Rumor Has It (Rumor Has It #1)(39)

“There.” She hands the phone back to me. “I changed my mind. I just told him off.”

I can't reach for it fast enough, wondering exactly what she wrote. My eyes pop open, and my mouth drops as I read it. I also can't help but feel a little warm inside, as her words that are full of malice for him are nothing but endearing towards me.

Emerald22: You've got some nerve! My bff is the best person ever! She's sweet and kind and a terrific person. I can't believe she's giving u another chance to even talk to her. I'm firmly against it. You're an asshole. Grade A! If u two ever do meet, be prepared for a swift kick to the nuts because I'll be spying on her and when she meets u, I'll be there. Jerks like u don't deserve someone as great as her. Peace out, bitch!





I want to laugh and cry at the same time, while she beams proudly. "Thanks," I whisper. Then my phone dings.

BigBaller27: Wow. I totally deserved that. Like I said, I can't tell u why I wasn't there, but I PROMISE, one day you'll know. For what it's worth, I KNOW ur a great person. And to have a friend as loyal as that also proves it. I know Emerald isn't your real name, but I imagine you're as precious as one and u have friends who protect you like a treasure. And yes, I am relieved and grateful and honored to get a second chance to even speak with u





It's the first meaningful text I've received since before the day we were supposed to meet, and even though I'm trying not to get emotional, I feel tears prick the back of my eyes. Jen sees my reaction and grabs my phone.

“Okay.” She curls a lip, rolling her eyes. “As far as replies go, that one isn’t bad.”

I smile and take another sip of my drink.





Chapter 27





Carter





The weekend goes by excruciatingly slowly. After the fallout from practice, I receive a lovely text message from Emma’s friend, who I’m sure is Jen. It’s justified, of course, but getting hit in the face with the truth stings.

I didn’t want to reply with some flippant comment. I screwed up and wanted her to know how sorry I felt. But admitting that was the exact game plan I was trying to avoid. I’m trying to get her to forget Baller and start thinking about Carter. So even though I don’t want to send it, knowing it might make her fall for Texting Me again, I’m happy to be honest with her.

We have a game over the weekend and we tank. No, tank is putting it mildly. We implode.

Our team is more than divided. We're shattered. Almost everyone despises me for lying. The only ones that try to just play the game are Matt, Lucas, and Franco. And Lucas and Franco surprised me because they've been friends with Jeremy longer than anyone.

“Dude.” Lucas came up to me right before the game. “That shit Jeremy pulled? It’s stupid. I don’t care who you’re hooking up with or not hooking up with. I just want to play ball.”

“Thanks.”

But of course, that's the only bright spot. Jeremy took control, running the floor even though Lucas is our point guard. Jeremy called out the plays Coach called in, and every chance someone got they passed him the ball. By half-time, we're down twenty points and Coach is beside himself. It doesn't get any better in the second half, and we end up losing the game by thirty points.

Getting to the locker room, after the game, Coach Hallinan just looks around at all of us. He shakes his head, wanting to say something, but finding no words. You know when your parents tell you that they aren’t mad, they’re just disappointed, and somehow that makes it worse? That’s how we all feel, as he walks out of the locker room without even a word.

Other than that, I hide in my room over the weekend, hoping I can avoid my mom and the black eye that's formed under my left eye. I do so successfully for the rest of Saturday, but on Sunday, I wake up and head out to the kitchen, looking for some for breakfast. Mom is already there, pouring some coffee.

"Good morning," she says, as she puts the pot back over the burner. "I'm headed to the office for some overtime, but I thought later we could—" she gasps as she turns around. "Carter, what happened?"

“What?” Still groggy, I don’t know what she’s talking about. But as she stares at my face, I remember. “Oh, nothing.”

“Did that happen at the game yesterday?”

“No,” I answer, opening the fridge.

“Well?” Her voice is stern, and I know I’m not going to get away with not answering her.

“It happened at practice Friday.”

"You got into a fight with a teammate?"

My mom and I usually keep a pretty open relationship. She knows most of the important stuff that’s going on at school, and she knows Jeremy too. Explaining that he’s the one that punched me means I’ll have to explain the quagmire about all the rumors. We talk about a lot of stuff, but I don’t make it a point to tell her what girls I like, make out with, or the rumors that go further than that.

“No,” I lie. “I caught an elbow on the court.”

She eyes me suspiciously, taking a sip of her coffee. Nodding, she examines my face a little closer, before going to the table.

“Okay, put some ice on it though.”

“I will.”