Page 99 of Under the Influence

I don't even know what I am hoping to find. Something I could hold over his head? Something I could threaten him with?

I spot a laptop on his desk and push it open, surprised when there is no password protecting it, nothing at all to keep me out. I shake my head at the thought, what could perfect Drayton have to hide anyway?

I laugh at the wallpaper, Lainey Blackwood smiling like she loves him. I wouldn't be surprised if she dated him to piss me off. She succeeded in bringing him around more, which is annoying, but he's in my fucking house now, whether they are dating or not.

I notice how all the folders are labeled on the desktop. Most are school-related, but I hover the cursor over an untitled folder and click. My mind is racing as I scroll through some pictures. I instantly recognize the man in the pictures as Drayton's dad. He died a few years back, and Drayton has pictures everywhere with him, so I know what he looks like, but the woman in the photos… is not Drayton's mom. In fact, she looks nothing like Daria. Taller, slender, dark hair, big tits. She even looks familiar, but I can't place it. I feel my heart begin to race. Drayton's perfect dad had an affair?

How long has Drayton known about this? Does Daria know?

I send the pictures to myself, erasing any lingering evidence that I was ever on this computer, and close the screen.

At least now, I had leverage. He'll play my game, whether he wants to or not. Unless he wants everyone to know that his dad, who everyone once loved and adored, was a cheater.

CHAPTER

THIRTY

CARSON

Coach shouts at Nash from across the field, and I hear him curse under his breath as he stands to see what he wants. Drayton catches every single pitch I throw, same as Nash usually does, but he doesn’t talk. He does his job and keeps his mouth shut.

After the way Nash left the school earlier, I didn’t think that he’d even come back for practice, but he showed up. I haven’t had time to talk to him yet, but I know I need to tell him about the bathroom.

I already feel horrible that I let Cori believe I was Nash, but now at least, I know where I stand. She wants him, and I will have to back off and let it happen. Even if it feels like she belongs with me instead.

It hurts.

That smile, her long legs, every single thing about her drives me crazy. I can still hear her soft voice in my head talking about baseball.

“What’s wrong with you?” Nash asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Oh, nothing,” I lie, staring at the baseball in my hand, then winding up to pitch it.

“Drayton,” Coach acknowledges as he walks up. “Take that gear off and get some pitches in.”

“Yes, sir,” he nods, ripping the catcher’s gear off.

I watch as Nash glares at him. If looks could kill, he’d be dead.

“Dude, would you stop staring at him like that?”

Nash pulls his hat off of his head, turning it backward, “I think it’s time we officially make him a Shark.”

He pulls out his phone, typing into it furiously, and I warn him, “Nash, just leave it.”

He laughs, rolling his eyes, “The warehouse, nine o’clock.”

Several hours later, I’m pulling on boots and jeans, getting ready to head down to the field. The warehouse is abandoned and is smack dab in the middle of a muddy field. There are several burn barrels there, and it’s where most of the Legacy parties take place if another venue isn’t available. Now that Nash’s dad is back and his house is out of the question, this is the only option. Nash’s mass text was only to the team, meaning it shouldn’t be a kegger, which almost scares me more, no witnesses.

I pull up outside Nash’s house and wait for him and Drayton to come out. The scowl on Drayton’s face as he follows Nash to my truck is unmistakable.

He’s pissed.

Everyone is already there when we pull into the gravel lot outside the old building. Crew holds the attention of everyone, telling a story with his hands, and Drayton slings my truck door open to escape.

Nash scans the crowd, “Where’s Madden?”

Crew shrugs, taking a quick bite of a slim jim.