I Dare You

I mutter out a greeting as I walk past, keeping my eyes averted from her legs, which she’s propped up on the coffee table. She’s a sly girl with an agenda, and I’m disappointed Ryker is still into her. To me, it’s clear she still wants Alex if the way she chased him at the baseball party is anything to go by.

I make my way to the kitchenette to make a protein drink before class.

“So, you’re with Delaney now?” she asks, her nasally voice echoing in the room.

I give her a short nod. “We’re dating.”

Her lips turn down, her distaste obvious. “I don’t know what everyone sees in her. First Alex, and now you—she must be amazing in bed.”

My nose flares. Everything she says rubs me the wrong way, and I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual. “I don’t talk about my private life.”

A laugh comes out of her. “Oh, you’d be surprised what I know about your private life.”

I freeze, my eyes on her face, trying to read the smarmy expression there. “Is that supposed to mean something?”

She shrugs, her eyes hard as they stare right back at me.

“I don’t like riddles, Muffin.” And I don’t like you.

“No riddles here, just the fact that everyone loves you and you’re the best player ever…right?” With that she stands, marches back to Ryker’s room, and shuts the door.

“Where are you off to? I thought you already had football practice,” Delaney asks as I load the dishwasher at her house. Ryker and I came over after class and she and Skye made lasagna for us. As a thank you, Ryker and I cleaned up the kitchen.

She’s standing next to me, her gaze zeroed in.

I shrug. “We’re going to hit the field house for some weight training.” Every word is a lie and feels like a bullet to my gut, but I can’t tell her the truth: I’m going to meet with Leslie at Carson’s tonight to work out the details of the next fight. He was the one who called me as we left Giardina’s.

I want to confide in her, but if I get caught fighting, the less she knows, the better, and damn it’s hard to admit I’m a cheater who’s breaking rules.

“I made cookies,” she tells me rather tartly. “Too bad you’re going to miss those.”

Han is weaving in and out of her legs, and I reach down to give him a pet so I don’t have to look her in the eyes. I’m such an asshole. “Just save me some and I’ll get them tomorrow.”

“Are you coming over later?”

“No, I have a test tomorrow.” I stand and brush my lips across hers. “Thank you for the meal. It was amazing as always.”

Feeling the weight of her eyes on me as I move to grab my gym bag, more guilt settles over me. Besides Raven, she’s the most important person in my life, and I’m not giving her what she deserves.

After thanking the girls for dinner, Ryker follows me as I make my way out the front door.

He starts in on me as soon as we get in the truck. Earlier I told him about Leslie calling me, and he’s been fuming all afternoon.

“You can’t do another fight. I won’t let you,” he mutters as I start the truck.

I exhale. “Just one more and I’m set to pay for Pineview for an entire year. If I get one more fight in now—before football starts this fall—then I won’t have to do it again.” I flick a quick glance over to him as he stares out the window, clearly annoyed with me. “Look, think about Raven—this is for her. My dad is shit, man. He can’t take care of her, and I’m barely managing everything I have with school and football. Plus, I’ve already paid the facility the deposit. Raven moves in May 1st.”

Knowing she will be happy and safe…that makes it all worthwhile.

“Unless you get caught,” he mumbles, raking a hand through his hair. “Then you’ll never play pro ball.”

“Nothing’s been said about the last fight, and no one will find out about this one.”

“Secrets never stay secrets, Mav. Someday it’s going to come back on you.”

“Have you told anyone?” My head recalls Martha-Muffin in our dorm room and how oddly she acted.

“No, of course not.” His words are clipped.

My hands tighten on the steering wheel. “If you’ve got something to say, spit it out.”

He exhales loudly. “Have you told Delaney what you’re doing for cash? Because she isn’t going to be cool with it.”

“Stay out of me and Delaney.”

“See, you know I’m right. You haven’t been honest with her—with anyone, not even Raven.”

My teeth clench. “What’s your point?”

He waves his hands around. “Raven has a traumatic brain injury, and you’re out there getting beat up. Last time you nearly fractured a rib.”

I shrug. “It’s the same as being on the field.”

“On the field, you have a helmet and pads.”

I shake my head. “I could break my neck on the football field and never walk again. I could die in a car wreck like my mom. I could be walking across the street and get hit by a car. I can’t live my life by what-ifs. All I know is what I have to do right now, and that’s take care of my little sister. No one else is going to do it—not my dad, not the state, me.”

We’re both quiet for a moment.

“You don’t know what it was like growing up like I did,” I add. “I got a job when I was thirteen, mowing the football field at school. When I was sixteen, outside of football, I helped my dad clean Carson’s Gym. I’ve worked my entire life and now I have the chance to really provide for Raven.”

He looks out the window.

“Dude, let it go,” I say. “Be my friend.”

He shrugs. “I just…have a bad feeling.”

“Maybe it’s because you’ve been hanging out with Muffin.”

He juts out his jaw. “So?”

I sigh. “All I’m saying is be careful. Just a few weeks ago, she was hot and heavy after Alex.”

He scratches at his scruff. “We’re keeping it casual.”

“Good.”

We enter the gym and take in the surroundings. It’s seven at night but the place is busy. Off to the left are the locker rooms, and I head there to wrap my hands, change into shorts, and put on some flat, high-topped boxing shoes, ones Leslie provided for me after the last fight. I figure I may as well get some sparring in while I’m here.

Ryker goes over to the weights to do some lifting.

I come out of the locker room and see Leslie has entered the building and is in the main office talking to Carson, the owner. Dressed in a suit that looks out of place in the smelly gym, he gives me a wave through the glass walls.

I nod and head that way, and as soon as I enter the room, Leslie motions for Carson to leave us, which I can appreciate. I’m sure Carson knows what’s going on, and I don’t doubt he’s got his fingers all up in this, but I’d rather speak with Leslie alone.

Leslie motions for me to take a seat, but I decline. I don’t like him. He’s a slimy guy who’s taking advantage of the fact that I need money. It makes me wonder about the other players and their reasons for fighting for him. No football player with a good record would do this just for the money; it’s too dangerous.

“I’ll stand, thanks.” I cross my arms. I want him to know he doesn’t own me. “You said you had some news about the fight,” I say.