Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
He tried to chat me up in the grocery store, and I was polite. He said his name was Jack and then asked me out, but I guess I wasn’t nice enough when I turned him down because he didn’t like it.
It’s hard to engage with new people because I’m on the shy side. I try to keep myself out of view and not draw attention.
He said it was some kind of end-of-summer party, and maybe I should have gone. I could have met some of the people I’d be going to school with, but it didn’t feel right.
When it comes to people, I trust my gut. With all the men that have come and gone through my mom’s door, I’ve learned to read people pretty well.
It didn’t help that Jack had a few friends with him that chuckled when I turned down the offer. I could hear them teasing him as he walked away muttering a few choice words about my looks.
So far, I’m off to a banging start. He probably won’t remember me, or worse, he's the most popular guy in school and makes my life hell.
Rolling over, I pull my blanket tight around me and let the music flow through my thoughts. Everything drifts away, and I’m at peace.
At least for now.
Chapter Two
TATE
“Drink, drink, drink!” The chants coming from the back of the house are getting louder, and I check my watch. I’m only here to make an appearance and then I’m going home. I promised Coach I’d show my face, but I’ve got to get to bed. Five o’clock comes early, and I need to go.
“Don’t tell me Tate Albright is gracing us with his presence tonight,” Desha says as she pokes her boyfriend Shaun.
“Nah, he’s not staying.” He shakes his head before coming over and greeting me with a hand slap and a half hug. “The king doesn’t have time for peasants.”
I nod toward the back of the house, where I see Jake outside doing keg stands. “Be careful, or he’ll hear you.”
“That captain badge isn’t going to last much longer, and we all know it.” Shaun takes a sip from his plastic cup and then puts his arm around Desha. “Coach send you tonight?”
I nod and move closer. “But that’s between us, okay?”
“You think the guys don’t know what’s going on?” Shaun smiles so big it shows off his straight white teeth. “Come on, Tate. We all know Coach is making you captain this year. After last season and Jack getting arrested, there’s big changes coming.”
“Having a few bad games is part of playing. It’s not the end of the world. And everybody knows his dad got that arrest taken care of and hushed it up, so technically, it never happened.”
“Then why are you here?” Desha pipes up, and when I look at her, she lets her eyes slowly move over me.
Shaun and I have been friends since second grade when his family moved down the street from mine, but I know he hasn’t always had the best taste in the girls he’s dated.
“Hey, babe, grab me a drink, will you?” Shaun says, and Desha rolls her eyes. “Let me talk to Tate for a second.”
“Fine.” She takes his cup and walks off without another word, and I give him a look that says I told you so.
“It’s all good, she’s just got an attitude because school starts next week.”
“Sure.” I brush it off because I don’t want to hear his excuses on why his girlfriend acts like she’s single.
“Seriously, when is Coach telling the team he’s making the change?”
“I don’t know. It’s up to him. I’m not even sure I want it.”
Jack was made captain at the end of last season, and the same weekend he was arrested for getting drunk and drag racing on the edge of town. His dad is a lawyer and greased a few hands to get him off and keep it quiet. A couple of weeks ago, we started pre-season practices, and it’s been obvious that Jack hasn’t done any conditioning since the end of last season. He’s not taking it seriously, and the whole team has noticed. Coach pulled me aside and said he made a mistake with making Jack captain and asked if I’d take the lead instead.
Not only will it create tension between Jack and me but also between the people who still support him. I don’t want anyone on the team turning on me or for this to cause a rift and hurt our chances at a winning season.
I’ve got everything riding on this. It’s just me and my mom since my dad died three years ago, and I need every bit of scholarship money I can get. She’s got her own hair salon in town and does well enough, but there’s no extra money for college. My grades are good, and I stay out of trouble and work hard for everything I’ve got. I don’t want team politics to threaten that when it’s my last year. I’d rather ride the bench and play nice, but it seems like other people are making decisions for me.