Time to see if he could actually let himself trust.
He fished his phone out of his pocket and dialed Cade, who answered with a barrage of cursing that left Kyle impressed. "You kiss your mother with that mouth?"
"Kyle? Shit, I thought you were someone else."
Kyle frowned. "Someone giving you trouble?"
"Oh, some jackass on the debate team, talking smack. Keeps calling me, and I was too pissed to check caller ID before letting loose." Cade made an annoyed sound. "It's only been an hour. Already having second thoughts?"
"No." He scooted to the edge of the couch, ready to stand and face what was in front of him. "What time is rehearsal tomorrow?"
"Five thirty. We're working on the nightmare scene. Why?"
"I might need your help with something." His game started at five. This was going to take some work. "The nightmare scene … as in Laurey's nightmare? Or as in ‘it's a nightmare working on this scene'?"
"Both."
"Thanks."
"For what?"
Kyle stood and stretched. He had some things to do before bed. "For everything."
The next morning, Kyle left for school early after Dad gave him the "no parties, young man" lecture, and Grandpa gave him a hundred bucks. "For pizza," he said.
"For an army?" Kyle asked.
"I know how you eat," Grandpa retorted.
Once at Suttonville, he looked for Cameron's car. Not here yet. Fine, whatever. He'd find him at some point. They had some business to take care of-the sooner, the better.
Still, the morning wasn't without surprises. He went to his locker, and there was Violet, leaning against it, her purple hair gleaming and her stare like dark bullets.
"You can go to hell, Kyle Sawyer," Violet growled. "No one hurts my best friend and gets away with it."
He hunched his shoulders inside his letter jacket. It was the first time he'd worn it, rather than his trusty hoodie, but it was flimsy protection against a girl who was part rabid fairy and part ninja. "I'm glad you're here. I was planning to find you later."
Violet stomped her foot. "You're supposed to argue with me. I want a fight this morning."
"Sorry. I only have one fight on my mind and it's with someone a lot taller than you."
She made a sound low in her throat, like a cat about to claw his eyes out. "I'm tall enough."
"I don't doubt that. You're pretty terrifying, and I'm being sincere." He leaned against the lockers next to her. "I need your help."
"Why on this heavenly blue planet would I ever help you?"
"For Faith. I need to make things right with her, and I plan to go big. You in?"
All the air went out of her sails, and her quivering rage went with it. "Well, when you put it that way. What's cooking, big boy?"
"Can you show up toward the end of play rehearsal? Cade said they'll be done around seven thirty, and he'll have something for you to do on my behalf."
"And what's that?" she asked, tilting her head. "Please tell me it's something illegal. I really want it to be illegal."
"Wow, you are a little monster." He smiled down at her. "I'm so tempted to pat you on the head right now."
"Do it and lose a testicle."
"I believe you, and no. Nothing illegal." He laughed when Violet let out a disappointed sigh. "I need you to give Faith something, that's all."
She blew out a breath that made her bangs flutter. "Fine. You have my number. Tell this Cade guy to text me when the operation, or whatever, is a go."
Kyle stuck out his right hand. "Shake on it?"
She gave his hand a suspicious look. "I don't know where that hand's been."
"Caressing the steering wheel of a year-old Charger."
She lunged forward and gripped his hand. "Ooh, I can almost feel the engine purring. My payment for helping you with this is the chance to drive that beast on a deserted road."
"Deal."
Kyle left her feeling a little more hopeful.
He felt even more charged up when he spotted Cameron walking down senior hall alone. It was time to do something he should've done four years ago. It was time to let go of everything that scared him, and Cameron was all of that personified. After today, the only fear left would be whether or not Faith decided to give him a chance.
Whether or not he could gut out his nerves and take that chance would be a bridge to cross later.
Kyle followed Cameron until they were in front of an empty classroom, then he grabbed him by the back of his letter jacket and dragged him through the door.
"What the complete fuck!" Cameron yelled, trying to turn around to see who it was, but Kyle grabbed one of his arms and wrenched it behind his back.
