Page 106 of Touchdown, Tennessee

“Fifty thousand. You don’t deserve a penny of it,” Andrew said.

The police arrived soon after. They found my switchblade, but I knew my rights, and in Tennessee it was legal to carry a knife. They questioned us, and I told them that I was following Colby inmy car because I knew he was drunk, and wanted to ensure his safety.

Colby was ultimately taken in for his DUI, but he went in with a smile on his face due to the paycheck he knew he had coming his way.

About an hour later, Peachel and I were allowed to head home.

We drove most of the way back to his frat house in silence.

“You didn’t have to do all of that for me,” Andrew finally said to me as we pulled up outside the house.

“I didn’t hesitate for a moment.”

“Even the fifty thousand isn’t a guarantee he won’t say anything,” Andrew said, looking out the passenger side window. “But based on past experiences, I think he’ll keep his mouth shut.”

“How many times have people tried to swindle money from you, Peachel?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. A dozen? At least?”

“That’s disgusting.”

“Just part of my life.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.

It was the exact sort of thing I used to aid my mother in doing, all the time. Usually to people a little less wealthy than him, but… if my mother and I had come across anyone like Andrew back in the day, there was no doubt in my mind she’d find a way to exploit him.

He moved to take off his seatbelt and I reached out a hand to stop him from getting out of the car.

“You were going to punch that guy, weren’t you?”

Andrew looked at me, giving me a sad nod. “He was trying to hurt you with that rock. Of course I’d punch him.”

“But your chances at going pro are constantly threatened by a single punch you threw, months ago.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “I didn’t think about that. I just thought about you.”

My throat tightened. “Can’t say anyone’s ever done that for me.”

“Yeah, well, you’re worth it, Gray. Even if you don’t ever believe it, just know that I did.”

As he got out of my car and started walking to the front doors of his frat house, something like panic settled in my chest.

Fuck.

Don’t do it.

Don’t let yourself trust anything.

You always get hurt.

But as I watched him unlocking the front door, I realized that it was far too late for that.

I cared about him so much more than I’d ever cared aboutanyone.

Andrew Peachel had come into my life hard and fast, and taken up a spot in my heart that I didn’t even know I had room for.

No.