Beth

After the game Beth ran onto the field and gave Jared a big hug. He made a show of picking her up and spinning her around. Then he pulled his helmet off and kissed her long and hard. He was sweaty and the kiss tasted salty, but damn it was good. Jared knew how to kiss. He put his lacrosse stick under her hips and picked her up. She sat on it like it was a bench as he pulled her closer to his height and crushed her lips with his.

Beth was breathless when Jared finally put her down to the hoots and hollering of his teammates. Jared high fived them while Beth blushed scarlet. She still wasn’t used to such public displays of affection, which sometimes seemed odd since she wanted to be an actress and had kissed plenty of people in plays. But that was different. She wasn’t Beth then, she was just playing a part. This, however, felt real and like maybe it should be more private. But it seemed Jared didn’t feel the same way.

He was all about PDA. It was like he wanted the whole school to know Beth was his, like making her wear his lacrosse hoodie, or the necklace he got her with a charm of his jersey number on it. She wished she could tell him he didn’t have any competition. It’s not like there’d been guys beating down Beth’s door to date her before Jared showed up. But admitting that would just make her sound pathetic. Plus, she didn’t really mind the attention. It was nice being someone’s. Well most of the time it was nice.

After kissing her, Jared did the thing Beth hated most. He put his sweaty lacrosse helmet on her head, messing up her perfectly straight blonde hair. She’d spent an hour with the flat iron to get it just right and he always messed it up with his sweaty helmet. The other thing she hated about his post-lacrosse game ritual was that she always spent the rest of the night lugging his helmet around. But Jared was in particularly good spirits after such a great game and it was hard to be mad at him when he was grinning at her like that. God, that smile should be illegal. It made her want to do all sorts of things she knew she shouldn’t.

“What do you say, gorgeous? Wanna join me and the boys to celebrate our win?”

Beth looked back to the stands to see if Parker was still sitting there but she couldn’t see anything over the crowd on the field.

“Do you have a better offer?” Jared teased pulling her in by her hips.

Jared’s sensual touch snapped Beth’s attention back to him. “No, I was just looking for Parker. I told him I’d help him pack for Colorado tonight.”

Jared rolled his eyes, and Beth pulled the helmet off her head.

“Parker’s a big boy, Beth. Besides, I think I need you more,” he said laying on his sad puppy dog eyes that he knew she couldn’t resist.

Jared had the most brilliantly expressive brown eyes Beth had ever seen. Beth had brown eyes too, but where hers were a dark muddy brown, Jared’s were more the color of burnt honey. His eye color changed with his moods. When he was happy they seemed to glow almost gold. When he was angry, they were dark, like storm clouds had rolled in. And when he wanted something, like he did now, his eyes got big and milk chocolaty. Beth had made the mistake of telling him she could never say no to those eyes. She was starting to regret her honesty.

Beth put her hands on her hips and pinned Jared with a look. “Do you always use your powers for evil?”

Jared grinned wickedly and picked her up like she weighed nothing. “Always,” he said kissing her.

Parker

Parker walked down to the front row of bleachers and leaned against the railing overlooking the lacrosse field. He didn’t know why he did this to himself. He could watch Jared maul Beth from the back row of the bleachers just fine. But for some morbid reason he always found himself moving closer to get a better look.

At first Parker didn’t realize Caroline had approached him and her sultry drawl startled him. “Hey, broody. Why so serious?”

Parker gave her a sideways glance. He knew Caroline was baiting him. This was what she did and he wasn’t going to play her little mind games. Parker blew out an icy breath and continued to stare out at the field.

“Listen, Parker. I know we’re not really friends, but I have a feeling that if we work together we could both get what we want.”

Parker huffed a laugh. “And what would you know about what I want?”

“You don’t think it’s a secret, do you?”

When Parker didn’t respond, Caroline laughed. “Oh, that’s precious. But even a blind man can see the way you look at her. Hell, you’re so obvious I’m sorta stunned she hasn’t figured it out by now.”

Parker turned to face Caroline, blinking rapidly. Was she talking about Beth? Did Caroline know he liked Beth? Shit! Shit! Shit!

Alarms were going off in Parker’s head. He could barely focus on Caroline’s predatory grin. He could not let Caroline tell Beth whatever she thought she knew. Parker had seen Caroline start rumors before. The girl had an unnatural ability to destroy people. She definitely wouldn’t think twice about revealing Parker’s crush in an unflattering manner. Caroline barely tolerated Parker as it was. He knew she only put up with his presence because Beth forced her to. Maybe Caroline finally had enough and was trying to cut Parker out of the equation once and for all?

He couldn’t let that happen. And stupidly, he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. “I saw you with Jared.”

Caroline narrowed her eyes and took a step closer. “Why do you think I’m talking to you?”

Parker gave a nervous shrug.

“Look, I know you saw us, ya pervy little spy. And whether you want to admit it or not, we’re in the same boat. We both want what we can’t have. But if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours, alright?”

Parker’s heart was pounding so hard he couldn’t think. He just continued to blink at Caroline.

“Jesus,” she growled rolling her eyes. “Can you nod or something so I know you catch my drift.”

“I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Please, Beth is the only one on the planet who doesn’t see the way you look at her. You’re in love with her.”

“So?”

“So, I think we can help each other. . . ”

“How?”

Caroline grinned wickedly and her eyes swiveled to where Jared and Beth stood on the field still lip-locked.

Parker balked as realization set in. “If you think I’m going to help you break them up you’re crazy. I may not like the guy, but Beth is my best friend. I’d never do that to her.”

“Hey,” Caroline said, holding her hands up innocently. “Nobody said anything about breaking them up. I’m just saying it seems you and Beth have a lot in common. You’re both smart, sweet, and you follow the rules. You’re compatible. Kinda like me and Jared.” She shrugged. “I just like seeing the right people together. Less people get hurt that way.”

Parker’s temper was rising. That was a threat if he’d ever heard one. Parker hated Jared, and probably had more reason than anyone to want him and Beth to break up. Especially now that Caroline basically admitted there was something going on between her and Jared—or at least that she wanted there to be. But if Parker and Beth were ever going to have a chance to be together he couldn’t be part of some underhanded scheme Caroline concocted. Parker wanted Beth to break up with Jared on her own. He wanted Beth to choose him because she wanted him, not because he conned her into it.

“I’m done talking about this,” Parker said between gritted teeth.

Caroline shrugged. “Whatever you say, lover boy.” She gave him a wink before sauntering away.

Parker’s blood was boiling. He needed to go for a run. It was the only thing that would clear his head.