He frog-marched Cameron to the corner of the room so they were hidden behind a file cabinet and slammed him against the wall. "I have one thing to say, and you better listen. Leave Faith alone. You want to come after me? Do it. But leave her alone. Tell your friends to lay off, or I'll take batting practice against your balls. Are we clear?"
He gave Cameron's arm a yank to emphasize what he said. Cameron hissed with pain. "Sawyer, I'm going to kick your ass. You know it and I know it."
"Not this time, dickweed. I'm an inch taller and twenty-five pounds of muscle heavier. I'm not that short, scared kid you bullied and pissed on in eighth grade. You come after me again, you'll end up in pain. You mess with Faith and I'll need bail, as God is my witness."
Cameron struggled, and Kyle yanked on his arm again. "I'm not kidding. We're done, or you'll be sorry you ever screwed with me."
"Fine." Cameron's voice was shaking. "Fine! I won't bug Faith again. I'll tell the other guys not to even look at her."
Kyle released him and took a step back. "I'll be watching to make sure you do."
Cameron shot him a look of pure loathing. "You better watch your back, Sawyer. I'll leave Faith alone, but you're fair game, asshole. This doesn't change anything."
A cold smile spread over Kyle's face. "You're wrong. It changes everything."
Kyle trotted around the bases, to the cheers of his team. Homered at his first at bat. That made what he was about to do a little more palatable. Besides, it was someone else's turn to shine.
Coach gave him a swat as he jogged into the dugout. "Not bad, Sawyer."
"Thanks." He accepted the high fives of his team before sneaking over to check his phone. Cade texted-he texted-to let Kyle know it was almost time. Okay, this was it. He might be thrown off the team for this, but some things were worth the cost.
He swallowed hard and went to Coach's side. "Coach, I hate to do this, and I wouldn't if it wasn't important, but there's someplace I need to be."
Coach frowned. "We're in the bottom of the second."
"I know, and I swear I wouldn't ask, but … I'm needed somewhere else."
Coach's frown deepened. "Is this about a girl?"
Kyle hid a wince. "Please, sir. Ledecky deserves a shot. He's your future, and we're up five to two. Give him a chance. I promise I'll stay late every practice for the rest of the season. Just give me this one thing."
Ledecky had perked up at the sound of his name. "I can do it, Coach. Give me a chance."
Coach looked entirely bewildered, both eyebrows raised. The team started cheering around them and Kyle turned. Tristan had just hit a two-run shot. "We're up by seven to two now. You don't need me tonight."
Finally, Coach relented. "Fine, okay. I don't even want to know, but if you miss a single practice or game the rest of the season, I'll bench you for the remainder."
Kyle grinned in relief. "Fair enough. Thank you, sir."
He ran to his car, dusted the dirt off his baseball pants, and drove over to the theater. So maybe the old man was right and he did smell like a yak, but he didn't have any time to spare.
Violet was waiting at the front door, and she waved him in. "Hello, holy shoulders," she stage-whispered, looking him over. "Nice look. I like the cleats."
A blush crept up his neck. That girl's gaze was like an MRI. "Have they started?"
"Yeah. Josh is already whining, and he dropped her on the first little lift." Violet's eyes narrowed. "He's such a little diva. He didn't even apologize. But I digress. You have a date."
Kyle nodded and sneaked through the doors at the back of the theater to let his eyes adjust to the dark. Cade gave him a thumbs-up from the sound booth a few seats over.
On the stage, a crowd had gathered. There were a number of chorus dancers, and the kid with the boots must be Josh. Faith stood center stage, dressed in her fluffy skirt, a different leotard, and her ballet slippers. Even from here, he could see the bright spots of frustration standing out on her cheeks.
"Remember," Cade whispered. "Knight in shining armor."
"I'm fine." And he was. All day long, he'd tested himself. After confronting Cameron, his confidence had grown each passing hour. He'd even managed a quick smile Faith's direction during lunch. The fact that she'd looked away didn't bother him in the least. He had a good feeling he could change her mind.
"Seriously, please tell me we're redoing this. I can't lift her," Josh called to the director, who was sitting in the fifth row. "Sorry."