CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Chloe
“I have a confession.” Josh stood in front of us and took a swig of his beer. “That day, when you came into work for the first time and that stuff happened with Tommy, I called Hunter the next day and told him that I thought you were hot and asked him if he thought I had a chance.”
My jaw dropped. Blake’s chuckle tickled my ear.
We were back at the abandoned basketball court, or half-court, as Blake had corrected me. He leaned against the back of a bench with me in front of him. His arms were wrapped tightly around my waist as he rubbed my stomach under my shirt with his thumb.
“What did he say?” I asked Josh.
“He basically pissed all over you and marked his territory.”
I laughed.
“It’s true,” Blake murmured in my ear.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving.” Josh removed his cap and dropped it to the ground. Then he ran his hand through his dark hair. “Everyone fucking leaves me. Natalie . . . my own goddamn parents. Everyone. The only one that hasn’t is Hunter, and that’s ’cause he pretty much hates the world.”
Blake stood a little taller, gripped me a little tighter. “A, I don’t hate the world. B, Natalie’s a bitch.” Josh flinched but remained silent. “C, your parents are assholes. And D, you’re above all that shit.”
Josh’s eyes went wide before he shook his head and asked, “So have you decided yet? August 19, Duke orientation, right?”
Blake tensed for a moment before dropping his hands and letting me go. I took a step forward, unsure of what was coming.
“What about it?”
“I’m just saying . . . it’s not that far away.” His eyes moved to me. “Has he told you what he’s doing?”
“No,” I said quietly, looking at the ground.
“I haven’t decided.” Blake moved to the side and farther away. “I still don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do.” He sounded pissed. “Is that okay with you, Joshua? Do I need to check in?”
“What the fuck’s got into you? I was just asking.”
Blake stepped toward him. “You weren’t just fucking asking. You were pushing.”
I stayed put, too afraid to move or speak. They were face-to-face by then, glaring at each other. I had no idea what had set it off. Maybe it was the beer, or maybe it all just needed to be said.
Blake’s hands fisted, and he added, “You don’t think that decision weighs on me every day? I know time’s running out. It’s my goddamn choice, and I can’t make it.”
“Why?” Josh lifted his chin. “How hard could the choice be, Hunter? It’s basketball, or it’s the army. Two choices. It’s not like you have a kid to think about. Or bills or rent to pay. Or someone else’s future to worry about. There’s not a single, fucking thing keeping you here.”
Blake eyed me quickly before shoving Josh hard enough that he fell back a step. “Fuck you.”
“No, Hunter, fuck you.” He pushed him back. “You have months to make up your mind. In fact, when did you sign that letter of intent? November, right? It’s fucking June. I’m too buzzed to work out how many months that is—but it’s too fucking many. Quit being a * and decide.”
“Fuck off, Josh. You don’t know shit.” He shoved him again. Harder this time.
And then Josh snapped. He launched himself at Blake, and they fell to the ground. Punches were thrown. Insults exchanged.
I panicked. “Get off him, Blake! You’re being a dick.”
They froze, simultaneously turning their heads to glare at me. Blake stood. Followed by Josh.
Blake slowly covered the distance between us, his eyes narrowing with every step. I swallowed and took a step back. For the first time since I’d met him, I was scared.
“You wanna take his side?” he said. “That’s great, Chloe. Maybe you should have played this little game with him instead. Then he’d be the one having to deal with you leaving. Not me.”
My heart sank.
“Dude.” Josh stood next to him with a hand on his chest to stop him from moving closer. He was our barrier—something I never thought I’d need. Not against Blake.
I held back the tears threatening to fall. “I’m sorry,” I squeaked out.
He shook his head. “You wanna know why I can’t decide? Because I can’t think of my future without you in it. Four days. We have four days together, and then, you’re gone. And it might seem like nothing to you, because you’ve had years to accept it. But I can’t, Chloe. I just can’t.”
Josh pressed his hands more firmly against Blake’s chest. “I think that’s enough.”
Blake pushed Josh’s hands away but kept his eyes on me. “Fuck this,” he spat. Then he turned around and walked away.
“Blake.” I started to go after him, but Josh stopped me.
“Just leave him. He just needs some time.”