “Sit,” she said, steepling her fingers.Reluctantly, I sat down.“How are things?”“Fine.”“Fine?” Her brow rose. “You know fine is often code for not fine.”“Well, I hate to disappoint, but everything is fine.”“Lily, I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said, feeling my throat go dry.“
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“Dude, I said shut the fuck up.”“Jeez, I’m only—” He grunted, cussing quietly under his breath, and I figured Kaiden had hit him or stamped on his foot. Either way, it shut him up.Without thinking, I glanced over my shoulder, my eyes colliding with Kaiden’s. But he didn’t acknowledge me. Just stared right through me. As if I was no one.Nothing.And I didn’t know what hurt more. That Kaiden hadn’t stood up for me when his friend had been saying all those things or that he was acting so cold now he knew the truth about who I was.But one thing was for sure…The boy I’d met at the party was long gone.KaidenI WATCHED Lily flee from the room the second Mr. Jenkins dismissed class.“She’s one crazy cookie.” I elbowed Bryan in the ribs, and he stuttered. “What the fuck, Thatch?I’m just saying, if you ask me, you had a lucky escape.”“Yeah, well, I didn’t ask you.” I stormed from the room with him hot on my heels. “Don’t tell me you actually like her?”“Doesn’t matter.” It didn’t.She w
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THE MOOD at practice was tense. Everyone felt it. Coach spent the entire time scowling as he watched us run drills and work through plays. His scrutiny burned into me from across the field. The stifling anticipation ahead of Friday’s announcement.“Okay, bring it in,” he eventually yelled after a grueling ninety minutes. Sweat rolled down my back, my jersey damp and dirty. The Raiders defensive players had been brutal today, slamming into me as if we were playing the game of our lives. It didn’t take much to figure out what was going on. I’d seen Monroe smirking, high-fiving them, and cheering them on from the sidelines. He was gunning for me and he’d roped his team in to do his dirty work.Asshole.I ripped my helmet off and traipsed over to the huddle.“Nice work out there. Monroe, nice passing,” Coach said. “I’m not sure what’s gotten into you today, Thatcher, but I suggest you leave your shit at the door tomorrow.”My spine stiffened. Gav shot me a hard look. His eyes glittering w
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“Just keep doing what you’re doing, man,” Gav said. “He’s trying to get a rise out of you. Don’t give it to him.”“Easy for you to say.”Aaron and Cole came jogging out of the building. “Hey, that was some intense shit back there. You good?” Aaron asked me, and I nodded.“Listen, I don’t know what you have planned, but we’re heading to my house if you want to come and hang?”I glanced at Bryan and Gav. They both shrugged, leaving the decision up to me.“No pressure, man,” Aaron added. “I have a pretty sweet setup though. My sister calls it the den, but it’s just an old shed my dad let me convert into a place to hang out.”“Sounds cool.”“I should probably warn you though, my dad is best friends with Coach Ford.” “Will Coach Ford be there?” I asked.“No.” Aaron chuckled. “It’s safe.”“Then let’s go.”I FOLLOWED Aaron to a big sprawling house on the edge of Rixon right by the Susquehanna River. A lot of the kids in Rixon East lived in similar houses. I always teased Bryan about his pare
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“Boys… one boy in particular. You know what I mean.” The corner of her mouth tipped. “I think you should come.”“It’s probably not a good idea.”“Because…”Because Kaiden kissed me and then couldn’t get away from me fast enough when he found out about Dad.“See. You can’t think of a reason. Let’s go.”“Poppy, I’m not sure—”“What’s the worst that can happen? You’ve been to the Bennet’s house hundreds of times. It’s familiar territory. Sofia will tease the guys for ten minutes then get bored and we can hang out in her room. I already invited Ashleigh.”“What about Peyton?”“She’s working a double shift at Cindy’s.” “She works too hard,” I murmured.“Yeah, but you know how she feels about paying her own way.”Sometimes I wondered if it was more than that. If being with us was too much of a reminder of everything she didn’t have.“Yeah, I guess.”“So you’ll come?”“I don’t—” The blare of my cell cut me off. I snatched it up and pressed it to my ear. “Hello.” “Did Poppy tell you the plans
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It was the sweetest kind of torture wanting something you couldn’t have.When it became too much watching them, I slipped away unnoticed and went inside the house. The kitchen was a huge open plan room divided into the kitchen area and a family area that had a gigantic sectional and television. I grabbed a can of soda from the refrigerator and sat down.“Sofia is that—oh, hello, Lily,” Mrs. Bennet said.“Hey, Mrs. B. I hope you don’t mind. Sofia invited us over.”“Of course not, sweetie. Where are—” Shrieks filled the air, pulling her gaze to the yard. “Why is Kaiden Thatcher in my pool?”“I guess Aaron invited him.”“I see.” Her brows furrowed. “Did you eat?”“Not yet.”“I think we have some frozen pizzas. I’ll get them out. I have a ton of work to do. Do you think you can watch them?” “Sure thing.”She paused and studied me. “Why aren’t you out there enjoying the water?” “It’s that time of the month,” I lied.“Okay,” she looked like she wanted to say more, but she didn’t, “let me gr
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“Well yeah, we are Raiders now.”That sent a ripple through the air. Because Bryan was right. They were Raiders now. Whether people liked it or not.WE STAYED at the Bennet’s until the sun sank into the tree line. I watched out the corner of my eye as the guys said goodbye.“Thanks for having us.” Kaiden and Aaron did that guy hug back slap thing. “See you at school tomorrow.”“I’m just going to use the bathroom,” I whispered to Sofia, excusing myself. The Bennet’s was quiet except for the faint rumble of noise coming from the television in the living room. Mr. Bennet had gotten home a while ago and after coming to say a brief hello and warn us about the dangers of drinking and having sex, much to the embarrassment of Sofia and Aaron, had left us to it.I made my way down the hall and slipped into the bathroom. When I was done, I washed my hands and dried them on the towel. I was on edge. Restless. My eyes darted to the ends of my braid, thinking how good it would feel to just sink my
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My fist clenched against my thigh. Maybe I should just fuck Lindsey and try to get Lily out of my system. It won’t work. No, it wouldn’t. Because she was under my skin. A place few people ever got to be. And all from one kiss in a boat shed.But it was more than that. It was her. The way she tried to disappear in a crowd. How she hugged herself tight whenever she felt uncomfortable. The way her fingers always tugged on the ends of her braid without her even realizing.I watched Lily, a lot. Around school when she didn’t even realize I was watching. Then there was AP English, when I had to sit right behind her for sixty torturous minutes every fucking day.Shutting it all out, I got changed into my football uniform and plopped down on the bench. The second Coach appeared, a ripple went through the room. Monroe caught my eye and smirked.Cocky fucker.“Okay, ladies, listen up. This wasn’t an easy task, but I have to choose a starting lineup. If your name isn’t on the list, it doesn’t me
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