“So, everyone knows?”
“I wouldn’t say everyone—there was one girl in my Stats class who had her headphones in and wasn’t paying attention to what the rest of us were talking about . . . but aside from that I’d say there’s a clear majority in the know now, yes.”
“Shit.” I close the book, no longer interested in looking busy.
“Pretty much. Maeve Stevens? Maeve fucking Stevens, Wes? What the hell were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t,” I reply. “It just . . . happened.”
“It just happened? That’s not going to fly with the team, man. They’re pissed. You don’t just happen to hook up with a girl from Glenmont. You didn’t get the memo the first day you moved to town?”
“She’s not just a girl from Glenmont. I—I care about her. Okay?”
Chris stares at me as though I’ve just told him I’m quitting football. “You care. About Maeve Stevens.”
“That’s what I just said.”
“Who are you and what the hell have you done with my best friend?”
“Chris, be serious.”
“I am! I’ve never seen you do more than exchange small talk with a girl unless it’s to hook up. And now you’re telling me you’ve got feelings for Liam Stevens’ sister? I figured you were just trying to get in her pants.”
I don’t answer, and Chris correctly interprets my silence. “You already did.”
“I’m not discussing it with you.” I think this surprises Chris more than anything else I’ve said so far.
“I can’t believe you got Maeve Stevens to sleep with you. She—”
“I said I’m not discussing it!” I snap.
Chris raises his hands in a gesture of acquiescence and leans back in the heavy wooden chair.
“I’m starting to think Maeve Stevens might have something to do with the horrific mood you’ve been in since—when? Thursday?” I don’t answer. “Let’s recap the last few days. You spend the game Friday acting like some sort of robotic general. Then you get wasted, kiss Emily right after—”
“That’s plenty of commentary, thanks,” I interrupt. But it’s too late. He’s already put it together.
“That’s why you kissed Emily. Because Maeve Stevens showed up.”
“Chris . . . ”
“Well, that’s one way to let a girl know you care. Kiss—”
“Chris!” I snap. “Shut up or leave.”
“Fine,” Chris retorts, standing. “But if we lose on Friday because you’re letting Maeve Stevens mess with your head, I’m never going to forgive you. And neither is the rest of the team.” He strides off to another section of the library.
Just when I thought things couldn’t get much worse.
I leave study hall fifteen minutes early, but no one tries to stop me. I head straight to the locker room, changing and heading out onto the field. Right now, I feel like throwing the football as far and as fast as I can. But there’s no one here to catch it. So instead, I start jogging around the track. I knew there was a chance there would be rumors I went to Glenmont this morning. Maeve was griping last week about how early she’d have to get up for the morning practices the days before her championship game, and there’s no way I was going to risk going to Liam Stevens’ house. I needed to see her after Friday night. See how I felt. How she felt. Now, I’m more confused than ever.
I’m not concerned about Alleghany High gossiping about my sighting at Glenmont High. But I’m not willing to let my team think it’s going to impair my judgement on Friday. We’re not playing against Maeve. We’re playing against Glenmont. There’s a difference.
My teammates start to trickle onto the field, along with Coach Blake. They all give me questioning looks as I continue jogging around the track. Once the cluster around Coach Blake has grown to its usual size, I slow and walk over.
“I like the initiative, Cole,” Coach Blake compliments as I join the group. “Now, boys—”
I step forward. “Could I say something to the team, Coach?” I ask.
He raises a grizzled brow. I’ve never interrupted him before. Neither has any other member of the team. But he nods, and I step forward to the middle of the loose semi-circle the team is standing in.
“Listen, I know there are some rumors going around right now. You guys can gossip about me all you want, but I’m not interested in hearing opinions from anyone here about decisions I make off the field. We’re playing Glenmont on Friday, and I have no intention of losing that game. I also fully expect to become state champions again this year. That’s all you should need to know. You boys willing to help me out with that?” I look around the group of guys assembled before me, meeting each pair of eyes unflinchingly before holding my hand out in the middle of the circle.
