Friend Zoned (Barnett Bulldogs #2)

by Jennifer Sucevic

  As the wind continues slapping at my ears, I’m suddenly wishing that I had grabbed a hat and some warm mittens. Instead of turning around to get them, I keep moving across the yard. Even when I’m no more than a few steps away from where she sits, Ari still doesn’t look up or acknowledge my presence.

  Taking hold of the yellow chain link swing, I lower myself down onto the plastic seat. Almost immediately cold seeps through my jeans making a little shiver dance its way across my flesh.

  “Everything okay, Ari?”

  At my gentle words, she finally glances over at me. Her deep blue eyes, ones that remind me so very much of Sam’s, pierce mine. I give her a slight smile in return because it’s fairly obvious from the bleak expression marring her normally smiling face that it’s not.

  The slight shrugging of her slender shoulders is all the response I get.

  Using my feet, I push myself so that the swing arcs gently back and forth. “You want to talk about it?”

  Still staring down at the toes of her shoes, she shakes her head.

  “Okay,” I say in response, “you don’t have to tell me what’s going on. Would you rather be alone right now? I can always head back inside.”

  I certainly can’t force her to talk if she doesn’t want to, but I can shoot Sam a quick text letting him know that something is going on with his sister.

  The wind continues whipping at us, blowing her long blonde hair so that it tangles around her shoulders. Again she shakes her head, but doesn’t say anything more about what’s bothering her. For a good five minutes, the pair of us just sit on our swings, allowing them to move slowly back and forth. Unfortunately, the growing silence only gives me more time to dwell on her brother. Lately, he’s all I can think about. Sometimes-

  “My parents have been fighting a lot lately.”

  Something tightens uncomfortably in the pit of my belly as she softly murmurs those words. Even though I really hope their fighting has nothing to do with the picture of Sam, I’m guessing that it probably does. With all the time I’ve spent at their house, I’ve never known Senator and Mrs. Harper to fight. Not even bicker.

  “I’m sorry, Ari.” I rack my brain for something to say. Something that will give her a little bit of comfort. “Most parents fight from time to time. It doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything to be worried about.”

  “I know… but they’ve never fought like this before. It’s been going on for more than a week now.”

  My heartbeat hitches painfully at her words.

  When I say nothing in response, she finally glances over at me, her wide blue eyes skewering mine in place. Her dark blonde brows draw together. “Is something wrong with Sam?” A thread of concern weaves its way through her young voice.

  The urge to bite down on my lower lip whips through me. Very slowly I shake my head. I can’t help but wonder if she’s overheard what her parents are arguing about or if this is more of a hunch on her part.

  “There’s nothing to be concerned about. Sam is fine,” I reassure quickly before adding, “And he wouldn’t want you worrying about him either.”

  Ignoring my words, she says instead, “I Facetimed him yesterday. He just seemed so… I don’t know… sad, I guess.” Again her eyes search mine. “He’s usually smiling and laughing. He likes when I video chat with him, but yesterday he didn’t seem very interested in talking. When I asked him why he seemed so down, he said he had to go and that we would talk later.”

  A thick uncomfortable lump forms in the middle of my throat as I force myself to push out the words, “I think he just has a lot going on with classes and football. That’s all. You know how much he loves you.”

  Her lips curve up just a bit as she admits, “I really miss him. He usually stops over to visit or have dinner with us, but he hasn’t been able to do that lately.”

  “Oh.”

  I hadn’t realized that. He’s been picking me up and dropping me off every day for school. I just assumed he was stopping by his house. Sam has always been close with his family. For him not to drop by when he’s in the neighborhood every single day… that can only mean that Ari’s right.

  There is a problem between him and his parents.

  Biting her lip, she whispers, “I think my dad is mad at him, but no one will tell me why.” Her questioning gaze spears mine again. “Do you know why my dad is angry with Sam?”

  Inhaling an icy breath, the words stall in my throat. What exactly am I supposed to say to this eleven year old girl? Obviously they don’t want Ari knowing about what’s going on. Which mean that it’ll only cause more problems if I tell her the truth.

  No matter how much I might want to do that, it’s not my place.

  But I don’t necessarily want to lie either. It’s a crappy position to be in. What sucks even more is that I’m the one who created the situation. Even if Ari or her parents don’t realize it, I do. I’m the one responsible for the discord taking place within their family.

  “Yeah,” I finally admit, “I think I do.”

  Her dark blonde brows shoot up so fast, it’s almost comical. Except that it’s really not. Because absolutely nothing feels funny right now. Almost instantly her feet dig into the frozen earth before halting the swing and jerking it towards me.

  “Tell me!”

  Biting down on my lower lip, I hold her eyes with my own before giving a regretful little shake of my head. “I’m sorry, sweetie, I can’t.” Reaching out, I nab her ice cold fingers with my own. “I wish I could.”

  Looking crestfallen, clouds of bitter disappointment brew within the depths of her stormy eyes. I’m almost shocked by the hot licks of emotion I see roiling within them. Ari is usually so good natured, so even tempered. Sensitive and sweet. In a lot of ways, she reminds me of her older brother. Sam has the same personality traits.

