Jockblocked: A Novel (Gridiron Book 2)(47)
“What is it?” There’s no point in not asking. Hammer will, well, hammer away at this idea of theirs until I give it a hearing.
“She’s in mock trial, right?” At my nod, he gains enthusiasm. “You need to present this to her as a case.”
“I’m not studying to be a lawyer,” I remind him. The conversation is put on pause until we both climb into my Rover.
“You’re the closest thing we’ve got. The only other guys that come close are Jay, who’s a psych major, and Eggers, who’s studying humanities.”
Jay’s a second-string linebacker and Eggers is a cornerback.
“I’ve never understood what a humanities major is.”
“Fuck if I know.” Hammer shrugs. “The point is, you’re the captain of the defense now that Masters has declared for the draft, so even if you weren’t into the law like you are, you’d still be the person to do it. And she slept in your bed last night.”
Goddammit. Since when do I have to be the “leader” of this team? I don’t mind calling the plays on the field. That shit is fun. Even going to the center of the field and trying to intimidate the opposing team’s quarterback during the coin toss is high on my shits and giggles list. But dictating what’s right or wrong for our team? That’s the f*cking coach’s job, not mine.
“Hammer.” I shoot him a quick glare. “You did not tell Bishop she stayed overnight.”
Hammer looks guiltily down at the phone he’s pulled out of his pants pocket. “He saw her coming out of the house, and I might have said something about how you’ve got an inside track on her.”
I take a deep breath and count to ten so I don’t give in to the urge to pull over, rip off Hammer’s arm, and beat him with it. “What exactly did you say?”
“That you had the inside track.”
“I thought you were all incensed that I was using her.” I slam the brakes a little harshly at the stoplight. “And now we’re telling the entire team Luce and I are f*cking.”
“No way, brother. I told Bish the whole story about her getting kicked out of her apartment and then Ace dragging some girl home from the Gas Station.” He waves a careless hand. “Bish already knew that because apparently Ace had sex with the girl in the storage closet before they left.”
“This is why we need to be drinking at the Playground and not out and about,” I grind out between my teeth. The boys had convinced me that going to a bar on Tuesday night would be okay because there wouldn’t be many people out. But once word leaked that the team was there, everyone showed up. I dragged the defensive guys home with me when the bar started filling up.
“They better not be talking shit about Luce,” I warn.
“No. It’s all good,” he assures me. “So you gonna do it or what? Because if anyone can convince Ace to step aside for Mr. Texas, it’s his BFF.”
I hesitate. Hammer’s not wrong there. Ace and Luce have some kind of relationship, even if I’d prefer to deny it existed. But it’s strong enough to put me in the risk column even after last night. She was still holding back this morning.
But if I could present it someway to her… Hell, it would make my life so much easier. If she were to persuade Ace to move to safety, then Coach would be happy, the boys on D would be happy, and the offense would have to accept it.
The major potential downside of this is if I piss her off by even bringing up the subject. Last night, she was steamed when she thought Jack and I were talking about Ace. She clearly knows something, and if she thinks I’m trying to use her? My dick and balls would be cut off and stuffed down my throat before I could blink twice for help.
I’d even put myself in the risk assessment for that. But maybe if I just laid it out for her…like Hammer suggested. As if I was making a case for Ace, and she could decide for herself if it made sense to sway him one way or the other.
“I’ll think about it.” But the sick feeling in my stomach tells me it’s not a good solution. Obviously Ace is whispering Iago-like into her ear that the football team is full of shitty guys. If she takes this wrong, there’s no coming back from it.
Plus, I don’t like how Ace is so influential with Lucy. On the flip side, maybe she’s influential with him. But using her would be crappy.
I swing into the parking lot of the grocery store. Hammer joins me inside the store. I pick up a basket. We exchange a look and both shake our heads. I put the basket back and grab a cart.
“Let’s get our shit and get out.” Hammer heads toward the snack food aisle while I loiter in the produce section. I throw a few plastic containers of veggies into the cart and then go find some frozen fish.
“What the f*ck are you buying?” Hammer asks me as I roll the cart toward the checkout aisle. “Did you get an email from the trainer?” He looks me with concern. “Shit, do we have to start earlier this year?”
“No, I didn’t get any email. This is just…” I rub the back of my neck self-consciously because I’m buying food for a woman who I haven’t even slept with. I’m f*cking wooing her with broccoli heads and apples.
“Just what?” Hammer prompts.
“Just thinking I should eat better. Set a good example,” I improvise.
“Then I guess this is all for me.” The bastard shakes his bag of Doritos.