There’s a slight pause. Chris is the first to hold his out as well, followed by Charlie and Adam, then Josh, and I let out a sigh of relief as the pile of appendages grows to include every guy on the varsity Alleghany football team. “Let’s go Eagles!” I shout, and it’s loudly echoed around me.
“All right, then,” Coach Blake intervenes. “Usual teams, boys. Get lined up.” I start to follow after the rest of the team when I hear my name. My stomach sinks. I was hoping he’d let it go.
“Yes, Coach?” I turn back around.
“That was quite the speech, Cole.”
“Sorry, Coach. I know you hate any drama on the team. Seemed necessary to address this bout head on, though.”
“I’ve noticed a real difference in you this season, Cole. You’re more mature. More focused. Now, I’m in the business of coaching champions, not listening to gossip, but I wouldn’t be too concerned with where whoever may have inspired that change lives. And it’s up to you whether you are. Just my pair of pennies. Now, get out of here.”
“Yes, sir,” I reply. I was steeling myself for a lecture about dragging the team into my personal life, and now I’m reeling from the implications Coach Blake just made. And the confirmation gossip about my love life has spread to the Alleghany High faculty along with the students.
I jog over to Chris’s side. “Thanks for backing me up there,” I tell him. “Sorry I got short in the library.”
He shrugs. “You were right. As long as you don’t let it mess with your game, it’s none of my business what you do off the field. Even if it involves a girl from Glenmont.”
“Chris. You’re one of my best friends. It’s not that I—” I sigh. “It’s always been complicated with her. Right now, I don’t even—I don’t even know where to begin.”
Chris nods slowly. “If you want to talk about it, I’ll listen. I can’t promise I won’t tell you to get over it and move on, but I’ll listen.”
“Thanks, Fields,” I reply.
“Any time, Cole.” Chris responds.
It’s a relief to clear the air with Chris. The other source of contrition in my life? Much more convoluted.
Worse than not knowing if I want to fix things, after our talk this morning, I’m not even sure if things between Maeve and me are repairable.
chapter twenty-three
Maeve
Ironically, my last name, one of the primary obstacles in my ill-fated relationship with Weston Cole, is what safeguards me in the hallways of Glenmont High.
I’m followed by rampant stares and whispers everywhere I go, but no one has been bold enough to ask me about the rumors directly.
The exception is Brooke, who drags me from Calculus all the way to the lunchroom on Tuesday and plants me at one of the corner tables. I’m incredibly grateful Thanksgiving is on Thursday, so I only have to make it through the rest of the day.
“Start talking, Maeve Stevens. Right now,” Brooke instructs.
I watch Sarah enter the room, look over at our usual table, and then make a beeline over to the new spot Brooke chose.
“Talk about what?” I ask, playing dumb.
“Oh, I don’t know . . . ” Brooke taps a finger against her chin. “Oh, I do know! Maybe about
how the entire school thinks there’s something going on between you and Weston fucking Cole?”
I roll my eyes at her dramatics. “What do people think is going on?” I ask carefully.
“Susan Andrews told me she saw him in the parking lot yesterday morning. And the general consensus seems to be the two of you got in some sort of screaming match at the soccer field?”
Sarah plops down in the seat next to me. “What did I miss?”
“Maeve was just about to clarify whether the rumors about Weston Cole are true,” Brooke supplies.
“Of course they’re true. I video-chatted with him in her bedroom last week.”
I close my eyes in anticipation of Brooke’s reaction. “You what?” she screeches.
“I went over to Maeve’s. Her mom was there, and mentioned Maeve had been at my place the previous night. She hadn’t, so I confronted her about it and she finally told me. I didn’t believe her, so she called Weston. He was actually shirtless for part of it, and I mean, I don’t normally go for the jock type, but he looked, I mean, he looked really good. I—”
“I’m right here, Sarah,” I interject.
“Sorry. I got sidetracked.”
“I noticed,” I state. “You also forgot we were going to keep that little interaction between us?”
Sarah has the good sense to look slightly abashed. “Right. Sorry.”
