Itexted Erik to meet me on campus—a command, not a request. I couldn’t just hope to catch him somewhere. We had a shit load to talk about and no time to spare. He promised to meet me by the clock tower in the middle of campus. That seemed safe enough. No way would we get into any funny business where people would see us. Not that it would’ve been a shame if we did rock the house again, if you know what I mean.
I showed up early because that’s how I operate. Erik De Ruiter also showed up early, but only by a few minutes because he couldn’t stand lateness or time-wasting. Yeah, those are good qualities for any team captain, but I knew the consequences of admitting it. Besides, the honor was rightfully mine, and I shouldn’t have been expected to share it with anyone.
When my teammate arrived, he strolled up to me with his hands stuffed in his pockets. And he didn’t have some smartass comment for me this time. Only being named co-captain must’ve knocked him down a peg or two. Not me, though. Hell no. It lit a fire, pushing me to get things done, but didn’t offer the helping hand you would think of.
“You wanted to talk?” Erik spoke in his very best don’t-waste-my-time tone, like that crap would actually work on me.
As if!
“This let’s not-talk-to-each-other thing isn’t working out so well, is it?” I asked.
“It’s working out just fine for me, actually.”
That was total bullshit. The locker room with the guys around had been one thing. Restraint had been a necessary evil. Seeing De Ruiter now made me want to get him alone and brush my lips against his. I wanted my tongue to enter his mouth again. I wanted to re-experience every moment of heat from our one and only encounter. No one said surviving this conversation would be easy, but I had to do it.
“Cut the crap, Kayden. Tell me why you’re really here.”
“You know why. It’s about this whole co-captain thing. I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
“You’re serious?”
I cocked an eyebrow at him. Of course Erik would act all stupid. I could count on that almost as much as death and taxes.
“It’s not going to work,” I said.
“So, you’re not going to be co-captain? You’re just gonna give up the spot the guys so graciously gave you?”
“Who said anything about me giving up my spot?”
“Well, I just?—”
“Oh, no. I wouldn’t do anything that crazy.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
“I was thinking I would tell you to step your ass aside.”
His nostrils flared and eyebrows furrowed, and his face reddened just a little. This from the kid who’d pretended I couldn’t get under his skin. That was total bullshit. After our scrap, I knew exactly what buttons to push to royally piss him off.
“They’re never gonna go for that,” he said.
“Oh no?”
“Nope. They’ll tell you to take a hike before they tell me to step aside.”
“You sure about that, bro?”
“Positive.”
And he flashed that look at me again. You know, the one that said he knew better and was morally superior in every way.
He might’ve been right, but I couldn’t admit that. Any concession to him felt like a forfeiture. Besides, I had some ideas in mind and would bring out the big guns if necessary.
“You’re scared again,” Erik said.
“Fuck off. You say that every time you don’t like something I say.”
“No, dude. I say it every time it’s true. And you deny it every time.”
