Page 30 of The Quarterback Sneak

Honey

“Touchdown South Point!” The announcer’s voice booms through the speakers, and goose bumps freckle my skin because Zach is one step closer to becoming a three-time state championship quarterback. I blow into my hands and rub them together as I stand in the stadium cheering the team on.

“Come on, Mike!” Olivia screams from beside me. Decked in a hat, gloves, Mike’s jersey, and his number painted on her cheeks, you wouldn’t be blamed for mistaking her as a gift store associate for South Point.

On the other hand, you can hardly tell which team I’m rooting for with my plain green sweatshirt. After my mother caught sight of those pictures of Jamie kissing me on New Year’s, she insisted I wear his old practice jersey. She’s hoping for some epic reconciliation. Her hopes were dashed when I explained that I would rather eat a bowl full of live crickets.

Wearing Zach’s jersey didn’t fill me with confidence either. After kissing me like he was going to war, he hasn’t been back since. He told me to wait for him, but how long am I supposed to sit in limbo waiting for my fake boyfriend to get himself together?

What he’s getting himself together for is another mystery. One I’m not sure I’ll solve at this rate.

A chorus of boos fills the stadium, drawing my attention back to the field. The opposing team has scored, and now we’re only a touchdown ahead with four minutes on the clock. Plenty of time for them to come back.

Zach jogs back onto the field, and I hold a breath. Sparks of electricity ricochet through my heart as I try to swallow down those feelings. He hasn’t bothered to look up here to see me, yet I’ve spent the whole game staring at him.

“Come on, guys. You only need to stay ahead for five more minutes,” Olivia says, her hands on her cheeks. Zach’s center field now, talking to the rest of the team and deciding their next play. “Oh. Are those Zach’s parents?”

My eyes dart in the direction Olivia’s pointing, and I swallow. There is no denying that is Zach’s dad talking to one of the coaches. With the same blond hair, he’s the spitting image of Zach, and the gorgeous woman next to him has Zach’s green eyes.

They finally came. A leap of happiness surges through my bones because them being here at his final high school game means everything to him, I’m sure of it.

“I think so.” I can’t stop watching them. How his dad looks at his mom reminds me so much of how Zach used to look at me, and a tiny ember of false hope starts to burn inside me.

Olivia gasps. “Is that…” She doesn’t finish the sentence but lets my gaze trail to the seats just ahead of his parents.

Just when I thought I had built up enough confidence, my heart breaks into a million pieces, shattering onto the bleachers. All hope from that kiss in the hallway has been tossed out the window.

Tiff.

The girl he told me was his sister, but now I’m unsure. Jamie probably loves this as he sits on the bleachers watching her, knowing my heart has been decimated.

Is she really his girlfriend? The mother of his child?

I barely believed it was his sister when he told me the first time, but the longer it takes for Zach to speak to me, the harder it is not to believe that he might have been hiding the truth from me all along. It would explain why he needed the money so badly and why he wanted to keep our family lives separate, but that doesn’t make his other actions any less confusing.

When Zach kisses me, electricity courses through my body straight to my toes. There’s something there; I know it, but am I breaking up a family by letting him kiss me?

“Yup.”

“And is that—” I swallow, staring at the little girl in a baby carrier attached to the front of Tiff’s body. With green ribbons holding her white hair in pigtails, she smiles, emphasizing her chubby cheeks, as she watches the game.

“So, the rumors are true? He does have a kid?” Confusion clouds her voice. This is the first time she’s outright asked me about the rumor. I think she was waiting for me to bring it up, but I’ve been avoiding the topic, not sure how to address something I only know half the story of.

My mouth drops open as I try to think of something to say, but nothing comes out. As I look down the field to find Zach, my eyes stop on Jamie. He’s staring at me with a wicked grin and raised brow.

He knows exactly who I was looking at.

As I look back at Zach’s family, my stomach pits out. If Zach is a dad, then I’m just a side piece to get money. The only feelings are mine.

Jamie’s hot gaze is still on me, urging me to believe his every word, but I just can’t.

“Honey?” Olivia’s hand rubs my shoulder, and I can’t take it. I can’t continue to sit out here and pretend I’m not hurt by this and everything my life has become.

“I’ve gotta go,” I mumble, and do the only thing that comes naturally—run.

“Honey, wait!” Olivia calls behind me, but I’m too quick, zagging between the crowd because I need to get out of here. The air is too thin, and my lungs are too greedy. I need space away from my thoughts, and I can’t get that with everyone around me.

As I race down the steps, I have to walk by Zach’s family, but I focus on the exit so I don’t give them eye contact. Don’t know why I bother since it’s not like his parents know I might be desperately in love with their son.

I walk briskly past the other people into the silent parking lot. No one would be stupid enough to leave right now. The game is way too close for that, which means I can get to my car and out of here before Zach finishes.

“Honey, is it?” I stop at the girl’s voice. Silky and smooth, it’s so sweet; I feel like I’m having a sugar rush just listening to her. I close my eyes, swallowing back the fear growing in my belly. It’s not a voice I recognize, which can only mean one thing.

It’s Tiff.

She knows all about me, and she’s come to claim what’s hers.

I knew this day would come; I just thought I’d be standing up to Zach, not her. How can I tell her I think I might be in love with the father of her child?

Lowering my head, I turn on my heel, not quite ready to look up.

She takes a few steps closer, and when I finally raise my head, I’m surprised at the concern laced across her face. If I knew no better, I’d think she was concerned for me.