  But above all else, he’s protective of the ones he loves.

  Even though Ari doesn’t understand what’s going on, I have to shield her from the truth because I know that’s what Sam would want me to do. He wouldn’t want her finding out about that picture.

  A blistering heat fills her voice as she snaps with all the pent up frustration coursing through her eleven year old body, “Why won’t anyone tell me what’s going on? I’m not a baby anymore! I can handle it!”

  There is absolutely nothing I can say that will diffuse the anger that is vibrating within her. But maybe… maybe there is something I can do to improve the situation.

  I can talk to Sam’s parents.

  I can tell them what really happened.

  I can make sure they understand that Sam had absolutely nothing to do with the photograph. That he didn’t even know of its existence until it was splashed across the internet.

  A sliver of dread quickly snakes its way through my body.

  God… am I really going to do that?

  Am I really going to waltz into their house and tell his parents that I took a naked photo of their son that was then stolen from my phone and made public?

  The mere thought leaves wave after vicious wave of nausea churning deep within the pit of my gut.

  But what other choice is there?

  I caused this mess.

  It’s only right that I take responsibility for it.

  Especially if it will help Sam and his family move beyond it. The last thing I want is for his parents to be angry with him over something he didn’t even have knowledge of. I can’t allow Sam to continue avoiding his family because of the mistake I made. Only now, in speaking with Ari, do I see just how much my error in judgement has affected all of them.

  I can’t allow that to continue.

  Not when it’s within my power to do something about it.

  Even though I wish he had told me what was going on with his family, I’m not surprised that he chose to keep silent about it. We may not be back to the kind of friends we once were, but Sam still feels the need to shield me from the aftermath of own stupidity.

  As much as I’m
dreading it, I know exactly what needs to be done. Sucking in another deep breath, I force it out slowly, trying to settle my insides. Squeezing her hand within my own, I say, “I can’t explain what’s going on and I know that seems really unfair, but I need to talk with your parents. What I have to tell them will hopefully straighten out what’s going on. I know it’s hard, but can you just trust me on this?”

  Still looking pissed off, she holds my eyes for a long silent moment. I’ve known Ari almost her entire life. I met her when she was just three years old. I played with her on the very swing set we’re now sitting on. Many a tea party was held in her pink and white decorated room using delicate miniature china cups and saucers. I won’t even mention all the times we coerced Sam into attending. Needless to say, I absolutely adore this child. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. She’s a sweet girl and after losing, Isabelle, I’ve come to think of Ari as something of a younger sister. If there’s a way for me to help her, to help Sam and his family move past this, then I need to do it.

  No matter how humiliating or painful it will be.

  “Gran was just putting a batch of chocolate chip cookies in the oven when I came out here. I bet they’re done now. Why don’t you go over and have a few while I talk with your parents. I know she’d love to see you.”

  For just a few silent moments, Ari doesn’t say a word before reluctantly nodding her head in agreement. “Alright.” Even though there’s zero enthusiasm in her voice, I appreciate her doing it all the same.

  Slowly we come to our feet before she starts walking towards the backdoor of my grandparent’s house. When she’s about half a dozen feet away from me, she turns back. Her eyes suddenly locking on mine.

  One side of her mouth hitches just a tiny bit. “Thanks for trying to help, Violet.”

  I give her a slight smile in return before nodding my head.

  As Ari disappears quietly in through the back door, I suck in an icy cold breath, one that burns my lungs, before squaring my shoulders resolutely. It’s slowly that I trudge towards the back door of the Harper family’s yellow Victorian. With each step that takes me closer, the knot in my belly continues to grow.

  I honestly don’t know if what I’m about to do will help the situation with Sam’s family or not. But if there’s a way for me to make it a little bit better, then I have to do it. As horrible as the notion is, I just can’t allow his parents to continue blaming him for something he had no part in.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “Violet! Wait up!”

  I’m just heading to my judicial ethics class when I see Allie come trucking towards me from out of nowhere. When she gets close enough, one hand snakes out before fastening around my upper arm. The way her fingers bite into my flesh leaves me wondering if everything’s okay.

  Because I have to say, she’s looking a little crazy right now.

  Maybe more than just a little…

  There’s a frenzied light filling her deep brown eyes.

  I’m tempted to take a few steps away but she’s got a pretty good grip on me. So, for the time being, I’m kind of stuck.

  “OMG, have you seen the picture yet?” Not only are her eyes nearly bulging from their sockets, but she’s all but vibrating with pent up excitement. I’ve never seen her like this before.

  And not that I know her all that well, but this isn’t her normal demeanor. Allie is usually a lot more chill. So clearly something big is going on…

  My belly drops about ten stories as I notice the way she’s tightly clutching her phone.

  Dread blooms through my entire being as I wait for her to drop whatever bomb is just about to roll off her tongue. Even though I know it’s impossible for there to be yet another photograph of Sam circulating around campus, that’s the only thing crashing through my brain right now.

