“What the fuck, Jade?” Reid’s face was contorted in anger, but Jade didn’t flinch.

“We need to talk,” she replied. “Now.”

“That’s not possible,” I said, raising my voice. “We’re in the middle of practice. You can wait until we’re done.”

Jade scowled, folding her arms across her chest in defiance. With a shake of his head, Reid looked back at me, and let out an exasperated grunt as he dragged Jade away from the team. They were out of earshot, and Jade’s lips started moving too fast for me to catch anything comprehensible. It was when she threw her hands in the air, and hit Reid on his chest that I realized she was the angriest I’d ever seen her. Granted, she had always been a hellcat, and I was sure it had everything to do with her Spanish heritage, but this? I’d never seen this side of her. Ever.

She got in Reid’s face, and stood toe-to-toe with him, even when he spoke harshly. They’d fought before, and most of the time it was fueled by repressed sexual tension, but this time it was different, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had something to do with it.

After five minutes Jade stormed off back towards her car, and Reid shoulders collapsed. He rubbed his face, looking up at the sky.

“Okay, boys. That’s enough for the day. Hit the showers,” I shouted. Reid cut his eyes in my direction, his jaw rigid. It wasn’t often that Reid got mad, but when he did, he had just cause. He walked towards me, and stopped less than a foot away.

“What was that all about?” I asked.

He regarded me carefully for a moment, and when he finally spoke, his voice was calm, but hard.

“You know Dane, you are my brother in every way but blood. I’ve stood by you through everything, I supported you when you blew out your knee, and I watched you drink yourself into oblivion when Jewel died. But in all that time, I’ve never been disappointed in you. Until now.”

A stone lodged itself in the pit of my stomach, and despite knowing the answer, I still asked, “What is this about?”

“Kissing Kennedy at the club last night, and then fucking that waitress while Kennedy could here you in her room? Seriously? What the fuck is wrong with you Dane? It was Kennedy’s birthday, for crissake, that’s why I told you to stay away.”

My face fell, and any residual annoyance I may have felt when Reid started his little ‘pep talk’ vanished.

“Reid, I - ”

He put his hand up, and cut me off. “Save it, man. I don’t want to hear your pathetic excuses regarding that girl anymore. That shit you pulled last night is the lowest thing you have ever done, and I’m a little disgusted. Not even I would stoop to that level. Kennedy is the last person who deserves your bullshit, and you need to remember that she’s lost just as much as you have, if not more. This was just a step too far, and if you keep pushing, I’m going to lose Jade too. I can’t have that. Make a choice Dane, hate Kennedy quietly, or keep acting like a dick, and lose everyone that cares about you for good.”

With a heavy breath, Reid walked past me, leaving me rooted to the ground. I hated the way his ‘speech’ affected me because it unearthed something I’d never felt towards Kennedy before.

Guilt. Remorse. Contrition.

As hard as it was to explain, Reid understood my feelings towards Kennedy, but what he didn’t know is that I had no idea how else to express how I felt about her. Fighting with her had always been the easiest, and until now Reid had never said anything.

But maybe he had a point. Maybe he was right.

I’d gone too far.

CHAP TER SEVEN

Kennedy

ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON, I walked into our apartment, and found Jade on the sofa exactly how I’d left her earlier. She was still wearing her pajama’s - which consisted of light grey three-quarter sweats and a plain black tank - while munching on a bowl of Lucky Charms. Her hair was messily tied up on top of her head, and her black-rimmed glasses sat perched on her nose.

“What’s cookin’ good lookin’,” I greeted, throwing my bag next to the door. I was exhausted, and an evening on the sofa with my best friend watching trashy television sounded like a perfect plan.

“How was class?” Asked Jade.

I shrugged, and dropped onto the sofa next to her. “It was okay. At least I had a total hottie sitting next to me in my English Lit class today, although I think he bats for the same team we do.”

I’d met Grady a few times in my English Lit class, but it was the first time I’d had the chance to talk to him. He was gorgeous in that Abercrombie & Fitch kind of way, with his blond hair coifed perfectly to the side, and his light green eyes that were always smiling. He could have easily passed for a model, with his six-two frame and slender build, but what I liked about him was his easy sense of humor, and laid back attitude. I could really do with some of that in my life.

“Oh, you totally have to invite him over when we do our Mexican night here again. I think a sexy gay guy would be the perfect addition to our little group, and far easier to deal with than the straight guys right now.”

Jade sighed, and I knew what she meant. We’d both spent the entire weekend moping around after my birthday fiasco. It took me two days to grab my newest pair of big girl panties – theoretical of course - and move on after what had happened with Dane. Not only did he kiss me like I was the last meal he’d ever have, he then proceeded to screw someone as loudly as possible so that I could hear.

Karma had pulled her best trick yet when it turned out that Dane’s room was next to mine, and the walls were anything but sound proof. The sad thing was that I’d been thinking about his kiss all night afterwards, I’d even touched my lips a few times when I’d remembered what his felt like. Sadly, the confusion, and desire had been doused with an ice-cold bucket of water when the noises from next door started up.

I realized then that it was all a game to him. He was purposefully trying to mess with me, and after what sounded like orgasm number three for mystery girl, I felt sick. Literally.

It was when my head was slung over the toilet seat that I’d decided never to have anything to do with Dane ever again. I was done with him, whatever that meant.

“You and Reid still not talking?” I asked, snatching up Jades’ bowl of half-eaten cereal and taking a bite. She’d filled me in on what happened with Reid on Saturday morning, and I felt guilty because their friendship was suffering on account of Dane being a total dick. I appreciated Jades’ loyalty, but I never expected her to lay into Reid about what had happened the night of my birthday. It was between me, and Dane, and I wanted to keep it that way. Too bad Jade was as stubborn as I was, and after hearing what Dane had done, she immediately got involved.

“He sent me a text,” she replied. “But I haven’t replied. I’m not sure I’m going to either.”

I placed the now empty cereal bowl on our coffee table, and turned to face her. “You have no reason to ignore him, Jade. He’s been your best friend for too long for you to be pissy about a situation that has nothing to do with you two.”

Jade’s head whipped in my direction, her perfectly shaped brows dipped in a frown. “Nothing to do with us? You’re one of my best friends, Kennedy, and what Dane did was so disgusting. I told Reid to keep Dane away from you on Friday night, so I blame him for all the shit Dane pulled.”

“It’s not Reid’s fault,” I argued. I felt bad that he had to deal with Jades’ wrath when it wasn’t his fault. I didn’t blame him. It was all Dane, and his asshole-ish ways. “He can’t control what Dane does or doesn’t do.”

“That might be true, but he’s been standing around while Dane treats you like shit for no goddamn reason, and in my books, that makes him just as guilty.”