Page 19 of Break Point

I tuck my phone inside my locker and mentally kick around the tangle I’m weaving. Normally I use the grind of football practice to bury my mental shit, but the universe seems hell bent on me dealing with things directly today.

Literally.

Jaden is standing in the center of the tunnel as I walk out, her hands on her hips and her tennis gear bag slung over her back like Johnny Cash’s guitar. She must have marched straight from the tennis court here, which probably means she saw me watching. The embarrassment at that thought sinks in my gut for a moment. I could sprint by her now, but there’s no way to pretend I don’t see her. Besides, I have a feeling I know what this is about.

“I can explain,” I start, holding my hands out partly to obstruct any random object she may decide to throw at me. Thankfully, she doesn’t use projectiles. Instead, she flashes her phone screen in my face, the alert that her student account has been frozen zoomed in on those words only.

“Is this app thing even legit? Was that even really your daddy’s credit card you used? Was this all some scheme to rope me into free publicity? You have five seconds before I dial your sister and tell her I’m out!”

I can tell by the way her toe is tapping at roughly one-second intervals that she’s in fact counting. She’s already at three.

“My dad refused payment!” I blurt out, deciding dishing out the truth is better than concocting more lies. Maybe I’m growing.

Jaden flinches a tick as her brows draw in.

“I’m taking care of it, though—”

“Uh, doesn’t look like it!” She holds her phone up again and taps on the screen.

I drop my hand over hers to coax her to put her phone down, and she recoils, stepping back. One of the guys passing by on his way to the locker room clears his throat, and I raise up a hand. He gives me a quick nod, then heads in.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have touched you. I just need you to give me a minute,” I plead.

“Five seconds,” she repeats.

I laugh, which makes her scowl.

“You keep using that arbitrary time. I can’t explain anything in five seconds, so just . . . gah!” I hold out my open palms in frustration.

Jaden purses her lips but tucks her phone against her side as she crosses her arms over her midriff. I try not to stare at the short, pleated skirt barely covering her thighs. And I fail.

Jaden snaps her fingers.

“Focus, Bryson!”

I shake my head and try to form a cohesive thought as I take a deep breath. I’m smirking. I feel it on my face. And I’m sure it’s irritating the shit out of her, but I’m only doing it because I can’t believe the situation I’m in. All I wanted was to smooth things over with this girl, to make her not despise me, and maybe make up for my shitty behavior three years ago. Instead, I just keep doubling down.

“You know how I said my sister wants to do this on her own? Without our dad’s input?”

My gaze meets hers, and when I don’t get a reaction, except for the blank, impatient stare, I press on.

“Right, well, I meant it. My father can be a real asshole. He saw the charge on the card and assumed my sister was careless with it and needed rescuing. He canceled the payment and asked me to deliver the news to Amelia that she’d clearly been hacked and needs to be more careful with her business finances. Rather than crush my sister, I went back to the financial aid office Saturday and had them move the charge to my card. I guess my bank flagged it as suspicious, though, so yeah. That’s pretty much how we got here. I’m sorry you got that notice. I wanted to fix it before anyone found out. I planned on taking care of it right after practice.”

Jaden chews at the inside of her mouth as her eyes study me, nothing about her features hinting at understanding or forgiveness.

“So instead of telling your dad that you ruined the business check your sister issued correctly, you let him believe she’s inept. And then you tried to cover it all up.”

Well, shit.

“Uh, I mean . . .” I fumble my words as my gaze seems to refuse to hold steady on hers. Probably because I don’t really like the way she’s looking at me right now. A bit judgmental. A tad self-righteous. One hundred percent in the right.

“Just let me fix this. Please? Don’t call Amelia. And don’t back out on her. She needs you. I’m sure she’s already texted you about lunch today. She’s counting on us showing up and doing that video.” I sigh out my last vestiges of hope. I manage to bring my gaze up enough to catch Jaden’s mouth pull in tight on one side and her eyes squint. I think she’s considering giving me a break. Again.

“After practice, you go straight to the financial aid office and fix this.” Her chin drops, and her pupils expand, like she’s got x-ray vision and is exploring my mind for more potholes.

I nod at her request.

“Yes.” I cross my chest with two swipes of my fingers for emphasis.