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

I popped on my headphones and tapped on the incoming file Shepard had sent me.

Melodious guitar strings thrummed in my ear with a drum beat in the background before his lyrical words chimed in.

To Cricket

I want to tell her how I feel

How amazing she is

How much she appeals;

Cause life’s too short

I want her to be with me

I want to be an us

I want there to be a we

You and me;

I didn’t know I had tears in my eyes as his words continued until Billy slid into the empty seat next to me. I pressed pause wanting to experience Shepard’s song by myself.

“Are you okay?”

I quickly wiped my tears away.

“I’m fine,” I said, studiously not looking at him. “I’ve got something in my eye.”

It had to be the lamest excuse ever, but he seemed to buy it.

“I know this is your first game, but we’ve got your back.”

“Thanks,” I said, keeping my face forward.

“You know I think it sucks what’s happening to Shepard.”

His words caught my attention, and I faced him.

He shrugged. “I don’t like the guy, but he’s getting a crap deal.”

I didn’t know what I’d been hoping for when he brought up Shepard. Whatever it was, I didn’t get it. I turned away to stare out the window.

“You know, she’s done this before.”

I spun around so fast I might have gotten whiplash.

“She has?” I asked.

He shrugged again. “Last year. This guy on the team left school because she said similar things about him. We all assumed . . .” I didn’t have to guess at what. “But now again with Shepard. Either she’s got the worst luck or . . .”

“She’s lying,” I said unabashedly. “Do you know the guy’s name?”

He thought for a second. “He left before the season started.” His head tipped up as I kept my rapt attention on him. “He was a freshman . . . I think his name was . . . Lonnie.” He tapped his index finger on his lips before he snapped his finger. “I think it’s Lonnie Carter, or something like that.”

“Thanks,” I said, making a mental note of the name.

I didn’t want to think she made another false claim against Lonnie, but it was worth looking into. I felt my mood lift.

We arrived almost seven hours later after stopping along the way for dinner. Before we got off the bus, we were given our room assignments. I was one of the last.

“Farrow, you’re with Farrow,” Coach said, glancing at me and then back at his clipboard.

“Can’t my brothers share a room and me be alone?”

Coach didn’t look up. “I have Farrow with Connel . . .” He stopped.

“See, I can have my own room,” I said.

One of my brothers, probably August, had been slated to share a room with Shep.

He finally glanced up. “Sorry, Farrow. For legal and safety reasons, it’s best if you stay with one of your brothers.”

Cooper lifted a hand, and Coach handed us a set of key cards.

“Looks like you have a room of your own,” he said to August.

I rolled my eyes and went off with Cooper in search of our room. After I got the door open, Cooper didn’t follow me in. I turned, and he stood in the doorway.

“I’ll bunk with August.”

He didn’t need to add that I shouldn’t advertise that. He was doing me a favor.

“Thanks,” I said and closed the door.

I flopped on the first bed and wished Shepard was there covering me with his big body and kissing down my cheek to my . . .

A knock sounded. I got to my feet and plodded over, certain Cooper had either been caught or August sent him back to babysit me. I thrust the door open and said his name ready to argue with his return.

“Cooper.”

32

shepard

The news I’d gotten Friday morning from the lawyer Sawyer and Shelly had arranged for me hadn’t been good. Though everyone had thought it would be resolved before week’s end, it hadn’t happened. The cops were still analyzing the latest video Finn had provided them. The university’s administration had also not lifted my ban, so there was no way for me to play in the first game.

Watching Finley walk away that morning had been hell. I’d spent the day trying to find a way to get to Houston. Everything was out of my price range, including a bus ticket, or it would get me there too late, way after she would have gone to bed.

I’d resigned myself to watching the game on TV. Yet, there I stood.

The door opened, and I heard her say, “Cooper.”

She looked like an angel, a gift I didn’t deserve. I quelled her shock at seeing me by stepping forward, taking her face in my hands, and kissing the hell out of her as the door clicked shut behind us.

“How?” she asked when I gave her a second to breathe, while moving us further in the room.

“Cooper. He showed up, gave me his car keys, and told me to take the car.”

“I owe him big time.”

Cooper was often underestimated.

“He made it pretty clear that I needed to be here.”

He’d told me as much as he liked me as a friend and thought his brother was being a dickhead, he was doing this for Finley. We agreed that she deserved to have everyone she cared about at her first game. He’d shown up around lunch and had me drop him off at school. I’d followed the bus all the way to Houston. When they’d parked, I’d waited. Cooper said he’d text me Finley’s room number. And sure enough, he had.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said with the biggest grin.

I scooped her up, urging her legs around my waist, and brought our lips close together.

“So am I.” When she wiggled herself against me, I set her down on the bed. “We aren’t having sex. You need your rest. Tomorrow is a big day.”

She gaped at me. “You can’t be serious. That’s superstition.”

It was a thing that having sex before a