Courtside Crush: Varsity Girlfriends Book One Read online

  I stopped and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Daria. I don’t know what to say.”

  Daria closed her eyes. “You think I’m mad that you like Brooks?” she asked slowly.

  “Uh, yeah?”

  “Then you really are an idiot.” She shook her head and opened her eyes. “That’s not why I’m mad. I mean, I think it’s incredibly stupid considering the Senior Year Rematch and rivalry with your brother. But that’s not why I’m upset with you.”

  “It’s not?” I was so confused.

  “How long have we been friends?”

  “Since fifth grade,” I answered.

  “And are we best friends?”

  I nodded, still not sure where she was going with all this.

  “Then I shouldn’t be finding out about who you have a crush on from Anderson! He sent that picture to me earlier with some text about me helping get you two back together. Said if I didn’t, he was going to make sure Preston saw it.”

  My eyes went wide.

  “Of course, you’d already told me about the corn maze, and I thought it was just some random dude. So, I told him to go ahead and send it.”

  I gasped. “Oh, no!”

  I was ready to run back to the school to find Preston. I was prepared to run away from the school and never look back.

  “Don’t worry, he didn’t. Anderson explained why that picture was so important. And why I should help him.”

  I rubbed a hand over my face. This was bad. This was so, so bad. “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him not to stop me when I dragged you outside during lunch. I told him not to do anything hasty because I am your friend, Charlie Royce. I’ve got your back. On the court, off the court. Always. But I can’t do that if you keep secrets from me.”

  Too embarrassed to look my best friend in the eye, my gaze went to my feet. I’d been keeping secrets, and she was mad because it meant she couldn’t look out for me.

  I didn’t deserve her.

  “Listen, I understand why you didn’t tell me. Your brother really has it out for Brooks, but I’m not him. I don’t care who you date, as long as they’re a decent human being. So, I need you to tell me, is Brooks a good guy or some jerk like Anderson?”

  “He’s a good guy. And his name is Jackson.”

  “Jackson is a much better name than Brooks.”

  I smiled. “It is. Jackson really is great. And honestly, I’m relieved you finally know. I hated keeping him a secret from you. Especially, since I was about to tell him I would be his girlfriend.”

  “Oh, wow.” Daria took a deep breath. “Then we need to decide what to do about Anderson because that dude is crazy with a capital C.”

  I thought about the way he’d acted these last couple of weeks and couldn’t agree more. “What I don’t get is, why does he care? Anderson is the one who cheated on me. He’s the one who seemed thrilled about breaking up.”

  “And boys are like toddlers. They might not want to play with a toy, but that doesn’t mean he wants anyone else playing with it.”

  I laughed. “What am I? A bicycle?”

  Daria choked on a laugh, and her eyes went wide. “Do me a favor, and don’t carry that analogy out too far. I think you’ll really regret not picking a kickball or blocks or anything else if you do.”

  I thought about what she meant by that. There was nothing wrong with a bicycle. You rode them and…

  Right. Anderson was a jerk and would take that and make it into something perverted.

  “You thought too hard,” Daria said in response to the face I was making.

  I nodded.

  “Fine. Let’s think about it this way instead. I’m sure Anderson saw you with Brooks, and it probably made him realize what a terrible guy he is. And he’s going to take it out on you.”

  “Ugh. So, what do we do?”

  “Have you considered going to Preston, and just telling him about Brooks?”

  I shook my head. “I love my brother, but he would not take it well. It’s like he thinks Jackson Brooks has it out for him.”

  “And does he?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged. “We don’t really talk about it. It’s easier that way.”

  Daria shook her head. “Girl. You are digging yourself a hole here.”

  “I know.”

  And the thing was, I really did know. I was avoiding my brother when I was with Jackson. And I was keeping the guy I liked from Preston. I was compartmentalizing my life, hoping the two circles would never meet. But they would meet. And soon.

  Basketball season was right around the corner, and the game against Pinebrook was the guys’ season opener. There would be so much pressure on both sides to win, and I wasn’t sure who I would cheer for. A win for either team would mean upset for someone I cared about.

  This whole thing was a mess.

  The desire to run returned. I could take a vacation, just until basketball season was over. Sure, I’d miss the opportunity to get an athletic scholarship. But who needed college?

  My thoughts continued to cycle through one irrational thought after another until I looked back up at Daria. She watched me with kind eyes.

  “I don’t know what to do,” I said.

  “Girl. Me neither, but we’ll figure it out together.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Daria and I hadn’t figured anything out. We’d been texting ideas back and forth but always came up short.

  I considered telling Preston the truth. I knew he and Jackson had a grudge, but maybe they could be civil to one another off the court. Yes, it was unlikely, but it was so much better than the other option. I’d just decided I was ready to date Jackson. I didn’t want it to end before we had a chance to explore it further.

  I wasn’t willing to settle for either option, which meant I had no plan when Anderson pulled me aside during lunch on Friday.

  “Take a walk with me,” he said, linking his arm in mine. He pulled me toward the football field. I knew we were going to the bleachers and, if I had any say, I’d never go under there again for as long as I lived.

