Chapter 30

**Zander**

I was pissed when I walked into that locker room. Royal was pissing me off with this whole Winter thing. A part of me wishes he would just fuck her like I did and get it over with. I knew that’s exactly what he wanted to do. He wouldn’t stop all these dick moves until he got a piece of her. He wouldn’t though. Not with Hailey hot on his trail this time. I understood why he didn’t want to cheat on her. I should feel bad for how I treated Amber just now, but she would never know. None of them would know. Not for sure at least. I knew they would probably suspect something since it took me so long to come back from the house, but Winter had put up a fight. It was a good excuse. I didn’t want anyone to know right now. I think it was better off my dirty little secret.

I didn’t normally keep secrets from the guys. I always told them everything, but this with Winter was critical if I was going to get her back to where she was. She might not be ready to be shared again. She might not be over what happened in the past. I still wish I could have found out who sent out those pictures. I know she thinks it was us for something she did, but we would have never done that. We may share her, but that's as far as it goes. We don’t share her with the rest of the world.

“Where have you been?” Saint asked from his locker. He was putting on a new lock. I am guessing the coach must have gotten him a new one or had one handy. I still needed to go out and buy one, but I was pretty sure no one would touch my stuff. Winter was the only person who was stupid enough to do that; she already had learned that lesson. All I got to say is if it was anyone else, it wouldn’t have been so nice. Saint is different though. He is more protective over his things. I don’t blame him. He grew up differently than I did. Still lived differently. Saint wasn’t rich like the rest of us. He came from the other side of town which was known as the bad side of town. It was dangerous over there. I knew it was dangerous where Saint lived. It’s one of the reasons I've never been to his house. I met his mother, but I had never seen his father. I think there is a reason for that too.

I shrugged at his question. “I had to drop Winter off. She wasn’t exactly going easy.” I told him. He nodded. He knew how she could be sometimes. She was stubborn, but eventually, she would break it and come willingly. That’s how we got her the first time. She was stubborn in doing things with us, but she soon came around. If that’s what we had to do another time, then that would be it. I just wish I could get everyone else on board. I knew Saint would be. Cyrus, I never knew what he was thinking, but I was sure he would also be on my side. No one would be on Royals in leaving her alone.

“You know, I think Amber was looking for you as well.” He said scratching the back of his head.

“And? What did she want?” I didn’t have time to think about her besides getting out of my relationship with her.

“I don’t know. She didn’t say. She just said she had to talk to you.” I rolled my eyes as I pulled out my phone. I knew she would have probably tried to text me or something. Yup, there it was. How did I not feel my phone go off?

Amber: Where are you?

Zander: I am at practice. I had to drop my step-sister off.

I should just say sister, but I liked to make sure everyone knew she wasn’t blood-related to me. Especially with all the thoughts I had flying inside my head. It wouldn’t be right if she was my actual sister. Step sister, now that had different rules. At least in my mind. I know some might not see it like that since she was raised with me, but I didn’t care. Things were different. She didn’t come until I was almost ten. That is different than being raised from birth.

Amber: Yeah, I heard. From Saint. Why didn’t you tell me?

Zander: Slipped my mind.

I didn’t see why I had to tell her anything. She didn’t need to know. She was none the wiser of anything going on. She wasn’t around for any of the rumors nor knew Winter had a reputation. Though I am pretty sure news had traveled fast since she was friends with Hailey. Hailey never was one to have anything but a big mouth when it came to these types of things. She always had to tell the world everything.

Amber: What the fuck? I know she’s your sister, but how can it slip your mind like that? I waited for you when I could have gone to cheer with Hailey and the rest of them.

Zander: It just happened. It was all in a rush. My stepmom had an appointment and couldn’t get her from school. So, I had to come to get her.

Amber: Whatever. You could at least say you are sorry.

Zander: Why? It just happened. Nothing to be sorry about.

Amber: Really? Wow. Can't believe you.

With that, I tossed my phone into my locker. I wasn’t about to have any more of this conversation with this girl anymore. I wasn’t going to entertain this. I had nothing to apologize for. She should have been with a different man if she wanted that. I wasn’t going to when I did nothing wrong…that she knows of.