“You told Sarah, but you didn’t tell me?” Brooke asks, outraged.
“I wasn’t going to tell anyone!” I reply. “Sarah found out by accident, and I asked her not to say anything.” I send her a quick glance to emphasize my point, and she gives me a sheepish look in response.
“Whatever, we’ll get back to that. So, you did get into a screaming match with Weston Cole yesterday?” Brooke gets back on track with her original interrogation.
I cringe. “It wasn’t a screaming match, exactly . . . I’d characterize it more like a loud conversation.”
Brooke swats my words away like an irritating fly. “I could care less how you’re characterizing it. What was it about?”
“I’ve been—um, I kind of had a thing. With him.”
“You had a thing. With Weston fucking Cole.” Astonishment blankets every word, and lingers on her face.
“Uh-huh.” I try to act nonchalant as I pull my lunch out of my backpack and start eating my turkey sandwich. Brooke appraises me carefully.
“You. Maeve Stevens. Miss Perfect, Straight A’s, Rule Follower, Student Council President, Soccer Captain had a thing with the Alleghany quarterback?”
“Yes.” I take another bite of my sandwich.
“How—how did you even meet him?”
“Uh, at the Alleghany party Maggie brought me to.” Our freshman year tête-à-tête is not something I'm willing to share.
Brooke nods as though she’s come to some brilliant realization. “Oh, is that what the ‘loud conversation’ was about? You told him you were some girl from Fayetteville then and he figured out the truth somehow?”
I scoff at her assumption. “No. He’s always known who I am. And our conversation was about Matt kissing me at the Alleghany field on Thursday.”
“That was you?” Sarah gasps. “Everyone’s been trying to figure out who that was.”
“Fantastic.” I take another bite.
“Damn, Maeve. You’ve got things going with both Matt and Weston Cole? If I weren’t so horrified by the Weston Cole of it all, I’d almost be impressed,” Brooke comments.
“There’s nothing going on between Matt and me,” I clarify. “He caught me off guard, and Sam had the brilliant timing of capturing it on camera and sending it around. The only person I have feelings for is Wes, but that’s especially complicated right now. Ergo, the ‘loud conversation.’”
“Wes?” Brooke catches. “Wow. I guess people haven’t been exaggerating about the Weston Cole charm after all.”
“There’s a lot more to him that that,” I snap.
“You’re awfully defensive of someone you were screaming at yesterday.”
“It’s not just his fault things between us are a mess. And . . . I’m in love with him, okay?”
Brooke looks at me with pity. “Oh, Maeve. He fed you that line?”
“It wasn’t a line,” I respond tersely. Sarah stays silent, and I can’t help but glance at her. She’s the only person who’s seen us interact. Did it seem false to her?
“So you didn’t sleep with him?”
“I’m not discussing it with you,” I tell Brooke stiffly.
“That’s not a ‘no,’ Maeve.”
“You’re right. It’s an ‘I’m not discussing it with you.’ If you want to ask me questions about him, fine. But it’s not helpful for you to cast dispersion on my relationship—”
“Relationship?” Brooke cuts me off. “I’m trying to keep you from getting more hurt, Maeve. He’s Weston fucking Cole! He’s a total player! I could list ten girls I know he’s hooked up with.”
“And I’d hardly say you’re in a position to judge them, or me,” I reply. “Wasn’t it just a couple months ago you were begging me for details about how he looks in person? You ask Maggie about him every time we see her!”
“I think he’s hot, yes! And I was teasing Maggie about him because I never thought she would ever hook up with him! Even now that she lives in Alleghany. And I’m not judging you, Maeve. You know I’ve done plenty of stupid stuff, and you’re one of my best friends. I’m just trying to get you to see reality, since apparently you’ve lost touch.”
The bell signaling the end of lunch rings, and I stand, packing away my mostly untouched lunch. “I’ll see you guys at Chase’s tonight."
I slink into English. Damn Mr. Thompson and his attempt to be innovative and seat us alphabetically by first name instead of last.
