Broken and Screwed 2 (BS #2)

“She ain’t my girlfriend.”


“No, but she’s Jesse’s. You better turn your mind around. You’re not getting back in the house like that.”

“I’m already going to have to grovel for Jesse. Come on. Give me a break. And the sisters. They’re pissed at me.”

Cord sighed, shaking his head. “If that’s your starting point, you’ve got a long way to go. Good luck and nice knowing you, Striker.”

Jamie growled in response, a scowl now a permanent fixture on his face. “This sucks!”

“Deal with it. You screwed up. Big time.”

I grew fond of the day Jamie had been scared when I let him see my inner rage. That lasted a week. A deep sigh left me. Jesse had changed me. That rage was going away and I couldn’t let it out on command anymore. Something would have to trigger it now; something deep enough, dark enough, and something that would make me lose control.

A foreboding sensation spread in me. I hoped that day would never come.

Lunch with Jesse was located in the back of a building, overlooking their stadium. Cord showed me the way with a reluctant Jamie behind us. As we got closer and as I saw the small cafeteria, Cord whispered to me, “The best athletes eat here. Boyfriends, girlfriends, close friends are invited, but only if it’s kept a secret.”

As I got inside, I could see why. The buffet had a carving station with a private chef behind. There was another grilling station. A salad buffet was set up on the far side, along with a pasta bar. As I passed by, there was whole grains, tofu, items that I’d only see in the organic section of a grocery store and certainly too pricey for me to buy. This was all for them, the elite athletes.

Jesse waved from a table in the back corner. He was surrounded by other guys, a few girls, and all of them moved down to make room once we filled our plates and grabbed some drinks. Jamie pounded fists with a few of the guys before he sat, eyeing Jesse at the same time, warily. Cord filled in next to him. Wrapping a hand around my wrist, Jesse tugged me beside him. Derek and Kara came in not long later and sat across from us. Glancing around, I wondered if Tiffany would show. Kara must’ve guessed at my thoughts. She gave me a brief shake of her head, leaning over the table. “She’s with Hannah. They stayed at the house today.”

“Jesse’s?”

She nodded. “It’s become a retreat for some of us.”

I could understand. I wasn’t even sure if I dared invite Beth over, the study session being an exception. But I made a note to ask Jesse about it. She had proven her loyalty, more than a few times already to me.

“How was your day?” Jesse had been waiting to ask.

His eyes pierced mine, trying to shift inside and read my thoughts. I caught the concern in his and wanted to lean against him. Merely shrugging instead, I murmured, “It was interesting.”

“I had a ton of girls ask about you. They wanted to know who you were and how you guys met.” Kara smiled, her eyes sparking from warmth.

Sipping on my water, I wasn’t sure what to say to that.

“What’d you say?” Jesse spoke for me, frowning slightly.

“I didn’t say anything except that Alex is a very nice girl.”

I’d been holding breath and released it now. I wasn’t sure why I’d been tense, but Kara hadn’t thrown me to the wolves. She added, “I’m not being nice because you’re one of my residents, Alex. Jesse’s a good friend, one of Derek’s best friends, so you can reach out for anything. I mean it.”

“Even though Tiffany hates me?”

Her eyes shifted down the table, to where Jamie wasn’t hiding his own eavesdropping. Her lips pressed together. “Even if Tiffany hates you. She knows better not to now, now that Jesse handed Jamie his own ass last night.” She ducked down, but I caught the pink flush and small giggle that escaped her lips.

Derek gazed fondly at his girlfriend, rubbing her back. “You’re good for Jesse. We’ve noticed a big difference from this summer.”

“Yeah,” Jamie surprised everyone by speaking up. He cleared his throat as he straightened in his seat. “I’ve noticed that too. And,” he caught Cord’s meaningful look, “I want to apologize for last night. Again. I should never have spoken like that to you.”

Cord coughed once.

Jamie added, “Or to any girl like that. I wouldn’t want my sister to get treated like that.”

“I still don’t want you around.”

“Oh, come on! Why not?” The polite charade was gone. A sulking five year old came over the big jock. “I apologized to her. Twice.”

“Words are cheap. Find a new place to stay over the season.”

Outraged, Jamie’s mouth hung open. “Are you f**king with me?”

“No,” Jesse snapped back. “I’ve been getting tired of your shit anyway. Last night was the last straw.”