All Chapters of The Captain Wants Me Back!: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Joey's POVIt was strange being at a table with Gabriel. As a tutor, I was supposed to be steady and in control, but every part of me still felt like it was staring at my phone four years ago, waiting for an explanation that never came."Actually," I said, before I could think better of it, "give me one second. I need to run to the restroom."He looked confused, but then said, "Sure. Take your time."I didn't wait for anything else. I grabbed my folder as if I needed it, even though I didn't, and walked out of the library fast enough that it probably looked less like a bathroom break and more like an escape.Which, honestly, it was.The restroom down the hall was empty. Thank God, because I didn't think I could hold myself together in front of another human being for even thirty more seconds.I gripped the edge of the sink and looked at myself in the mirror. It was the same face, the same tired eyes of the same girl who had danced with a gold mask while Gabriel sat just twenty feet awa

Gabriel's POVThe library was packed by the time we got there for our next session. Apparently, some study group was going on here.The week had flown by with my routine of practice, school, the club, and following Joey behind. Except this time at the club, I made sure to sit somewhere where she wouldn't see me.If she saw me there often, then it would be so weird. She might either think that I suspected she was Natasha or that I was into those kinds of things now.If only she knew I was only into her.Joey stood in the doorway for a second, scanning the room like she might spot a miracle table hiding somewhere, then sighed and looked at me."There's a café two blocks over," she said. "It's usually quieter during this time of the day."I nodded. "That could work."Without replying, she turned and walked away.This was the first time we'd spoken after our last session. Though things were less awkward, she didn't seem happy for some reason.We strode into the cafe without uttering a wor

Gabriel's POVI didn't sleep. I couldn't.I lay on top of my covers most of the night with the lights off and my phone face-down on the nightstand, staring at the ceiling and trying not to think about the café door swinging shut behind her, which, of course, meant I thought about nothing else.By the time my alarm went off for practice, I'd gotten maybe two hours, and it showed.Coach caught it in the first fifteen minutes.I missed a snap I would normally catch easily and messed up a route I could run in my sleep. By the third bad rep, he blew his whistle and called me out in front of everyone—shit—which was exactly the kind of attention I didn’t need.“Davenport. Head in the game or head to the bench. Your choice.”I mumbled something about not getting enough sleep and tried to focus again, but my mind kept drifting every few minutes.Roland caught up with me at water brea

Gabriel's POV"Davenport, eyes up."Coach's voice cut through the whistle noise, and I caught the ball a half-second late, fumbling it against my chest before I finally got a grip.It wasn't a disaster like the last few days, but it wasn't good either."Sorry, Coach.""Don't be sorry. Be here," he sighed.I nodded, jogged back into formation, and tried again. And again.I had decided to focus on practice and not continue thinking about Joey for a while.But that sucked.We were running the last set of the morning when a peculiar ripple went through the practice field.Heads turned, and backs straightened.Coach's expression did the thing it always did, somewhere between respect and irritation, undecided whether to be honored or annoyed that his practice had just become a spectator event.I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. I felt it in my spine before I saw him.Jeremiah Davenport was standing at the edge of the field like he still had a locker in this building, hands in

Gabriel's POV"I was shocked too when I found out she goes here," I said too fast, the words out of my mouth before I'd even finished thinking it through. "And no, there's nothing between us. She's not...we're not anything. I already told you that."Each word hurt."You did tell me that," Dad said. "I just don't believe you.""That's not my problem.""It becomes your problem the second I decide to make it one. You know how easy it would be for me to confirm the truth, Gabriel. One phone call. I have people whose entire job is confirming things far more complicated than whether my son is lying to my face over lunch."My heart slammed against my ribcage, but I didn't let it show. "Then make the call.""I don't need to make a call." He reached into his jacket, unhurried, and pulled out his phone. "I already made it."I watched him unlock the screen, thumb moving across it, and something in my chest started tighten