Todd slowly sits up. “I’m good,” he says to the guys surrounding him, but I can tell he’s still a little stunned. Ryan helps him up, and Todd shakes it off.
“This should be fun,” Shane says, laced with sarcasm.
I just glare at him then quickly bring my attention back to the field.
Todd turns away from Casey, and I’m proud that he’s not taking the bait. Then Casey says something that I can’t make out, and Todd turns back around, his focus locked on Casey. In three quick strides, his hands are on Casey’s chest, pushing him back hard, the mud on his shirt flying through the air from the impact.
Shit.
All of the Ridgewood players stand taller, as if they are ready for this fight, while Todd is backed by the entire Easthaven team who all instinctively step forward with raised chests.
“What? You can’t handle that I’m on a date with your ex-girlfriend?” Casey shouts.
Todd glances at me, and I shake my head. I see it all over his face; he wants to tell him.
When Ryan grabs Todd’s shoulder as a warning and reminder, Todd takes Ryan in and then turns back to Casey. He’s in a zone, his eyes zeroed in on him, and my heart is pounding in my ears.
Don’t do it. Don’t say it.
Then Todd’s voice cuts through the pounding.
“She’s not my ex-girlfriend. She’s my girlfriend.”
I can’t move. This must be what being in shock feels like. My mouth is dry; my heart is pounding; I can’t speak. All I can do is stand here, motionless. I can’t believe he just said that out loud in front of everyone.
“Dream on!” Casey shouts back.
Neither of them look in my direction; they are locked on each other.
I start to step forward, but Sid and Shane sandwich me on either side.
“Don’t, Ash. Just stay back.” Shane rests his hand on my arm.
I can’t believe this is happening here in front of all of these people, but if I don’t say anything, I know they are going to fight again.
I take a deep breath and shout as loud as my voice will allow, “It’s true.”
All heads turn in my direction, all eyes now on me.
“What?” Casey asks, his face filled with confusion.
I feel Shane drop his hand, and I take a step forward, finding the strength in my voice again. “I said … it’s true.”
I sense RTS stiffen and hear a few murmurs around me, but my focus is on Todd and Casey; everyone else melts away.
“What’s true?” Casey asks with trepidation.
“We’re still together. We’re lying because of our parents. They made us break up, and they can’t know the truth.” There, I said it. Now everyone knows.
My eyes lock on Todd’s, and his smile tells me I did the right thing. I don’t care anymore. I can’t hide it. I won’t hide it. If we have to run away to be together, so be it.
Ryan starts to pace and run his muddy hands through his hair, his stress palpable. I know he thinks I’m wrong, but I needed to do this.
“Well, they will know now. It’s a good thing me and Mr. Taylor are so tight,” Casey says to Todd with a calm grin. Then he turns to me. “He’s bad for you, Ashley. You just can’t see it.”
Todd steps up, inches from Casey’s face, his voice rigid, and I can see him trying to control himself, calm himself down.
“You listen to me,” Todd says, and Ryan steps up so he is right behind him while the rest of the team is right behind Ryan. “You won’t say a word, not one word, or that will be the last breath you take. Here’s how it’s going to go down. You went out with Ashley, and you had a great time. Maybe you’ll even go out again. That’s what her parents need to know.” With each word, he’s getting closer and closer to Casey. They are practically chest to chest. “But you won’t. You understand me. You won’t go out with her again.” Todd is now fully in his face, his finger slamming into Casey’s chest. “You won’t touch her, talk to her, breathe on her.”
I know what’s coming next; we have been here before, too many times.
My eyes land on my brother. I need his help.
“Ryan, stop him!” I shout, pleading.
Todd continues, “You have no idea how hard it is for me to stand here and see your arm around her, to see you holding her hand. So I hope you enjoyed it, because it’s done.” He fully pushes him in the chest, and Casey stumbles backward.
Ryan pulls Todd back as soon as his hand makes full contact with Casey’s chest, and the rest of the team steps in.
Casey isn’t backing down. He regains his stance in front of Todd. “You really have issues, you know that? We’re on a date because I asked and she said yes. If that hurts you, then maybe you should talk to her.” Casey gestures in my direction, and once again, all eyes are on me, but the only ones I care about are Todd’s.
His lips break into a smile as soon as our eyes lock. I feel my heartbeat start to slow to a steady pace, my entire body relaxing with just his smile.
His eyes are on me, but his words are for Casey. “She told me every detail. I knew everything. She loves me; she used you.”
I see Casey flinch from those words and then his fist slams into Todd’s jaw.
“Damn!” Todd shouts, his hand flying to his face, and then he shakes his head as if he’s shaking off the impact.
Not again. He can’t get into any more trouble.
Then, out of nowhere, Ryan nails Casey hard with a right hook to the center of his face.
“You just don’t know when to stop, do you?” Ryan shouts to Casey who is now on the ground.
That one hit from Ryan is like an invitation for everyone on the field to jump in. Mud and fists start flying everywhere, and I lose sight of Todd and Ryan.
Brian comes running up to us. “Get out of here. Go wait by the cars.”
“I’m not leaving.” I press my feet deeper into the soft, muddy ground.
“Ashley, do you really think they would want you to get hurt? Go. It’s getting ugly.”
“You need to stop them, Brian,” Blythe says, locking her fingers with his.
Brian glances back at the muddy brawl where the lighthearted game has turned into a bloody battle. Then he turns back to us with a smile as he raises his eyebrows. “Oh, I will.” Brian lives for stuff like this. “Shane, get the girls out of here, wait in my car. Blythe, you have the keys, right?”
She nods and then leans in to kiss him. “Be careful.”
“Always,” he says with a wicked smile before his hand breaks away from hers, and he runs back into the mayhem.
RYAN
What the hell am I doing? How did we get into this? It was supposed to be a fun pickup game to distract Todd. I blame Ashley; somehow, it always comes back to my sister.
Brian breaks through the crowd, running toward me.
“Where are the girls?” I shout to him as we both duck to avoid the swinging fists flying in our direction.
“Shane is taking them to my car.”
“Thanks,” I say then turn to slam my fist into someone who was about to attack from behind. I say a silent thank you for my quick reflexes then spin to miss another hit and find myself right in front of Todd. “So, this is fun,” I shout over to him.
“Yeah, a blast,” he says as his fist connects with someone from Ridgewood. “I hear it’s good to find an outlet for your anger. We should do this more often.” He hits the same kid again.
I shake my head and laugh as I avoid another hit. Then my eyes land on Brian who is pummeling someone else from Ridgewood. I quickly glance over to where I know Gretchen was standing a few minutes ago. It’s empty.
Out of nowhere, a fist connects with my jaw. Damn, pay attention, or you’re going to get yourself killed. Ridgewood kids may be rich, but they can fight. I know all of my boys can hold their own, so I’m not too concerned about them.
Gretch is fine. Just fight, dumbass.