  Nothing good ever came of it.

  I didn’t think Anderson would physically hurt me, but I didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

  “I know about you and Brooks, Charlie. You know that. Daria knows that. I kinda thought you’d come talk to me by now.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know what you want from me, Anderson. You are the one who cheated on me. You are the one who went out with Linzie. Why do you want me to be your girlfriend so badly?”

  His laugh was cruel. “Really, Charlie? You think I want to get back with you?”

  I was confused. “Uh, yeah? That’s what you told Daria. Why else would you be blackmailing me?”

  “You keyed my car, Charlie. I had to drive around for a week with that on my door. Everywhere I went, people gave me dirty looks. Linzie felt uncomfortable riding with me. And my parents were pissed. They said I’d embarrassed them—ruined the Webb name.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I want to see you suffer the way I suffered. Either you break up with Brooks and pretend to date me, or I tell Preston all about your night at the corn maze.”

  It didn't make sense. Anderson had been parading Linzie all over school ever since our breakup. I imagined she’d be pretty mad if she saw the two of us together. Unless...

  “Did Linzie dump you?”

  His cool facade broke for a split second. “It doesn’t matter.”

  Translation: Yes, she did.

  “Back to the matter at hand.” He smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “That picture I sent you isn’t the only one I have of you and Brooks.”

  Goosebumps broke out up and down my arms. “Wait. Have you been stalking me?”

  He laughed. “I haven’t had to. You’ve been flaunting it like you want to get caught. I can’t wait to see your brother’s face when I tell him. You think you know how much he hates Brooks? You have no idea. You shoul
d hear the way he talks about him when you’re not around.”

  “Don’t tell him,” I said, hating how it sounded like I was begging. Who was I kidding? Anderson had me freaked out. Of course, I was begging.

  “Come to Sammi’s Halloween party with me on Saturday night. Wear something sexy and pretend like you’re falling all over me.”

  “Oh, yeah, because that’ll be believable. Charlie Royce dressed in something skimpy for Halloween.”

  Anderson shrugged. “Maybe it’ll just show how determined you are to get back with me.”

  I pressed my lips together.

  “You make a big show of you crawling back to me, and we’ll be even.”

  “Just like that?”

  Anderson grinned. “Just like that.”

  My eyes narrowed in suspicion. Playing his girlfriend in front of everyone would make for a miserable night, but it still seemed too easy. I knew I was missing something. I just didn’t know what.

  I thought of Preston, and how he might react. I may have thought I was willing to risk it all to date Jackson in the safety of my room, but when faced with the reality of having to make a choice, I realized I didn’t have a choice.

  I nodded. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

  I waited for Anderson to walk back to the school building. I still had a few minutes until the bell rang. And, of course, that was when Jackson decided to text me. Instead of feeling the usual rush of butterflies at seeing his name on my screen, a rock had taken their fluttery place. I’d made a deal with the devil, and now I had to live with it.

  11:56 AM

  Romeo: Hey! What are you doing tomorrow night? My cousin is having this thing, and I thought maybe we could go together. I know you aren’t ready for another date, but there’ll be lots of people there, so it doesn’t really count. Just an excuse to spend more time together. What do you think???

  I would have loved to say yes, but I’d just committed to going to the Halloween party with Anderson. Maybe it was better this way—to say no right away, instead of having to break plans with him.

  Charlie: Sorry! I can’t. I already made other plans.

  Romeo: Bummer. I guess that’s what I get for waiting. At least I get to see your beautiful face tomorrow at the soup kitchen.

  He put a couple of heart-eyed emojis after the word kitchen. A sad smile touched my lips. I had no idea how I was going to face Jackson in the morning. How could I look him in the eyes knowing I was about to throw myself at Anderson?

  Not to mention the game between Rosemark and Pinebrook was right around the corner. It was stupid to think I could have a happily ever after with Jackson. We’d always end in tragedy.

  I should have known with a code name like Romeo, we were doomed from the start.

  I couldn’t see him anymore. That was the only possible way to avoid breaking both of our hearts. Better to end things before they got any more serious, right? Jackson was so clearly into me, which was adorable and romantic and everything I didn’t know I wanted.

  But Preston was my brother. We’d been through a lot together, and we always had each other’s backs. I couldn’t keep seeing Jackson behind his back no matter how much I wanted to, especially now that Anderson was blackmailing me.

  My fingers trembled as I typed my reply.

  Charlie: Were you serious when you said you would stop going to Helping Hands until I finished my commitment?

  I hit send before I could change my mind.

  Romeo: Why are you asking me that? I thought we were going to give “us” a shot first?

  Charlie: Will you or won’t you stay home tomorrow?

  It was a long time before he responded. The bell had already rung in the distance, but I refused to move from this spot until he answered my question.

  Romeo: I’ll stay home until December. That way you won’t have to worry about seeing me ever again.

