The Ties That Bind by T. Starnes Read Free Book Online Page B

the kitchen when I walked in but didn't immediately turn around when she started talking to me.
    "How did it ... that bad huh?"
    "Yeah. She said she didn't want me to come by any more. Margret wasn't there, but there was a guy there. I am guessing it is this Steven Mertz that Tami's sister mentioned to her. He was really handsy with her while we were talking."
    "Cas, you didn't..."
    "No, I kept my cool."
    She came over and held me tight against her.
    "I know it's tough, but Tina is a good person. She'll come around."
    "I hope so."
    I headed back, to get ready for the game, but wasn't convinced. I knew she was trying to comfort me, but I was still pissed. Partly I was mad that she was throwing away the relationship we had just started to build. More than her reaction to me was that she let that guy have his hands all over her, in front of someone else. It was really disrespectful to her and she shouldn't have stood for it. It upset me that her apparent self-worth had taken some kind of a hit, and I was worried about her.
    The girls let me be while I stewed, although each gave me a kiss as we separated to our respective buses for the game, or in Vicki's case Megan's suburban. A few of the guys tried to talk to me on the bus, but gave up when all they got were monosyllabic responses in return.
    It got worse as we got into the game. The longer I stewed, the angrier I got. I started taking it out on our opponents. I was putting blockers down hard every time they got in my way and pouring it on when running the ball. I was lost in my own world. At halftime, Tami and Zoe grabbed me as I headed off the field.
    "What the hell are you doing?"
    "Playing football, what the hell does it look like I'm doing?" I was still keyed up and took it out on Zoe. "Go back to the other cheerleaders and leave me the hell alone."
    Tami whacked me hard on the helmet, "Cas, pull your shit together. I know you're pissed at Tina, but don't take it out on Zoe."
    I looked at Zoe and saw tears forming in her eyes, and my anger faded away.
    "Shit, I'm sorry, Zoe. I didn't mean that, I was just being an ass."
    Tami grabbed my face mask and pulled me to look at her. She was still annoyed with me. I think that is what snapped me out of it more than anything else. Of my three girls, she had the sweetest and softest personality, while Vicki tended to be the hard core one.
    "We have bigger problems than that. You have the attention of the teams and coaches on both sides. You have been annihilating anyone getting in your way, and running like you play on a pro team. This is not 'flying under the radar.'"
    "Shit. This is bad. What do I do?"
    Zoe was still looking sad, but stepped in, "We need to get you off the field. Better yet, in a way that takes you off it permanently. Too many people have noticed how you are playing. You are going to be watched by scouts from here on out."
    "Okay, but how do we do that?"
    "I have an idea. I already called Alex and she is on her way down. Next time you get the ball, take a hit. Go down hard and stay down. Play up being groggy and out of it until Alex gets to you."
    "What ... never mind. I know you have it worked out, and I trust you. I have to get to the locker room."
    I ran off the field and joined the team in the locker room. There was a lot of back slapping going on. The coach stopped his pep talk when I walked in.
    "Grey here is going to keep us in points for the rest of the night. If you guys can keep their offense pinned down, and keep the ball in his hands, we can't be stopped. Keep this up the rest of the season; we are a shoe-in for state."
    Man, the girls were right. This was getting out of hand. I just kept my head down and tried to look focused. We received the ball and our return was stopped just short of the fifty yard line. The first play was for me to get the ball. They knew it, too, and had two defenders stacked up on me.
    I ran my route like normal, got in between the two defenders and snagged the pass. I had to