As if seeing her beautiful face up close wasn’t enough of a stab in the chest, she’s still wearing the baby carrier. The little girl isn’t in it, but it’s another blaring reminder he has a baby. He has a family he cares about, and I’m getting in the way.

“Have you been crying?”

Oh, God. As if this night couldn’t get any worse. I’m now crying over her boyfriend too. I didn’t even realize it because I was too paralyzed in my own thoughts. I swipe at my cheeks, hoping the fabric of my sweatshirt soaks up the mascara left behind from my tears.

“No, I just have allergies.” The lie is almost as pathetic as me right now.

She peers at me through my curtained hair, stepping closer, acting like I’m a caged animal. “Are you sure? Because I just thought I’d introduce myself.”

Introduce herself? Why doesn’t she sound angry? Why isn’t she slapping me across the face?

Dread washes over me. What if she knew about me all along? What if she was in on the plan with Zach? Toy with the lost, little rich girl and earn some cash.

Stumbling, I walk back but she follows, opening her hand to me and smiling like she’s happy about this.

“I’m Tiff.” I accept her hand because I don’t know what else to do. When I take in a deep breath, there’s a little hitch, and I swear she can hear the giant ball of snot stuck in my nose. “You’re the girl that drops Zach off sometimes, right?”

I nod.

She looks up into the dark sky with a wide smile. “I knew it. Zach’s so private that he refused to tell me what your name was. I only found out because I saw it written on his notes.”

“Oh, yeah?” My chin quivers, and I worry I’m going to throw up on her shoes. She’s being so nice.

“Yeah, once I finally knew your name, he couldn’t deny your existence as easily.” She laughs it off like this whole thing is a joke, but maybe it is to her. “He talks about you a lot.”

My eyes widen. “He does?”

She rolls her eyes but maintains a pleasant smile, and I’m beyond confused. “Not willingly, obviously. Getting Zach to open up about most things is like pulling rotten teeth out of a rabid raccoon. Not something you want to spend your days trying to do. But yeah, he kind of had to when he explained where his bike went.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I doubt he’s told you, but he loves the bike. Ever since it was dropped off, if he’s not driving it, he’s cleaning it or talking through all the different components to Ella as though she knows what he’s talking about.”

Ella.

I feel like a useless, torn piece of paper. His daughter has a name, and it’s beautiful, like her, like his family. Tiff stares at me expectantly, but I have no idea what to say. Maybe she wanted me to buy him a more practical car.

“He’d never admit this to you, but he hasn’t been the same since you broke up with him.”

I narrow my eyes. “Broke up?” He lied to her to keep his secret. “He told you that?”

She tilts her head. “Well, I assumed that’s what happened when you stopped dropping him off. He’s been acting different lately. He seemed happy and finally started going to parties and acting like a high school student. It’s the first time I’ve seen him happy since…” She shakes her head, taking a deep breath. “Doesn’t matter.” She waves her hand. “I thought you broke up with him after the suspension?”

I can’t answer the question because I’m beyond confused about her lackluster attitude toward me. “Why are you being so nice to me?” I come out and ask it because I can’t sit here and pretend we might be friends one day.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asks, sounding taken aback at my boldness. “You make Zach happy, and I like seeing him happy. I know it’s not my place, but I thought I’d return the favor since he has spent so much time helping me.”

I hum out a response, not sure what to say.

“He clearly likes you. I know he can be intense at times, but I wanted to know if there was anything he could do to get you back?”

“But he’s the father of your child.” I choke out the words, stunned that she’s bold enough to ask that.

Tiff almost retches. “Gross. What the hell are you talking about? He’s my cousin.”

There’s a moment of silence while I take in her words.

His cousin? So, not his sister or his girlfriend? Unless I’ve stumbled across some strange family dynamics, then Jamie was wrong.

“You’re his cousin?”

She slowly nods. “Yes. Who did he tell you I was?”

“He, uh, kind of said you were his sister, but I wasn’t sure I believed him.”

She laughs bitterly. “Figures he didn’t tell you. Ever the white knight trying to keep my secrets. Secrets that should have never involved him in the first place. He’s always trying to fight my battles, just like when we were kids.”

“So, Ella isn’t his? Zach’s not a father?”

She raises her hand. “Please, stop. I did not sleep with my cousin.”

My mind whirrs with questions, which are too much to take. Stepping back, I’m too confused about what the hell is going on to think straight. “I can’t do this.”

“Honey.” Her voice grounds me for a few seconds. “I don’t know what’s going on with you and Zach, but will you give him a chance to explain? Protecting Ella has been his number one priority since she was born, and after everything we found out recently, he’s had a lot to focus on. I know falling in love wasn’t in his plans.”

I swallow, and my head feels like it’s about to explode because there’s too much to process. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to freak you out.” Tiff tips her toes, fretting. “I just thought it was important for you to know how broken up he is about everything. About you.”

I don’t know what to say. The final whistle blows, and the crowd cheers, but I don’t know who won.

Tiff looks back to the stadium, then to me. “I’ve got to go back in there and find my daughter, but I hope you’ll let Zach explain himself. He doesn’t have many people on his side, and you seem to be one of the good ones.” She offers me a small smile, and I nod, holding back all the questions threatening to spill out of my mouth.

Tiff skips to the stadium, and I’m left watching her go with a thousand questions running through my mind.

Zach’s had so many opportunities to tell me everything, and he hasn’t. What does that say about how trusting he is of me in our relationship? He told me she was his sister. What difference would it have made if he said cousin? Why did he feel the need to extend the lie to that?

Shaking my head, I rifle through my bag, looking for my keys.

I can’t stay here. I need to leave.