“Case!” one of Casey’s friends shouts out from across the field. “Casey’s here,” someone on the field says to another player. “Casey, play. We need you. Easthaven is killing us.”

“What else is new?” Brian’s voice shouts out from the center of the field.

My stomach does a flip. The only thing that is worse than Casey being here with me is Casey being on the field with Todd.

“You okay?” Casey runs his hands over my arms, looking for permission to leave me.

“Yeah. Go,” I say, masking my fears with a smile.

“So you’re going out with Casey now? You’re a big fan of my leftovers.” The shrill voice pulls me out of my concern-induced haze.

I pivot on my heel, and my eyes land on RTS.

“You wish,” I snap back. Something about this girl makes me want to punch her every time I see her, but before we can get into it, we are interrupted by shouting on the field. I guess I’ll have to put picking a fight with her on hold.

Casey looks back and smiles at me as someone calls out the play. Todd is kicking off, and as soon as my eyes land on him, butterflies start to flutter.

“Wooo, Todd. Kick that ball, baby!” RTS shouts out then glares at me.

Everyone lining the field is holding red solo cups that I’m sure aren’t filled with water. They are watching the game and cheering on their school, while music is blaring out of speakers set up in the back of Mark’s truck. If I weren’t so worried, this would be pretty amazing.

Just relax and take it all in. It’s a friendly game of tackle football. Yeah, tackle football with two boys who hate each other.

Once Todd kicks off, he starts playing defense since Casey’s team has the ball. Both teams are playing full tackle, so it’s pretty rough, and everyone is showered with mud. Even though Casey has only been out there for a few plays, he’s already caked with it, but so far, so good.

I take my place next to Sid and Shane.

“So how was the date?” Sid asks under her breath.

“Good.” I give her a smile that says it was anything but good, knowing I need to be cautious of the ears all around us.

“That’s good.” She gives me the same smile back.

“Johnny looks great,” I say, noticing he’s just as skilled at defense as he is at quarterback.

“Just friends, remember,” Shane says without taking his eyes off the field.

I know I should be watching Casey to keep up the act, but I can’t take my eyes off Todd.

Adam, one of his teammates, says something to him, and he changes positions on the field, so now he’s right in front of Casey.

Why? How did Ryan let this happen?

Ryan notices at the same time I do, but it’s too late; the ball is already in the air. When Todd leaps up and catches the ball our side erupts. People start screaming, “Interception! Go, Hamilton.”

Todd is an incredible athlete. He could have been a receiver or even a quarterback, but he chose to be a kicker, mostly because that was the only way his mom would let him play and also because he’s really good.

Casey rams him and slams him down hard. Really hard. Then the cheers of celebration from our side turn into shouting at the players from Ridgewood.

“What the fuck? Not cool.”

My heart stops. Todd is on the ground. Ryan is running over to him, Brian, Mark, and Adam, whom I could kill right now, are right behind him, poised for a fight. I see the realization in Casey’s face as he glances back at me.

Todd slowly sits up. “I’m good,” he says to the guys surrounding him, but I can tell he’s still a little stunned. Ryan helps him up, and Todd shakes it off.

“This should be fun,” Shane says, laced with sarcasm.

I just glare at him then quickly bring my attention back to the field.

Todd turns away from Casey, and I’m proud that he’s not taking the bait. Then Casey says something that I can’t make out, and Todd turns back around, his focus locked on Casey. In three quick strides, his hands are on Casey’s chest, pushing him back hard, the mud on his shirt flying through the air from the impact.

Shit.

All of the Ridgewood players stand taller, as if they are ready for this fight, while Todd is backed by the entire Easthaven team who all instinctively step forward with raised chests.

“What? You can’t handle that I’m on a date with your ex-girlfriend?” Casey shouts.

Todd glances at me, and I shake my head. I see it all over his face; he wants to tell him.

When Ryan grabs Todd’s shoulder as a warning and reminder, Todd takes Ryan in and then turns back to Casey. He’s in a zone, his eyes zeroed in on him, and my heart is pounding in my ears.

Don’t do it. Don’t say it.

Then Todd’s voice cuts through the pounding.

“She’s not my ex-girlfriend. She’s my girlfriend.”

I can’t move. This must be what being in shock feels like. My mouth is dry; my heart is pounding; I can’t speak. All I can do is stand here, motionless. I can’t believe he just said that out loud in front of everyone.

“Dream on!” Casey shouts back.

Neither of them look in my direction; they are locked on each other.

I start to step forward, but Sid and Shane sandwich me on either side.

“Don’t, Ash. Just stay back.” Shane rests his hand on my arm.

I can’t believe this is happening here in front of all of these people, but if I don’t say anything, I know they are going to fight again.

I take a deep breath and shout as loud as my voice will allow, “It’s true.”

All heads turn in my direction, all eyes now on me.

“What?” Casey asks, his face filled with confusion.

I feel Shane drop his hand, and I take a step forward, finding the strength in my voice again. “I said … it’s true.”

I sense RTS stiffen and hear a few murmurs around me, but my focus is on Todd and Casey; everyone else melts away.

“What’s true?” Casey asks with trepidation.

“We’re still together. We’re lying because of our parents. They made us break up, and they can’t know the truth.” There, I said it. Now everyone knows.

My eyes lock on Todd’s, and his smile tells me I did the right thing. I don’t care anymore. I can’t hide it. I won’t hide it. If we have to run away to be together, so be it.

Ryan starts to pace and run his muddy hands through his hair, his stress palpable. I know he thinks I’m wrong, but I needed to do this.

“Well, they will know now. It’s a good thing me and Mr. Taylor are so tight,” Casey says to Todd with a calm grin. Then he turns to me. “He’s bad for you, Ashley. You just can’t see it.”

Todd steps up, inches from Casey’s face, his voice rigid, and I can see him trying to control himself, calm himself down.

“You listen to me,” Todd says, and Ryan steps up so he is right behind him while the rest of the team is right behind Ryan. “You won’t say a word, not one word, or that will be the last breath you take. Here’s how it’s going to go down. You went out with Ashley, and you had a great time. Maybe you’ll even go out again. That’s what her parents need to know.” With each word, he’s getting closer and closer to Casey. They are practically chest to chest. “But you won’t. You understand me. You won’t go out with her again.” Todd is now fully in his face, his finger slamming into Casey’s chest. “You won’t touch her, talk to her, breathe on her.”

I know what’s coming next; we have been here before, too many times.

My eyes land on my brother. I need his help.

“Ryan, stop him!” I shout, pleading.

Todd continues, “You have no idea how hard it is for me to stand here and see your arm around her, to see you holding her hand. So I hope you enjoyed it, because it’s done.” He fully pushes him in the chest, and Casey stumbles backward.

Ryan pulls Todd back as soon as his hand makes full contact with Casey’s chest, and the rest of the team steps in.

Casey isn’t backing down. He regains his stance in front of Todd. “You really have issues, you know that? We’re on a date because I asked and she said yes. If that hurts you, then maybe you should talk to her.” Casey gestures in my direction, and once again, all eyes are on me, but the only ones I care about are Todd’s.