Spinning Out(The Blackhawk Boy #1)(25)

"Fuck, he's hot," she says when he's gone.

I should totally take this opportunity to give her the third degree  about Mason. This time last year, they were still screwing like bunnies  and insisting their relationship was "platonic."

Everything changed after Nic was released from prison and Bailey's head  got all screwed up about him again. Now Nic's gone, Mason seems as  interested as ever, and I'm the world's worst friend because I honestly  don't know where she stands with him.

I check my tray to make sure the snails didn't slide around too much  when I dropped it, and when I take a breath to broach the subject,  Bailey smacks me between the shoulder blades. "I won't ask you about  Arrow if you don't ask me about Mason."                       
       
           



       

Our eyes meet and she gives me her special I've got your back smile.  It's not like the brazen grin she gives the world, and it doesn't meet  her eyes the way a smile should, but it's the smile of the girl I've  known since I was a child. The one who taught me to practice kissing on  the inside of my hand. The one who left half her dinner on my deck when  times were tight. The one who'd throw a punch to anyone who looked at me  funny. It's the smile of a friend who wants you to know she's still  there, and even when everything else changes, your friendship won't.

"Thanks," I whisper.

"Let's get this over with."





"Where's Trish tonight, Coach?" my father asks.

Coach shifts his gaze to mine before meeting my father's eyes again. "She had plans with some friends, I'm afraid."

"We would have loved to see her, but I understand. Kids are busy these days, aren't they?"

I guess I should count my blessings. The only thing that would make this  night more awkward for me would be trying to eat dinner while having my  dad play matchmaker. I've gotten the lecture already. He saw the  pictures from New Year's Eve. He's on Facebook like everyone else.

"If you're going to fuck around with the coach's daughter, you'd better be planning to buy the girl a ring."

It was never about Trish. Dad's not that kind of guy. It was about  football and how my relationship with Trish might be a politically risky  move for my place on the team. My best friend was fighting for his life  in the hospital, and my dad thought I needed lectures about keeping my  dick in my pants.

A tall, bearded guy joins us in the dining room. Sebastian Crowe. He was  my quarterback my last year at West High School. A year younger than  me, he always had a chip on his shoulder. He spent his first year of  college playing running back at Purdue. Recognition must flash across my  face, because Coach gives me an apologetic wince.

"Uriah," Coach says, his hand on Sebastian's back. "This is Sebastian  Crowe. He's the transfer from Purdue, and we're excited to see what he  can do on offense next year."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Woodison," Sebastian says, taking my dad's hand.

My father is hosting a meal for the BHU coaches and a few of the  starters for next year. I'm grateful to have Mason here, but seeing  Sebastian Crowe is a kick in the nuts. And that's exactly what my dad  wanted it to be.

Sebastian transferred in this fall. Something about being close to his  grandma, but rumor is he couldn't get along with the coach at Purdue and  mouthed off one too many times during his freshman year. Of course,  NCAA rules state that players can't play the first year they transfer to  a new team, so he had to sit this year out. Brogan was worried sick  about Sebastian's move. It wasn't likely Coach was going to give  Sebastian my position, but Brogan's had always been up for grabs. I told  him not to worry about it. I wouldn't have had half the yards I did  last year if Brog wasn't blocking for me, and anyone who knows what  they're looking at can see that on the film. But now neither of us is  playing next year, paving the way for Sebastian to step in and be the  hero.

Whatever. Football is the least of my worries. It doesn't even seem  important in the light of everything else. But that doesn't mean knowing  someone can replace me doesn't gnaw on something in my gut.

There are awkward smiles all around as we find our seats at the dining room table.

Sebastian takes the seat across from me and inclines his chin. "Hey."

I nod. "Hey."

His gaze settles on my cast-covered hand resting on the table. "What happened?"

"I got into a fight with a wall. I lost."

Sebastian grimaces. "It's your hand, man."

I set my jaw and return Sebastian's worried stare with my cold one.

He shifts his attention to Gwen. "Thanks for inviting us to dinner, Mrs. Woodison."

She beams at him. "We love having company. You're welcome anytime."

Dad opens his napkin and positions it on his lap. "We just want to make  it clear that the BHU football program has our full support. Even though  Arrow's not playing this year, we still want to be a part of making the  season a successful one. That means exactly what it did last year-the  boys can watch film in the theater room anytime they want, and of course  the team will get my usual monetary support."

I want to kiss your ass and make sure Arrow still has a spot on the team when he comes back, I mentally translate.

I eye the door to the kitchen, willing Mason to reappear. He's my ally  tonight. Chris is visiting his mom in Texas and couldn't come, though I  don't think I'd care for watching my QB bond with my replacement.                       
       
           



       

Gwen follows my gaze and shifts uncomfortably. "The appetizers should be out anytime," she says. "I apologize for the delay."

"Can I interest anyone in a drink?" Dad asks, scanning the table.

Sebastian takes a drink of his water. "I'm good, sir."

"I have a nice Syrah or a single-malt scotch," Dad offers. "Arrow won't  be drinking tonight, of course. He lost that right." He laughs  awkwardly, and I want to punch him in the face just so I don't have to  hear it anymore. "What do you say, Coach?"

Mason emerges from the kitchen and takes the spot beside me, but I don't  have the chance to be relieved before Mia and Bailey follow behind him,  trays of appetizers in their hands.

"There they are," Gwen says. Her cooing tone is contrary to the sharp disapproval in her eyes.

Mia avoids my gaze as she places the tray in the center of the table.  "Escargot wrapped in bacon," she says, pointing to her tray. Bailey  settles her tray next to it, and Mia points to it and says, "And  bacon-wrapped dates."

"Woodison pork all around, of course," Bailey says with a smile that's a touch too forced.

"Can I get anyone anything before I serve the entrees?" Mia asks. Her  eyes scan the table and freeze when they land on Sebastian. I swear I  can see her tense. "Sebastian?"

He grins and shamelessly slides his gaze over her, from her white  button-up shirt to her black skirt and down her bare legs. "Hey, Mia."

My stomach knots. This fucker isn't just taking over my position on the  team; there's something proprietary about the way he looks at Mia. And  she's looking at him like . . . like she has a secret and he's holding  it for her.

"Do you know each other?" my father asks, directing his question to Sebastian.

"Not really," Mia says at the same time as Sebastian says, "Sure do." He  hasn't taken his eyes off her since she walked into the room, and he  narrows his gaze now, his lips quirking.

"Mia's our live-in help," Gwen says. "She's made herself quite useful since my Katie was born."

I don't trust myself not to glare in Gwen's general direction, so I drop  my gaze to my hands. The help. I hate hearing Mia described like that,  and I hate watching her act like it.

"You work here?" Sebastian says. "That's interesting." He finally takes  his eyes off her and looks at my father. "I know Mia's father. He lives  by my gram."

"What are you doing here, anyway?" Mia asks him.

"Mia!" Gwen says. "Forgive her rudeness, Sebastian. She typically cares  for the baby. She doesn't understand the appropriate way to act in these  situations."

"I apologize," she says quickly.

Sebastian grins. "Nothing inappropriate about her question, ma'am. Mia  probably doesn't know I'm on the team." He shifts his gaze to me. "I  haven't been traveling in the same social circles as the rest of the  guys, since I wasn't playing last season."

"Well, that's about to change," Dad says. "Seriously, the boys are  welcome here anytime, and that offer stands for you, too, son. I forget  you were raised in Blackhawk Valley. Is it good to be home?"