Chapter 3
Tessa POV
My day starts with a granola bar, a broken alarm, and the grim realization that my gym shoes still smell like boy sweat and bad decisions.
By the time I get to school, the halls are buzzing, not with gossip, but with tension.
Whispers trail me as I walks past rows of students.
"That's her..."
"...Coach's niece..."
"...Saw her with Maddox..."
I grit my teeth and shove my earbuds deeper into my ears. I didn’t come here to be the lead in some backwoods high school soap opera. But apparently being the only girl on the sidelines of the Wolves’ football team and maybe, sort of, kind of exchanging verbal uppercuts with the team captain is enough to light up the rumor mill.
Still, it’s not the stares that rattle Me.
It’s ”him”
Jax Maddox is leaning against my locker.
Again.
Like he’s got nowhere else to be. Like he planned it.
“Morning, Trouble,” he says, arms crossed over his annoyingly sculpted chest. His grin is lazy, like he has a secret. Probably because he does.
I narrow my eyes. “What do you want?”
“Nothing,” he says, then adds, “Well…maybe a little entertainment.”
I shove past him to open my locker. “Don’t you have plays to memorize? Or touchdowns to obsess over?”
“Not today.” he replies
“Why not?” I lift a brow
He leans in, voice low. “Because Coach benched me.”
She turns sharply. “Wait, what?”
“Benched. Off the field. No practice. No games.” He narrows his eyes
“Why?” I take a step back
“Maybe because someone’s uncle thinks I’m a bad influence.” He shrugs with no care in the world
I slam my locker shut and stare at him. “You. are. a bad influence.” I roll my eyes
“Exactly,” he says with a wink. “So now I’ve got time on my hands. Thought I’d spend it bothering you.”
My jaw clenches. “Go bother someone else.”
He tilts his head. “Not as fun.”
Before I can fire back, someone clears their throat behind us.
I turn to see a girl with honey-blonde curls and cheerleader-level posture. Her eyes flicker between I and Jax, sharp as glass.
“You’re the new trainer,” the girl says. It’s not a question.
“Wow,” I reply. “Is my badge showing?”
The girl doesn’t laugh. “I’m Brynn. Captain of the cheer squad. Jax’s ex” she told her eyes, her tiny skirt making her introduction useless
I blink. “Cool story.”
Brynn’s gaze turns ice-cold. “Just thought I’d say hi before things got... complicated.”
I smile sweetly. “Thanks. But I’m pretty fluent in complicated.”
Brynn walks off, hips swinging like a warning sign.
Jax sighs. “She’s not usually that subtle.”
“She was subtle?” I lift a brow at him
He laughs.
Later that afternoon, I’m in the equipment room, inventory sheet in hand, when Jax shows up again shirtless, like it’s a personal brand.
Why is he always shirtless!!
“You’re following me,” I mutter without looking up.
“Technically, I got here first.”
She points at the door. “Go be benched somewhere else.”
“I’m bored.” He moves closer
“I don’t care.” I shrug
“You’re fun when you’re mad.” He chuckles
“Then you must be really entertained.” I snap back at him
He grins and grabs a roll of pre-wrap off the shelf, tossing it between his hands. “You know... I wasn’t lying yesterday.”
“About what?” I narrow my eyes at him
“The pack.”
I stop mid-count. “I knew you said that.”
Jax leans against the table, tone serious for once. “You’re not wrong to be suspicious.”
I cross my arms. “So go ahead. Tell me I’m crazy.”
“I won’t. Because you’re not.”
My heart skips. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying... you should probably stay away from me.”
I snort. “You’ve said that before.”
“This time I mean it.”
He looks almost regretful. Almost... scared? Which makes no sense. Jax doesn’t get scared. He causes it.
Before I can ask more, Coach Cruz’s voice shouts from the hallway, calling me to the field.
Jax moves aside, quiet now. But as I walk past him, I swear I hear him whisper:
“You don’t know what I am.”
And the worst part?
I think I wants to.
You may also like