Matt is already in his seat. I give him a hesitant smile, meeting his gaze for the first time since Thursday. I haven’t known how to act around him, but I feel guilty for avoiding him, especially after Liam’s sulking comment last night.
“Hey,” I greet him like it’s any ordinary weekday. He doesn’t reply, but I watch a muscle jump in his jaw. “Come on, Matt, I thought we were friends.”
“We were friends. Before I knew the guy you were talking about was Weston fucking Cole.”
“Look, I’m really sorry if I hurt your feelings—”
Matt scoffs loudly, and I belatedly realize this was probably not the best place to start this conversation. Mr. Thompson is still writing quotes out on the board, so the entirety of my English class is eavesdropping on our conversation. “You didn’t ‘hurt my feelings,’ Maeve. I’m disappointed in you. Even if he wasn’t from Alleghany, Weston Cole is a total asshole. All he cares about is playing football and getting laid.”
“You just described a lot of teenage guys. Including yourself,” I retort.
Matt’s face flushes an angry shade of red. “Just don’t come crying to me when you fall for his charms and he drops you for the next challenge. All I’ll have is a big fat told you so.”
I bristle. I’m sick of people assuming I didn’t know what I was getting into with Wes. That he somehow charmed me senseless. That I wasn’t an equal participant. “Well, you can save your breath, because I ‘fell for his charms,’ and he still stuck around.”
It doesn’t take long for me to regret my hasty words. Not only because I’ve just inadvertently implied—actually more like loudly announced—to my entire English class that I’ve slept with Weston Cole, but because Matt’s crushed expression makes it pretty clear I was right before. I did hurt his feelings by turning him down, and this latest revelation is salt in the wound.
Thankfully, Mr. Andrews chooses this moment to call the class to attention, and I look away from Matt’s angry, crestfallen face.
The rest of the day drags. I endure two more classes of stares and whispers, and then a long soccer practice of side glances from my teammates. I head straight to Sarah’s house from practice. Maggie, Br
ooke, and Sarah are all there already.
Maggie berates me for not telling her about Wes, and then fires all the same questions at me that Brooke did at lunch. Her reaction is less disapproving, but she’s just as astounded by my revelations. The exception is when I reveal I encountered Wes again after the kitchen at the party this summer.
“I’m sorry, what did you just say? When you ‘went to the bathroom’ you were actually kissing Weston fucking Cole? Un-freaking-believable,” she muses. “The one Alleghany party I take you to . . . ”
Brooke asks her if there are rumors about me at Alleghany High, and I hold my breath as I wait for her answer. “Uh, yeah,” she informs us. “It’s Weston Cole. People gossip about his lunch choices. Everyone’s talking about Maeve showing up at the party on Friday, and Wes going to Glenmont High.”
“Did you see him today?” I can’t help but ask.
“Once. In the hallway,” Maggie tells me.
“Did he look mad?”
“He didn’t look thrilled,” she responds. “No one at school will say anything to him, but I’m guessing he’s going to take some heat from the football team.”
I don’t say anything in response. Maggie leaves at eight, saying she has an “Alleghany commitment.” Neither Brooke or Sarah bother to ask for more details, and I don’t need to. I already know where she’s headed. Tonight is the Alleghany Athletics ceremony Wes told me about a few weeks ago. The reason he had to reschedule his trip to Lincoln.
I shower in Sarah’s guest room, and then change into a pair of dark skinny jeans and a loose, light gray sweater.
We arrive at Chase’s house to find the party is already in full swing. Sam usually hosts the parties after football games, but Chase lives in Glenmont’s most upscale neighborhood, and has parents who don’t seem to mind housing hundreds of drunk teenagers, so he ends up hosting most of Glenmont High’s more notorious get togethers. The start of Thanksgiving break is a classic blowout.
I walk through the entryway and towards the kitchen slightly hesitantly, even with Brooke and Sarah on either side of me. None of the Glenmont football players besides Matt have said anything to me about Wes directly, but I know there’s still plenty of speculation swirling.
Kiss Now, Lie Later Page 19