Becky seems certain, but something about the way Rose was looking at me makes me question if there is more to it than meets the eye. Either way, I can see that Rose has trouble written all over her, and there is no way I’ll get in the middle of it. The last thing I need is to start off by making enemies in a place that should be our sanctuary.
Chapter Five
EMMETT
“All I’m saying is, maybe we should do something together as a team.” Nico nods his head and takes a huge bite of his sandwich.
“We have a good ratio of seasoned versus new players, but it would help us mesh better out on the field,” Tim, our quarterback, adds. “What do you think, Santiago?”
I swallow my bite and look at the expectant faces around the table. It’s a bit unnerving, the way they all look up to me like I hold all the answers. I didn’t sign up for this. I’m just a guy who wants to play the game he loves. But that’s not how it works.
“I mean, it wouldn’t be a bad thing,” I agree, already trying to figure out when I’d be able to put that in my schedule.
Although my parents don’t expect me to help on the ranch, and more often than not, they tell me to concentrate on school and football, I love doing it. I love working out in the fields, side by side with my dad. There is something peaceful about working on the land and tending to the animals. It’s grueling work, but at the end of the day, satisfying.
“Maybe we should try and figure out what kind of activity…”
“I have something in mind.”
All eyes turn to John, and the asshole is eating up the attention. “Some kind of outdoor adventure rink opened on a farm between Bluebonnet and Bravo. They have paintball, among other things.”
“Hell, yeah!”
“Sweet.”
More agreement comes from people sitting at our table as they start talking about logistics, like on what day we should go.
“Why so quiet?” Miguel asks, nudging Becky with his elbow. She’s been looking over her shoulder since we sat down.
“Huh?” Becky turns her attention to the table.
Miguel tips his chin toward the entrance, chuckling. “Why are you glaring like that at the door? You’ll crick your neck if you keep at it.”
The guys are still immersed in their discussion about paintball, and they barely pay us any attention.
“Just looking for somebody.”
There is a frown between Becky’s brows as she stabs her fork into her mac and cheese. If there is any indicator she’s acting off; it’s the way she tries to kill one of her favorite meals.
“Does that somebody’s name start with a K?” Miguel asks, chewing loudly.
Becky’s nose furrows in disgust. “What if it does? Worried I’m going to replace y’all with somebody with better manners?”
Miguel rolls his eyes. “Yeah, right. Fat chance of that happening.”
“You just keep thinking that.” She peeks over her shoulder once again. Not that I can blame her. My own gaze has strayed toward the door more times than I’d like to admit in the last couple of days, but Kate is nowhere to be seen. “She should have been here.”
“Who?” John looks around the cafeteria.
“Kate,” Miguel explains, not even bothering to avert his gaze. “But seriously, why are you so stuck on her?”
“I’m not stuck on anybody, Miguel. I just like her.” Becky’s answer is followed by another hard stab at her pasta.
“I think Becs has a girl crush on her or something,” Miguel sing-songs.
“Like, like her, like her?” John wiggles his brows. “I didn’t take you for that kind of girl, Becs.”
Becky balls up her napkin and throws it at Miguel’s head.
“You two are disgusting. She’s my friend.” She pushes off the table and stands up. “I think I need some air.”
“Becs, don’t…” I try to stop her, but she’s already walking away.
I turn my attention to Miguel and John, who are still snickering. I extend my leg and kick one of them from underneath the table.
“Ouch,” John protests. “What was that for?”
“What was that for? Seriously?” I glare at them, shaking my head.
I expect shit like that from John, but not Miguel.
“What? I was just—”
“Save it.” I get up. “I’m going to check on her.”
I grab my backpack and throw it over my shoulder, picking up my half-eaten tray off the table.
“It was just a joke,” Miguel calls out after me.
I look over my shoulder. “Maybe you should be careful with things you joke about.”
I walk across the room, ignoring all the people who call my name and dispose of my tray before heading out into the hallway.
There are still ten-ish minutes left of the lunch hour, and most of the people are either in the cafeteria or in class, so the hallway is almost empty.
Except for Becky, that is.
She lifts her head when she hears the door open and close, but sighs when she realizes it’s just me.
“He makes me so mad sometimes,” she says quietly, her fingers curling into fists.
“He can be a real asshole sometimes,” I agree, leaning against the wall next to her but making sure to keep my distance in case her fists start flying. “Most guys are.”
“Not you.” She thinks about it for a moment. “Well, at least not toward me.”
I poke her softly in her side. “I tease you, too.”
The corner of her mouth twitches, but she bites the inside of her cheek to prevent from laughing. Instead, she swats my hand away.
“There is a difference between teasing and being an asshole.”
“There is also a difference in how you react to different people.” I push off the wall and turn to look at her. “Who are you really angry at, Becs?”
Her brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
“Who are you angry at?” I repeat slowly, wanting her to understand. To look at this situation from my perspective. While, yes, Miguel and Becky have always been at each other’s throats, it was all just teasing. But lately, it feels different.
“Miguel, of course…”
“But not John?”
“John is just being John.”
I raise my brows. “Yet, you’re angry with Miguel?”
She huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. “Your point being?”
“That maybe you should ask yourself why it makes you so angry when Miguel says something, but John’s just being John.”
“I expect better from him. I—” Becky presses her mouth in a tight line, the words dying on her lips.
“Just think about it.” I push a strand of her wild hair behind her ear. “I don’t want to see you get hurt, Becky.”
I don’t want to see either of my two best friends hurting, and that’s exactly what they’re doing. Only it’s worse because they’re fighting against each other when it was always us against the world. I don’t know what to do about it, how to make it right.
Becky forces a smile out. It’s small, barely visible, but it’s there.