Until the End (Sea Breeze #9)(12)

“Thanks for bringing him home,” I bit out, trying to sound like I meant it. But I had a feeling it was Rock’s fault Krit had missed his bus. “But we got this. You can leave now.”

Krit’s eyes went wide. “Trisha! Seriously, why are you being like this? He isn’t—”

“He’s seen enough, Krit. Mom will wake up any minute, and he needs to be gone.”

“He said—”

“It doesn’t matter what he said. I am telling you that if you care about me at all, you’ll go back to your room and start your homework quietly. I don’t want her waking up, and you don’t either. She’ll be angry we woke her. I’m not up for another round just yet.”

Krit hung his head, then nodded and started walking toward his room. He stopped and gave Rock a nod. “Thanks, man.”

“Anytime,” Rock replied.

Krit glanced at me, and I could see the frustration on his face. I knew he thought Rock was here to save us. That little boy inside his big body still held on to the hope of a hero. Finally he went on down the hallway.

I waited until his bedroom door clicked closed before looking back at Rock.

“Don’t talk to him again. He doesn’t need you using him to get to me,” I said in the coldest tone I could muster.

Rock didn’t move. He held my gaze, then looked down at my ribs again.

“You need to see a doctor,” was his reply.

I let out a hard laugh. “Really? Aren’t you brilliant. News flash: If I see a doctor, DHR steps in and I lose my brother. Not gonna happen. Back off, Rock. I’m not up for grabs. I’m so off-limits to all men it’s not even funny. You are wasting your time and playing with my brother’s head. He thinks you can do something to help us. Stop it. Just. Go. Away.”

“She hit you a lot?”

Really? Did he not hear anything I just said?

“I said to go away,” I hissed.

“Let me help you. I know a doctor who can see you. It won’t get back to DHR. I swear.”

“GO. AWAY.” I bit my tongue and closed my eyes. I had yelled. Shit. He was making me so mad. I needed to keep my voice down.

“Can you stay in bed tomorrow? Will she make you go to school?”

Either he was deaf or he thought he was above listening to what others told him. “Rock, I need you to leave. I need you to forget all of this. Go play football and be the star this town loves to talk about. They want you. I don’t.”

He stood there and watched me for a few more seconds. Then, just when I thought he wasn’t going to listen yet again and I started to feel a small twinge of hope that maybe he wanted more than to get in my pants, he turned and walked outside.

His perfect, beautiful body walked down the small steps and back toward his truck. He didn’t look at me when he climbed inside and pulled away. He left. Just like I thought. He wanted something I wasn’t going to give him.

Guess he got the message.

If I admitted it to myself, it hurt. But I wouldn’t admit that. Or think about it. I didn’t have the luxury of fantasizing about anyone. Especially a guy who would be leaving for a college of his choice in two years.

Chapter Eleven

Rock

Friday was finally here. The first game of the season. I was playing tonight, but I wasn’t starting. Coach was benching me for the first five minutes. It was part of my punishment for coming to practice late on Wednesday. He had kept me running the bleachers for three hours. I’d been so damn exhausted that after throwing up twice, I had barely made it to the truck. Dad had been pissed because he had needed his truck back.

All that shit for nothing. Trisha Corbin had made it very clear she didn’t want me near her.

Didn’t stop me from asking Krit about her yesterday when she didn’t show up again. He said his mom had a new boyfriend and had stayed out with him last night so Trisha had taken one more day to heal.

Unable not to watch for her damn bus this morning, I had waited to see if she stepped off it. When she did, her gaze had gone right through me as if I wasn’t there. She walked by me without a glance or a word. I was f**king invisible to her.

That shit hurt. I hadn’t done anything to deserve this from her. I just wanted to help. I wanted to be near her. But she obviously hated me.

So tonight I was going to play like a f**king pro and then go out and celebrate when we won. If I had to drink Trisha Corbin from my head, I would. Letting her consume me like this was ridiculous. Yes, her life was shit, but did that mean she had to hate me?

Dewayne sat down beside me in biology and tossed a Snickers bar on my desk with a grin. “Mom stuck two in my bag this morning. Looked like you needed something to smile about.”

Dewayne had the best mom in the f**king world. We all loved Tabby Falco. I picked up the candy bar and tore the wrapper open with my teeth. “Thanks,” I said before taking a bite.

“Tonight’s the night. Thought you’d be all smiles,” Dewayne pointed out.

Normally, I was. But Trisha Corbin had f**ked with my mood.

“I’m just staying focused.”

Dewayne chuckled. “Bullshit. I’ve seen you staring at the Corbin girl like you want a taste. She not interested?”

He’d better be glad he’d just given me a damn candy bar. I shot him a warning glare. “Moving on from that” was my only reply.