Connor

 

I’m still kind of reeling from Coach Reno calling me out for flirting with Allie as I make my way out of the locker room after the game. I mean, shit, my girlfriend wasn’t even fifteen yards away. There is no way Kayla missed what Coach said. It had taken all my willpower to not look in Kayla’s direction. We were winning the game, but the margin was narrow. I couldn’t afford to lose any more focus, because I had been flirting with Allie, and it had been amazing. And I know Kayla is going to be smoking mad about it.

Scanning the parking lot, I spot her, leaning against the tailgate of my truck, arms folded, leg bouncing angrily as her foot tapped against the asphalt. Damn. I so do not want to deal with her tonight. Sighing, I accept my fate and head toward her anyway.

“Good game tonight, man,” JJ calls out from behind me. I stop to wait for him, my fist held out. He bumps his fist against my knuckles. I can’t stop my grin. It had been a good game.

“You, too, man.”

“I can’t believe coach called you out like that, dude. He knows you and Allie are buds.” JJ looks sympathetic. He knows exactly what Coach’s razzing is going to cost me with my girlfriend.

“I know, right? I’m totally in for it.” On top of the shit I’m about to get from Kayla, I feel bad for Allie. She does not deserve the attention that’s about to come her way.

“Just make sure she’s alright, dude.” JJ nods at something behind me. “You aren’t the only one who cares about her.” Confused, I glance over my shoulder and my heart sinks down into my stomach.

“Later, man,” I call absently, because there sits Allie, my best friend and the one person I love more than anyone else, hunched over on the curb in front of the school.

“Allie, what are you doing? Where’s your mom?” I drop my bag at my feet and lengthen my stride until I’m crouched down in front of her.

“I forgot she had a girl’s night out with some of the daycare moms tonight.” She avoids my gaze. “Don’t worry, Connor. I was just getting ready to call her. She said she’d be home around now.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you needed a ride?” Allie knows the rules. I will drop whatever I’m doing to make sure she gets home.

“I didn’t- um-” She pauses, her gaze flicking toward the parking lot. Right. Kayla. Allie doesn’t want to get me in anymore trouble. I sigh, raking my hands through my hair. Kayla might be my girlfriend, but Allie comes first, even though it makes me an ass of a boyfriend.

“Come on, I’ll give you a ride home.” Standing up, I grab her hand and pull her up.

“No, Connor, it’s okay. I can-”

“Are you serious right now!” The sound of Kayla’s angry voice makes us both stop. Allie tries to pull her hand out of mine, but instead of letting her go, I thread my fingers through hers, loving how incredibly good her hand feels in mine.

Kayla storms right up to Allie. “You little bit-”

“Hey!” I step in front of Allie, my chest absorbing the jabs Kayla intended for her. “Stop! Kayla!”

“You lied! All this time, you lied. You told me there was nothing going on with you two!” Kayla’s face pulls into a sneer as she peers around my shoulder at Allie. Instinctively, I put my arm up, shielding Allie, who moves closer. Her hand clenches in the back of my shirt sending shivers up my spine.

“I never lied to you, Kayla”

“Yeah. Right.” She spits out between clenched teeth. “I knew it. I knew there was something going on between you guys.”

“No-” Allie starts to say but I interrupt, an idea forming in my mind, and I can only hope Allie will not hate me by the time this night is over.

“You’re right, Kayla,” I agreed, grimacing at their collective gasps. Allie jabbed me in the back and Kayla looks ready to rip my head off. But I ignore them both and keep talking. “You’re right, maybe something is going on between Allie and I.” Allie tries to pull her hand from mine once more, but I squeeze it all the harder, not enough to hurt her but enough to make her stay. “But I never lied to you.”

Kayla, struck silent, just gapes at me, her mouth hanging open for a moment before her lips press into flat line. “I don’t believe you!” she spat. “We’re done.” She stood there expectantly, waiting for me to protest. Not on her life. Already, I’m feeling a hundred pounds lighter, the relief of being done with Kayla so profound I could cry.

“Done.” I met her gaze calmly, watching as realization dawned. I’m not going to argue with her. Her eyes flash with hurt, so fast I almost missed it, but the emotion is swiftly replaced by anger anyway.

“You will regret this, Connor,” she raged. I know I won’t- ever.

“Connor.” Allie’s voice reaches my ears, just barely above a whisper, and I know a moment of panic. What had I done?

“And you, you little-”

I reach out again, blocking Kayla, protecting Allie when it looks like Kayla is about to get violent.

