He just made this so much worse.
“It’s going to be fine. I promise.”
That’s what Christa said. It was a lie then and it’s a lie now. Even if he doesn’t know it.
“Red?” Collin squats down in front of me, his dark eyes worried. “You good?”
“No, no I’m not.” I drop my head into my hands, suddenly exhausted. What did he do?
“Has he called or texted anymore?” Collin asks.
“No. There hasn’t been any other messages from him.”
“Then maybe the threat of jail scared him off.”
“Maybe.” I don’t think so, though. I can’t get the look in his eyes that day out of my head when he told me I was his. He meant it.
“I had Mitch call his friends down in Texas. Asswipe has been at every practice. He’s not coming here, sweetheart. I think the threat of jail worked. He has so much to lose if he doesn’t stop this shit.”
I have a feeling he’d burn everything down to get what he wants because he never learned the meaning of the word no growing up. He was given anything he wanted. Hell, even the cops let him have his way. I doubt the football kings down in Texas will do anything really. They might talk to him, but they’re not going to extradite him here over some voicemails and text messages. I have no faith in the cops.
At least he’s still in Texas. That’s something.
“How mad are you on a scale of one to ten?” Collin asks.
“One hundred.”
“That’s loco,chica.” He shakes his head. “We are only trying to protect you.”
“I know,” I tell him, feeling miserable, but trying my best not to show it. I know they were only trying to protect me and I can’t stay mad at them for that. Robbie would welcome Hutch into the family and adopt Collin as an honorary brother because of how much they’re looking out for me.
“Are you to mad to come to our first game tonight?” he asks, grinning.
“Maybe.”
“Now, Red, don’t be like that. My family can’t be here. You’re repping the Mendoza family for me.”
“What?”
“We’re besties and we’re family now. You gotta come.”
“She’s not wearing your jersey.”
“She can alternate between our jersey’s,” Collin argues.
My phone pings and I gasp, jumping up, knocking Collin backwards into the coffee table.
“Is it asswipe?” Hutch snarls. “Give me the phone.”
“No, it’s Lucy!” I tune them out and answer the phone. “Lucy, you here yet?”
“Just checked into the hotel. You need to come get me.”
“Like I know where I’m going.” I look over at Hutch. “Can you take me to pick her up?”
He nods, looking relieved.
“I’m still mad at you.”
