Songs for Cricket by Laine, E. (ebook reader .TXT) 📕

as I was in that moment. Then she was lifted higher a second before landing on the ground. I couldn’t process what happened because a multitude of whistles blew at the same time quieting the crowd.

Orders were shouted, and the people started leaving the field. Billy had disappeared, but as the field thinned, I spotted him near Finley. August was red in the face yelling at his sister. He must have been the one to stop the improvised make out session.

Coach pointed. “Farrow . . . Banks, my office. Now. The rest of you who didn’t play, get back to your squads. Those of you who did, you’re dismissed for the day.”

There were grumbles and cheers. I moved alongside Cooper to intervene before August administered a lights out to Billy. Whatever he was saying, Billy only smirked before guiding Finley toward the complex. She didn’t meet my eye. I hadn’t congratulated her yet, which meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.

The biggest thing in my mind, considering my view had been blocked by his hands on her, was whether or not Finley had kissed or would have kissed Billy back.

Then I spotted Tori again. She looked as prim and proper as the first time we’d met. Her quietness as she stood alone appealed to me. When I caught her eye, her hesitant smile drew me in, and I walked over to her. Maybe something good could come out of what just happened.

17

finley

Once we were free of so many ears, I turned to Billy.

“Why would you do that?”

His smirk belied his words. “Do what?”

“After all of this time, you decide to kiss me now?” I challenged.

“I thought I made my interest in you pretty clear.”

He didn’t seem to be affected by my cutting stare. “You chose to kiss me in front of everyone.”

“It was as good enough time as any. You were glorious out there, and—”

Annoyed, I verbally slapped him. “And you wanted to mark me like when a dog pisses on a tree.”

His smirk vanished. “Finley, it’s not like that. It felt right, you and me.”

I knew what I should feel. Billy had been pawed like a rock star god as we’d left the field. Girls congratulated him like he’d scored the winning touchdown, not me. The hatred in their eyes cut at me as their jealousy mounted. Was I as lucky as their glares suggested? Did I . . . feel lucky?

My thoughts shuffled back to Shepard. I’d spotted him talking to Tori as we left. Rose color had filled her pretty tanned cheeks. What could he have said that had embarrassed her so? But that was a dumb question. A confession of how much he liked her could have done the trick.

Billy remained mute, just waiting. Why was I being stupid? I hadn’t yet given him the chance I promised myself I would. I’d still hoped that maybe . . .

“Please don’t do that again,” I said.

He looked properly chastened, though he said nothing more. I arrived at Coach’s office with an apology rehearsed in my head. Billy, as I would find out, had something totally different in mind.

Coach arrived red-faced and sputtering. “The two of you . . .” His gaze bounced between us. “You will not happen on my watch.”

“Yes, Coach,” I said, the same time Billy said, “There’s no rule against it.”

I glared at him. Either he hadn’t heard me or had ignored what I said.

Instead he confidently continued. “You can’t stop it.”

Coach was having none of it. “I can, and I will. As of this moment there is a no fraternization rule. Anyone who breaks it is off the team.”

My jaw locked in an open position with no words forming on my tongue.

I gave Billy my harshest look before focusing on Coach. “Of course. It won’t happen.”

Coach, no longer looking like a tomato about to explode, nodded. I made for the door with Billy right behind me.

I had just gotten the door open and was halfway out of it when Billy added, “We won’t date openly.”

Billy’s hand was at my back carrying my momentum all the way out into the hall. Whatever Coach had said in response was muffled by the closed door.

Billy didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. He pivoted me against the wall in under a second and crushed his mouth on mine. I gasped from the sudden movement, and he took advantage, sweeping his tongue over mine. I shoved him hard and glared daggers at him.

“I thought we agreed not to do this.”

I wasn’t affected by Billy’s pout. “You did. I didn’t.” He glanced around. “Besides, no one’s here.”

I jabbed a finger in the direction of Coach’s office. “You may have some pull on this team to be able to break the rules, but I don’t,” I whispered loudly, before spinning on my heels. I stopped at my locker to leave my practice jersey and shoulder pads there and then marched for the exit in my new uncut T-Shirt and shorts.

Stepping into the hallway wasn’t any better. I ran into my brothers and Shepard, who appeared a little flushed. What had he been doing?

August wasn’t any happier than he had been on the field, and he laid into me like our conversation hadn’t ended there.

“This is a mistake. He’s bad news,” he said.

Already fired up from my argument with Billy, I shot back, “How would you know that? You don’t even know him.”

“I don’t have to know him. I’m a guy. I know what he’s thinking.”

Shepard stepped in, trying to calm August as Cooper put a comforting hand on my shoulder. Though Coop was more likely trying to hold me back as August and I faced off. Only I wasn’t ready to end the battle.

“Not every guy is like you,” I said a little too late to take it back.

August’s mouth clamped shut, and immediately I regretted my words. It was a cheap shot considering I knew better than anyone he was just trying to