Chapter 38 TYLER
Harper didn’t show up for the project meeting. Neither did Cassie, leaving me in class with the last two people I wanted to be around right now—Peter and Jax.
A few of our teammates lingered, pretending to have extra curriculum activities keeping them back, but clearly just trying to kill time.
I stayed in my seat, keeping to myself as usual, my eyes flicking toward the door every few seconds. Waiting for Harper was starting to feel like a reflex I couldn’t stop.
I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but their voices carried easily from the front of the room to the back where I sat, trying to mind my own business.
“Bro, how could I have missed everything?” Billy whined, perched on a desk while the others filled him in about the drama between Megan and Cassie.
Kane waved a dismissive hand. “You really didn’t miss much. Harper stepped in just before it got to the good part.”
A wave of agreement and overlapping chatter followed.
“Man, I know what it feels like to be wanted,” Peter cut in, clapping Jax’s shoulder, “but to have two girls fighting over you when you’re not even dating either? Respect, bro.”
I expected Jax to shut it down—maybe even clear the air—but instead he nudged Peter’s arm with a smirk.
“Come on. All this charm’s not for nothing. I bet I could get half the senior girls fighting over me if I wanted.”
I rolled my eyes, keeping them glued to my book.
“Yeah?” Billy piped up. “Then let’s make it a bet.”
“Interesting,” Kane said, rubbing his palms together. “Count me in.”
“Same here,” Billy grinned. “Let’s see who’s got game.”
The others started hyping it up until Peter raised a hand. “Hold up. Let the kid state the bet first.”
“Fine,” Billy said. “Simple—whoever gets the most girls fighting over him wins.”
The group broke into argument until Billy added, almost too casually, “Bonus points if you can get—” he jerked his head toward me.
Silence rippled through the room. I pretended not to notice the eyes that flickered my way.
Great. Just what I needed—free entertainment at my expense.
Before I could even get away from their scheming, they started toward me. Kane dropped into the seat beside mine, grinning.
“What do you say, Cap? Want in?”
“Not interested.”
“Not until you hear what’s in it for you,” Peter said quickly.
“We know you’re all serious now,” Jax added. “But it’s senior year. Last chance to do something stupid. Give it a shot.”
“If by stupid, you mean messing with girls’ feelings, I’ll pass.”
“Please,” Jax scoffed. “You should be the last person throwing stones at a glass house.”
I raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
Peter jumped between us before it escalated. “What he means is… even if you don’t mean to, you kinda end up doing the same thing.”
I didn’t respond. He wasn’t wrong—but that didn’t mean I’d join their pathetic game.
“I don’t have time to charm girls into chaos,” I said flatly.
“Not if it doesn’t clash with your routine,” Billy said, smirking.
“I’m not following.”
Kane leaned forward, eyes glinting. “We tweaked the bet. It’s not about who can get girls to fight over them anymore—that’s old. We want to try something different.”
I frowned. “And what's in it for me?”
“Answers,” Peter said, smirking. “We all saw how skeptical you were when Harper got assigned as your temporary therapist. And considering how you two have been snapping at each other lately, I’m guessing you’re a little curious why she hasn’t quit yet.”
“So?”
“So—” Billy jumped in. “Join us. For us, it’s just for fun—a little team bonding. But for you? There’s something in it. You could finally get answers.”
“Yeah,” Jax said, leaning against a desk. “We want it to be more interesting this time. Instead of betting on who can make girls fight, we’re betting on who can get the least-likely girl to actually like them enough to confess.”
The idea was absurd. I was barely tolerating Harper as my therapist, and now they wanted me to lead her on? What kind of messed-up logic was that?
As if reading my mind, Peter held up a hand.
“I know it sounds crazy. But hear me out—we already picked our girls. And since Harper’s the only one you’ve talked to for more than a few minutes in weeks, we nominated her for you. Let’s be real, with how cold you are toward her, she’s the last person anyone would expect to catch feelings.”
I couldn’t argue with that. Still, I didn’t see the big picture.
“If you can get her to open up—to you, not as your therapist but as a girl—then maybe you’ll finally get your answer,” Billy said. “How did she even become your therapist and why? Was it to get close to you? Pity? Or something else entirely?”
The room went quiet, all eyes locked on me.
I sat there, thinking. Billy’s questions stuck with me.
Still, the idea didn’t sit right. I didn’t want to mess with Harper’s feelings—or anyone’s. Not now, not with everything else already weighing me down.
“And what if she actually confesses?” I asked. “Then what?”
“Easy,” Kane laughed, clapping Holland, who was standing next to him, on the back. “You score. Take her to prom. Bragging rights and a hot date—win-win.”
“Not bad,” I admitted, rising to my feet. “But I’m not in the mood for games.”
“Come on, Cap—” Billy started, but I was already pushing past them, heading for the door.
Their whispers followed me down the hallway, but none of them tried to stop me.
I reached my car, rain starting to patter on the hood. For a moment, I just stood there, hand on the door, staring at my reflection in the tinted glass.
I told myself it was stupid. Immature. Not worth it.
But the question wouldn’t leave my head.
Why had she agreed to help a grump like me in the first place?
Maybe it wasn’t about the bet. Maybe I just needed to know.
I turned back toward the building where the guys huddled at the entrance, still chattering with one another, their voices echoing down the hall.
“Hey, Billy!” I called.
They all turned.
“Count me in.”