Chapter 3

I opened my eyes. For a second I didn’t know where I was. Then it came to me. In the boy’s locker room, staring at the middle of James’ big, muscular chest. I swallowed and looked down. Then back up just as fast. He was wearing nothing but a towel.

For some odd reason I thought I should let him know. “You’re wearing a towel.”

James looked down, then back up fast, sprinkling the water from his hair on my face. “You’re lucky. A minute earlier and you would have caught me without it.” He swiped a bead of water from my cheek with his thumb while I wrinkled my nose. “What are you doing here?” He looked at his hand, expression strained. I followed his gaze and he fisted his hand and shook his head. “What’s chasing you? Can you remember?”

Could I remember? What a strange question. There was no way he could know, but I almost couldn’t. The fear had been there, the sensation of being chased. Stronger still was the sensation that things had been shredded in my head.

“I just spooked myself in the gym. I came to get the key from Coach Hardey.” I watched him take my hand and pass his fingers over my marked wrist. The light touch sent my pulse racing. “What are you doing here?”

“I went to the weight room to work off some stress. Was in bad need of a shower after so…” He gave a stiff shrug. “I can wait with you if you want.”

I smiled and nodded. He stood and grabbed a pair of boxers from an open locker behind him.

“Can you just turn around so I can make myself decent?” James didn’t wait for me to comply. He bent down and stepped into his boxer. I whipped around so that my back was to him, my already red face turning crimson. “It’s okay, you can look now.”

I turned back and gave him my best stern look. “That was not nice.”

James tugged on some jeans and took a seat at my side. “Sorry. Guess I’m distracted.” He wiped his hand on the towel at his side.

My eyes locked on the red stain left behind. Was he bleeding?

I missed what he said next. He took my hand, made sure he had my attention and asked again. “Where’s Tammy?”

“In the lunch room.” I frowned. “Why?”

Every beautiful muscle came into play when James stood and jerked his grey cotton shirt over his head. “No reason.” He nudged his locker closed and took my hand. “Class should start any minute. I’ll walk you.”

I retrieved my hand and shook my head. “I need the key…”

After sending a sharp nod my way, James strode across the room and straight into the coaches office. Minutes later he was handing me a ring of keys. “I left him a note.”

“Thanks.” I watched him take an alert stance beside me, as though he was standing guard.

It was too much. I wanted him to laugh all my worries away, not act like he shared them.

For the first time, since the day he’d kissed me, I wanted to get away from him. When we got to my class I excused myself and started inside. I froze when James called to Tammy.

They spoke just outside the class for a bit. When Tammy sat beside me, her face mirrored James’ concern.

My next two classes I was the ideal student. I refused to take my eyes from the front of the class.

After school, on my way to practice, I spotted Tammy and James talking. Hatred, fierce and unfamiliar, bowled over me. It didn’t feel like it belong to me.

Either way, right then, I loathed them both.

And I wanted to see Nick.