  I could almost hear the frustration in his voice when I read the words on the screen. My fingers hovered over the keyboard. I wanted to tell him everything, but I couldn’t. He’d want to fix it, or he wouldn’t understand why this was such a hard decision for me.

  I settled on two words: I’m sorry.

  But in the end, I deleted them before ever hitting send.

  Chapter Fifteen

  True to his word, Jackson didn’t show up for Helping Hands the following day. But that didn’t mean I hadn’t felt his presence the entire time I’d volunteered at the soup kitchen.

  From Mila’s curious gazes to Mrs. Gibbs dirty looks, it was obvious where everyone placed the blame for Jackson’s absence.

  When I’d finished my time giving food to the less fortunate, I raced to the local thrift shop. Anderson hadn’t given me much time to come up with something to wear to Sammi’s party, and my parents weren't going to dish out the money for their little girl to go buy something that showed off way too much skin. So, I was stuck doing the best I could with my limited savings from my summer job.

  I had scoured the racks looking for something that fit me, could double as a Halloween costume, and didn’t smell like grandma’s attic. It wasn’t nearly as easy as I’d hoped it would be, but an hour later, I settled on a combination of items I hoped would satisfy Anderson—plaid skirt I could roll up until it was too short, knee-high socks, and a button-down shirt that I’d tie just above my navel. I planned to top my ensemble off with braided pigtails.

  I didn’t want to see my parents or Preston’s disapproving looks, so when I got dressed in my room, I made sure my skirt was two inches above my knees, and the shirt was buttoned all the way down and covered my stomach completely.

  Once I was as satisfied as I could be with my appearance, I met my brother out in the hall. He wore a basketball jersey and an inflatable doughnut around his waist.

  “What are you supposed to be?” I asked as he beamed down at me.

  Preston lifted his hands like he was poised to shoot a basketball. “Dunkin’ Doughnut, duh.”

  I shook my head. “I should have known you’d do something cheesy.”

  “Wait until you see Beth. She’s going to be Starbucks, and we’re going to fight all night over who makes the best coffee.”

  I tried to smile but couldn’t quite get there after everything that had happened the previous week—and knowing what was still to come.

  “And look at you in a dress,” Pres continued. “What exactly are you supposed to be, Charlie?”

  “Catholic schoolgirl? I don’t know! I didn’t have a lot of time to pull something together.”

  “Well, maybe if you didn’t wait until the day before the party to decide you were going to come, you would have found something a little better than your sad, conservative Britney Spears costume.” Preston waved a hand at my clothing.

  “We can’t all be as clever as you, can we?”

  “I wouldn’t even try,” he joked as we walked down the hall and said goodbye to our parents.

  They made a big fuss over Preston’s costume and were mostly baffled by my choice. I used the same last-minute argument with them, and thankfully they both just shrugged it off.

  Don’t worry guys, I thought. It’s about to get way worse. I was just happy they wouldn’t be able to see any of it.

  We were told to be home by midnight just as we walked out the front door. Preston agreed to drive to Sammi’s, and I texted Anderson to let him know we were on our way.

  9:30 PM

  Charlie: We’ll be there soon.

  Anderson: What are you wearing?

  Ew. Could he be any creepier? With every passing day after our break-up, I saw him more clearly. I couldn’t believe I’d ever been attracted to him. I sighed and played my part.

  Charlie: Naughty school girl.

  Anderson: Niiiiiice. Now, don’t forget. You’re coming tonight to beg me to get back together. I want you all over me. If not, I’m showing Pres the picture in front of everyone.

  Bile rose in the back of my throat.

  Charlie: Can’t wait. />
  I continued to stare down at my phone. I hated this stupid situation so much. I’d all but broken up with Jackson, and I was still stuck following Anderson’s every command.

  “Everything okay?” Preston managed to sneak a glance in my direction and looked down at my phone.

  I shut off the screen, even though I knew he wouldn’t have been able to read it in that short amount of time. “Uh, yeah. Just...”

  I paused. While I didn’t want him to think I was in trouble, I also didn’t want him to be ashamed of my behavior that evening.

  “Just a little tired,” I said hoping he would drop it.

  “You sure?”

  I forced a smile. “I’m sure everything will be much better once we get to Sammi’s.”

  Everything was not better once we got there.

  I’d quickly run to the bathroom once we walked into Sammi’s mansion of a house. I hiked up my skirt and tied off my shirt, feeling very much like the village prostitute. It was one thing to dress this way because I wanted to. It was a completely different thing knowing it was to keep my ex-boyfriend happy.

  I tried to ignore the strange looks I got walking around the first floor of the house and resisted the urge to tug on the skirt so that it was covering more skin. Careful not to bump into Daria or Preston, I walked room to room until I found Anderson. He was with some of the other basketball players—not anyone Pres or I really hung out with. He wore a cop uniform, complete with handcuffs hanging from his hip.

  He didn’t see me right away, so I stood next to him, a frown on my face, waiting for him to acknowledge my presence. When he turned and saw me standing there, his expression turned predatory—from the gleam in his slightly narrowed eyes, to the way his lips curled in a smile that was anything but kind.