Page 107 of Under the Influence

He wants to break Drayton. Step one, take away his girlfriend.

"Done," I agree.

I am afraid to know what step two will be, and at this point, maybe leaving him alone is the best way to protect him. It hurts, though, because I am falling in love with him. But just like always, Nash is waiting right here, ready to take it away.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-TWO

MADDEN

"Do you have any idea what is going on with Lainey? I mean, did she mention anything to you?" Drayton slings his glove into his bag.

My first thought goes to her parents, "I haven't talked to her since lunch. Why?"

He slams his hand into the fence, "She just broke up with me. Over a cryptic text, and now she's avoiding me. I mean, last night we... well, we were fine and then boom!"

I stop him right there, "Spare me the details."

If he pressured her into anything, there is a very good chance I'll break his jaw.

"We didn't..." he stammers, turning his voice to a whisper. "I mean, she's a virgin. We didn't."

"Okay. No. We aren't this type of friends. The 'heart to heart' kind. Even if I did know something, I wouldn't sell her out to you."

Drayton sighs, "I'm worried about her."

"Is she in trouble? Is it her parents? Believe me when I say that her Dad is a complete mind fuck."

"She posted the video of Nash."

Of course, she did. I don't know why I didn't realize it earlier. I've never seen her so pissed.

"Do you think he had something to do with this? I mean, it's just so out of the blue." He rushes, "Do you think he threatened her?"

I wouldn't doubt it.

"What did she say to you?"

He pulls out his phone, but at this point, I don't have time, "Just paraphrase."

He looks away from his phone, "Basically, she said that she wasn't ready for us, that she hoped someday we could try again."

"Yeah, something is up. Lainey is too blunt to break up with you over text."

Come to think of it, she was short with me after school, rushing around to leave. "Come with me."

Drayton and I find Nash in the locker room beneath the stadium bleachers, shoving his catcher's gear in his locker. Everyone else has already managed to flee, including Carson. I walk up to him, pinning him against the lockers in one swift motion, my forearm pressed against his throat.

"I warned you," I spit. "I told you if you ever messed with her again, you would regret it. Well, here I am."

He struggles against me, staring at Drayton, his eyes wicked.

"Oh shit," he chokes. "I thought you were the boyfriend. It looks like Madden is willing to take your spot. You know, fighting for your girl and all."

Drayton walks straight up to him and lands an uppercut straight to his gut. "I'm done with you. Do not come near Lainey again, do you understand me?"

Nash bends in pain.