Chapter 17 Chapter: 17
SHEPHERD
It was late on Sunday night. I was sitting on the balcony staring at the night sky. When the message I'd been expecting came from my father. I swiped my phone screen and I wasn't even disappointed when it wasn't what I expected.
Father: The march is next week. I asked the school to reschedule your match because of your injury. I hope you are up for it?
I didn’t bother replying. I should have been glad that he'd rescheduled the game. And now that I've healed I get to play next week, but I wasn't.
The principal has already informed me of this. And a part of me hated how everyone seemed to bow to him.
My father!
For Malcolm Conrad control is everything and him doing this only reminds me of how he could buy just about anyone with the right price. How he doesn't fail to remind me that my life wasn't just mine.
My father didn’t care about me, my brother or even the game. He didn't even pretend to care and ask about my ankle.
The only thing that mattered to him was winning and our family name. The game was sponsored by him and his pompous ass friends and business alliances.
For his social standings, forging new connections, and for him to brag about in the country club. But Malcolm always have a plan and nothing he does is simple.
For me football is something I've excelled in, it's something I do because it's reminded me of someone important.
I shoved the phone inside my pocket and leaned back, my eyes fluttered shut and instantly memories I'd suppressed came rushing back.
Screams, glasses shattering. Ears ringing, darkness. Blood on my hands and then came the explosion. My eyes sprang open, my head pounding with a familiar ache. I stride back inside my room and grab the whiskey on my dresser.
I twisted the cap and gulped it down feeling the familiar burn down my throat. I sat on my bed, my back against the bed frame as I drank straight from the bottle.
It worked, my thoughts drifted to Addie instead of the nightmare that crept in whenever I think about home and my family.
Addison is a good distraction. The way she spoke without fear. The way she made this place, this world of prison I've been confined in, a little interesting and… real.
The way her lips tasted, how she felt in my arms yesterday night. It annoyed me how much I noticed her. How much I wanted to. Because the last thing I needed was another complication.
And that’s exactly what she was. A complication wrapped in secrets and sarcasm. Cute as she may be, she's still trouble.
But I couldn't stop myself from getting close and right now she's the perfect thing I need to help me. I know her weakness and it's time I exploit it.
MONDAY
There was something about Addison Campbell that made my brain short-circuit and make me forget myself. She wasn’t the prettiest girl at Brighton, or even the prettiest girl I've ever seen. But there was something about her that had caught my attention since that first time.
She was also the only one who ever looked me straight in the eye like she wasn’t impressed. And I hated how I can't stop thinking about one kiss and she's already haunting me everywhere. I can't help thinking how she is after the news this morning.
“Dude, you’re spacing again,” Cole said, snapping his fingers in front of my face. “Earth to Pres. You good?”
I blinked, dragging my attention back to the half-empty locker room. “Fine. Just tired.”
“Tired or distracted?”
Asher slammed his locker shut and peek over, smirking. “Distracted by a certain bronde maid, maybe?”
“Don’t start,” I warned, shooting them a look, and pointing my finger at them. “And what does that even mean?”
“Brown-blonde hair.” I blink, shaking my head.
“The entire school is talking about you two. The majority of the students think you’re bullying her, a few think you're hazing.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder grinning, making my brow arched, I fisted my hand knowing he's going to spew out some nonsense as usual.
“Personally, after catching you both kissing, I think it’s your weird version of foreplay.” I punch him and miss, he'd jump away before my fist made contact, having anticipated it. Fucker.
“Fucking idiot, foreplay really?” I said, glaring at him. Asher was busy cackling.
“Relax, man. We’re joking,” Cole said, still chuckling. “Mostly.”
I leaned back, crossing my arms. “She hates me, remember? So I kissed her, what's the big deal?”
“Sure,” Asher said, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “Whatever you say man, we'll see how long your denial lasts.”
I didn’t dignify that with a reply as I walked out of the locker room and headed towards the field. I already know it's Cole with his big fucking mouth who spread the kissing rumors.
Like I told Addison a couple of minutes ago, I don't care who knows. In fact I want everyone to know, it's especially working in my favor.
Practice that afternoon was okay. My feet didn't hurt but I wasn’t allowed to train as hard as I wanted to. Mostly, Coach had me supervising drills half of the time.
Across the field, I spotted Addie among the cheerleaders. Practicing as she tried to match up with the rest of her teammates, it was kinda hilarious.
Clearly she has never done this kind of thing before, from the way she was stumbling all over her feet. I tried not to laugh at her poor attempt at simple stunts.
It was strange, I couldn't fucking take my eyes off her. It's also annoying as hell the way I started noticing every little thing about her.
With me, she was all fire and sarcasm. But with her friends she was this soft, funny bubbly girl that's too cute to ignore.
And when I had her against the wall in the hallway earlier and on the night of the party she'd been soft too, expectant.
Her brown eyes had been so wide, bright as she stared up at me. Her lips had been so soft looking, that I ended up finally tasting her. I wanted to kiss her earlier too, but there's no need to rush things just yet
Just thinking about it had me instantly hard. I don't know what it is about her that makes me test her at the same time makes me want to say fuck it and just devour her.
It's maddening, me pining over this girl, fuck!