Hesitating, my eyes darted from the hall and to my friend. I knew he was right, but it still took every ounce of self-restraint to follow him to the couch.
Bear sat up, resting his elbows on his knees while Williams and I sat on the minuscule sofa. Larson listened from his place at the kitchen counter.
I put my face in my hands, letting out a defeated groan. “If any of you laugh, I’ll kill you.”
The three men shared looks as I cleared my throat. “I honestly don’t know what happened. All I know is that cheerleader practically assaulted me. I was looking for Maybelle and then all I could see, and feel was Juliette. She was like a muzzle I couldn’t get to release my face. And while my mind was going a mile a minute trying to deal with what was happening and everyone watching, I agreed to be her date to the football banquet.”
“Well, just tell her you change your mind,” Larson offered.
Williams shook his head. “He can’t do that.”
Sighing, Larson folded his hands together. “And why the hell not?”
Williams looked at me, like I would know what he was talking about, but I was just as clueless. “Juliette is Coach’s niece,” he said, as if that was explanation enough.
When Larson and I both continued to stare back at him, he slanted a pleading look at Bear.
With a resolute breath, Bear said, “One of ourdefensive linemen was benched tonight because he rejected a date with Juliette.” He paused, letting that sink in. “He has a girlfriend.” His dark eyes focused on me then as he asked, “Are you okay?”
I shook my head, more out of frustration than answer. “I’m fine. This—Juliette—none of it’s important. Maybelle is my priority. I need to make sure she’s okay.”
Williams shifted in his seat. “I’m gonna be honest and not sugar coat anything because I love ya. But without knowing everything you just said that scene looked pretty bad. Give her some space. She was pretty upset. She didn’t talk the entire way home and locked herself in your room as soon as we got back.”
I dropped my face in my hands again, muffling my loud, discouraged groaning.
I needed to at least try.
I stood from the couch. “Pray for me, boys. I’m going in.”
I was already down the hall when Larson called out from behind me, “God speed, brother.”
I reached my bedroom door and knocked. Nothing. I clicked my knuckles across the door a few more times, and finally heard a soft, “Come in.”
It was cold, but I was sweating profusely.
I nudged the door open to see Maybelle sitting on the edge of my bed. Her hair was damp from the shower. She was dressed in a fitted white tee and black yoga pants.
She didn’t look at me as I entered. I let the door shut behind me, but instead of approaching her, I leaned my back against the closed door.
“May. Can we talk?”
She sat up straight, twisting to meet my gaze with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Sure,” she answered, her tone chipper, which terrified me more than if she were standing in the corner of my room with a knife. She patted the mattress next toher, inviting me to join. I cautiously approached, settling myself next to her on the bed.
She sat herself sideways, facing me fully. “What would you like to talk about?” she asked.
I dragged my hands across my pants. “I wanted to explain what happened tonight. Juliette, she—”
Maybelle cut me off with an eager flap of her hand. “Oh, Trey, please, you don’t have to explain,” she said earnestly.
Drawing back, I scowled. Of course I needed to explain.
I opened my mouth to try again, but she stopped me. “There’s nothing to explain because you don’t owe me anything. We kissed a couple of times. That’s it. It’s not like we’re officially together or anything,” she said this so carelessly. Like my world wasn’t falling apart with every word coming out of her mouth.
A couple of kisses and that was it? Is that really all she thought we were? Had I fumbled? Had I not made myself obvious?
“No, May. We’re a lot more than a couple of kisses,” I insisted, but she was already shaking her head.