  I’m almost afraid to ask what the hell she’s talking about. In all honesty, part of me doesn’t even want to know. I don’t think I can deal with any more fall out. I really don’t. I’ve barely recovered from the first shit storm that hit a few weeks ago. “No,” I say slowly, “What are you talking about?”

  Oh god, oh god, oh god…

  Don’t let it have anything to do with Sam…

  Please, please, please…

  The fervor in her eyes continues to grow. “This!”

  Not a moment later, she shoves the screen of her phone in my face. Because she’s holding it about two inches away from me, I have to nip it carefully from her fingers before reluctantly taking a peek.

  Swiftly I inhale a sharp breath.

  After a long silent moment, I blink as the image swimming before my eyes finally registers.

  Holy.

  Crap.

  Those are the only two words my brain is able to lock on.

  Because I can’t-

  “I know, right?” Allie sounds almost gleeful. Like she just found out that she won a million dollars. And it’s Christmas. Right on her birthday.

  Shaking my head, I’m unable to rip my gaze away from the small, hand held screen cradled in the palm of my hand. It’s like a horrendous traffic accident I can’t force my eyes away from.

  Nope… still can’t do it.

  “My plan is to get that sucker printed off on a twenty by sixteen glossy poster board and then hang it directly above my bed.” She gazes up at the sky with a soft wispy smile gracing her lips as if she can already see it. Turning, she gives me a sly smile rife with meaning. I’m trying very hard not to imagine what Allie might do alone in her bed all the while staring up at that picture…

  Thankfully she interrupts those rather disturbing thoughts by screeching at the top of her lungs, “Can you believe they actually did something like this?”

  Nope. I really can’t.

  It has me wondering if Sam has seen the photograph yet. Better yet, I wonder if the Bulldogs football coach has caught wind of it. I’d really hate to be in that locker room when he’s finally clued in as to what his star players have been up to. I know Sam got his ass chewed out when their coach found out about the photo of him that was circulating around campus.

  I believe the lecture had a whole lot do with making better choices, private moments remaining private, and why people feel the need to document things that really shouldn’t be documented in the first place...

  Things of that nature.

  But Sam’s photo wasn’t deliberate.

  This on the other hand…

  Yeah…

  This is totally, one hundred percent without doubt, intentional. I mean, come on, of course it is!

  There are about fifteen players standing in the buff on the fifty yard line of the football field. Their backsides are facing the camera. All you see are wide brawny shoulders, big strong backs, tapered waists, amazingly chiseled butt cheeks and huge muscular thighs.

  Did I happen to mention that they’re totally buck naked in the shot?

  My wide eyes slide back to Allie. There’s a huge shit eating grin curving her pink lips upward.

  All wide eyed and child-like, she asks, “How did Santa know this was exactly what I wanted for Christmas?”

  I can’t help the gurgle of laughter that erupts from my throat. There hasn’t been a whole lot to laugh about over the past few weeks, so it feels nice to do it now.

  Glancing down at her phone again, I have the sneaking suspicion that Roan and Dylan are behind this. Because it’s their asses that are front and center.

  Along with Liam Garrison’s…

  Which is, admittedly, a rather nice looking ass…

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Glancing around the already crowded bar, I ask Mia for the third time, “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather hang out in our room? We can have a movie night. I’ll let you pick.” When she doesn’t even blink her eyes in response, I try sweeting the pot. “I’ll spring for pizza. My treat.”

  All she does is glare at me from across the table which essentially means that I’m stuck here at O’Brien’s for the du
ration.

  Finally I grumble, “I am so not in the mood for this.”

  Needless to say, I’d much rather be at home, cocooned in some comfy clothes, stuffing my face with pizza and ice cream, all the while lamenting my own idiotic stupidity for the millionth time. But Mia has other the plans for the evening which apparently include getting totally shitfaced.

  “Don’t care,” she replies, “I need this.” Hoisting the cold brown bottle to her lips, she proceeds to drain roughly half the contents in one long thirsty gulp. Slamming the bottle back down onto the table, she adds, “Desperately.”

  Even though I’ve had a crappy couple of weeks, Mia’s life nosedived right before exploding into a fiery ball of flames yesterday. After a straight week of silence from Carter, she finally told him that she was coming out to visit. His response was to pull the plug on their two year relationship with some lame ass excuse about needing time apart so he could get his life figured out.

  So they are now officially taking a break.

  Exactly how do you go from proposing marriage to the supposed love of your life to stomping all over her heart and ending a two year committed relationship?

  I don’t know.

  But that’s exactly what happened. My heart goes out to her. She’s obviously gutted about the whole thing and I can’t really say that I blame her.

  So, yes, Mia definitely needs a night out, a chance to cut loose and forget about the whole-Carter-situation, if only for a few drunken hours. Even with everything that’s happened between them, I know she doesn’t have any regrets about saying no to his proposal.

  I just hope Carter comes to his senses before he loses her for good. Mia’s not the type to just sit around moping for a month or so. Nope. She’ll give herself the weekend to be all sad bastard before picking herself back up and moving on with her life. She’s one of those- can’t-change-the-past, so-not-going-to-bother-dwelling-on-it kind of people.