“I’ve never hit a girl before, Kayla, don’t tempt me.” I push the words past my jaw, clenched so tightly it hurts. But there is no way I’m going to let Kayla hurt Allie. Kayla’s eyes widen in surprise, then narrow dangerously.

“Don’t even think about crawling back to me when you get tired of your little pet. I won’t be waiting.” And with that parting shot Kayla stormed away from us.

It’s a few seconds before either of us move. I just stand there, more aware of Allie than ever before, with her hand still buried in the hem of my shirt, the other held tightly in mine. Finally, I work up the courage to face her and am immediately broken by the look of stark vulnerability on her face.

“Allie-”

“You should go after her.”

“What? No.” How can she possibly think I want to do that?

“She’s your girlfriend, Connor. She’s just mad about what Coach said during the game.” She says the words easily enough, but her cheeks flush a deep red. And now, I can’t hold back the question that has been burning the back of my brain since Coach Reno accused me of flirting with my best friend.

“Are you mad about what Coach said?”

Allie opens her mouth to answer and then closes it again. Twice. I’m dying to know what she’s thinking.

“Are you,” I ask again. She won’t look at me, so I lift her chin, forcing her eyes to meet mine. I can see the struggle burning within them. This is unfamiliar territory for us. A road we have never ventured down. Damn, I realize. I am a jerk. I can’t make her say something first. “Because I’m not mad.”

“Wha-”

“I’m not mad at all.” I lift my free hand to slide along her jaw to cup her face. I’m tempted to kiss her, but now is not the time. I sigh, both frustrated and happy. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”

I let go of her face but hold onto her hand as I retrieve my bag from the sidewalk. I can feel the tension radiating off her as we walk to my truck. And I wish for the thousandth time I could read her mind, because I have no idea what she’s thinking and it sucks.

My mind races as we drive home. I all but told Kayla that Allie and I are together. Like together. And there is no way in hell she isn’t going to do her level best to drag me through the mud before this night is over. My phone has been vibrating in my pocket since Kayla stomped off. Who knows what people are saying about Allie and me right now.

Allie. She has her knees pulled up to her chest, her feet propped up on the dash in front of her and before I know what I’m doing I reach across the space between us and pull her hand into mine again. How many times have I thought about doing that over that last couple of years? I give her hand a reassuring squeeze and she doesn’t look at me. But she doesn’t pull away or scream at me either.

Once in my driveway, I have absolutely no idea what to say. I can totally tell she is freaking out a little bit, though and I'm terrified I have done something that will ruin our friendship for real this time.

“Hey, um,” and then I have to clear my throat like I’m thirteen years old. “I’m sorry about tonight.” Allie stiffens at my words, and I know I’ve said the wrong thing. “No, Allie, wait,” and then I’m scrambling out of my truck because she’s pulled her hand from mine and is halfway to her door before I can blink.

“Allie, wait.” And to my everlasting surprise, she stops. I breathe a sigh of relief and rush to her side. “I’m sorry that you were put in the middle of everything tonight.”

“Connor, what the heck,” she asks, her voice full of emotion and her eyes sparkling with tears.

“Look, what Coach said-”

“I’m not mad about that, Connor.” And I can tell she isn’t.

“Okay, but Kayla-”

“I never asked you to break up with her. I know we aren’t- things aren’t- ugh!” And she now she’s blushing again. Man, I have really screwed up this night. But, I seriously need some time to think.

“Of course, you didn’t, Alberta. I know that, I’m just sorry I put you in the middle of everything.”

“I didn’t know you and Kayla argued about me, Connor. You should have told me. I mean I know she hates me, she’s made that pretty clear-”

“What do you mean, she’s made that clear?” And suddenly, I’ve got Allie by the arms, searching her face. “What do you mean?”

“It’s no big deal. I get it. We spend a lot of time together. Honestly, Kayla hasn’t been the worst of your girlfriends.”

My eyes slide shut as the truth seeps into my soul. I am such an ass. How could I have been so oblivious? And for the second time in two weeks, I crush Allie in my arms.

“Allie. I am so sorry. I just never realized-”

“Connor, how could you tell her-” Allie’s words, muffled against my chest, break off and I know I have to fix this.

“We need to talk.” She nods. “Look, I’ll come by in the morning and we’ll go somewhere, okay?” I loosen my hold on her and she steps out of my arms. I immediately want to pull her back but I resist the urge. “Allie,” I call out and she pauses to look back at me. “Please, don’t be mad. Tomorrow. I promise we’ll work this out.”

She nods once and then she’s gone.