Songs for Cricket by Laine, E. (best books to read in your 20s TXT) 📗

you and August are practically twins. If he can get whatever girl he wants, so can you. You got to bring your A game off the field and make a move. Call Tori and ask her out.”

He looked a little lost, and I had sympathy for the guy. “Where would we go?”

“Take her to dinner or to a movie. Better yet, find out what she likes to do and do that.”

Cooper’s expression turned optimistic, and he nodded, taking off for his room. Hopefully, he was going to make plans, not spend hours on his PlayStation.

That afternoon, I ended up in my room tossing a football up in the air over and over, catching it while lying flat on my bed, thinking about how I’d thought my luck had turned around.

“You’re here.” I jerked my head towards my door which was cracked open. Finley stood in the gap. “How’d you beat me here? I didn’t see you leave.”

I sat up and shifted to the side. She stepped forward, and I widened my legs to give her space. She sat in my lap, and I curled my arms around the best and only thing I had left in my life.

“What happened?” Her eyes were filled with remorse. “Did you get in trouble because of me?”

“No.”

There was no easy way to say it because I couldn’t believe it myself.

“Tell me,” she pleaded.

“I’ve been banned from school and extra-curricular activities.”

“What!” She jumped to her feet.

I managed to snag her hand and pull her back to me.

“The Fosters take exception to my ability to walk around campus given how dangerous I am.”

The clawing words stung my throat.

“That’s bullshit,” my girl said like she was ready to fight.

Finley didn’t often curse, but I remained quiet, feeling the same way.

“How can she get away with this? Isn’t there something called innocent until proven guilty?” she questioned.

“To be honest, I can’t blame them.” Her brows shot up. “I didn’t do this, but if something happened to you, I would want the cops and the university on your side like they are on hers.”

“How can you say this?” she asked.

“I have to believe in the system.” I had to believe in something.

“But you didn’t do anything wrong. Keeping you out of school isn’t fair.”

“This isn’t a court. It’s a private university funded from people like the Fosters. Besides the rule is in the student handbook. At least I’m allowed to turn in assignments and follow the course outline of my classes off-campus until the investigation is final. I’m lucky I don’t live in the dorms because otherwise, I would have been forced to leave.”

“I can’t believe this. I hate her.”

My gorgeous girl hopped off my lap, fists balled with determination in her gaze.

“Stay away from her,” I warned, seeing calculation in her eyes.

She spun to face me. “Really, you and August use your fists a lot.”

“Yeah, and this girl will have you arrested if you so much as blow air in her face. Promise me you’ll stay away from her.”

“I don’t know,” she said, pacing my floor.

I caught hold of her again and drew her close. “Promise me. I couldn’t live with myself if you got in trouble over this.”

She allowed herself to be held in my arms, nestled between my legs where I still sat. I pressed my head against her chest and listened to the sound of her heart beating. It reminded me that life went on. No matter what happened, we would go on.

“Where are your sheets?” she asked.

I glanced down at my bare bed. I hadn’t thought an extra set of sheets necessary. The plan had been to wash them in the morning when I did laundry and put them back on before I went to sleep. As it was, I’d spent most the previous night in her bed.

“I don’t have any.”

Her fingers caught in my hair and angled me so I could look up at her.

“You aren’t on an island. I have some. Let me go get them.”

I didn’t want to let her go. We’d just found each other, yet this one vindictive person could destroy everything. But I released her.

Her smile was sad, and I thought there might be more to it than just my fucked-up circumstances. She opened the door and started across the hall when August appeared at the top of the stairs.

“What’s wrong?” he asked her.

He pointedly didn’t look toward my open door.

“So you care now?”

Surprisingly her snarky response didn’t spark anger within him.

“You’re my sister. I’ll always care about you.”

“Yeah, and Shep is your best friend. He needs you now more than ever––especially since they’ve practically kicked him out of school.”

I didn’t want August’s pity. I wanted his forgiveness and understanding that my love for Finley was real and not a betrayal of his trust. But I said nothing and neither did he. Finley disappeared in her room, shutting the door softly. August stood there for a second as if deciding what to do, but a second later he moved in another direction. The click of his door shutting was the finale to a spectacularly messed up ending to my day.

When Finley didn’t immediately come back, I took out my phone. Just as I was about to unlock the screen, it vibrated in my palm.

“Mom,” I said and got up to close the door.

I wasn’t keeping Finley out, but I also didn’t want my conversation to be heard by everyone in the house. Mom wasn’t going to give up, and it was time I told her at least some of what was going on.

“Hey, baby. How are things going?”

“I’m good.”

That was a lie. She worked most evenings and nights, and I didn’t want her worried about me when she’d be leaving for work soon.

“You say everything is okay, but you haven’t answered me about your game this week.”

She’d asked if I could get her tickets so she could come. Now there was no avoiding the truth.

“I’m not playing.”

I didn’t want to tell her any more. She’d want to drive