Free Hope for Him (Hope Series Book #2) by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

together.
    When it went downhill, she needed someone to turn to. Josh was so messed up by the end and she was pregnant. I said I was doing it to protect her and the baby. It was only half true.
    The truth was I waited around to pick up the pieces. 
    My phone rang and I grabbed it so fast, I knocked a cup of soda off the table.
    "Hello."
    "Hey, baby. Where are you?" I sighed and removed the disappointment from my face before speaking.
    "Hey, Tiff."
    "You're at school. I thought you would be home for dinner."
    "I'm sorry. I had dinner on campus with Jeff and Richard."
    "Oh, okay. Well, I made you something. You can eat it tomorrow."
    "Okay. Thanks."
    "Are you going to be much longer?"
    "Yeah, we're going to get a drink. Last first day of school and all." Jeff's face scrunched up, and I put my finger over my lips to make sure he didn't say anything. "Why don't you go on home, and I'll see you tomorrow. I won't be home until late."
    "You don't want me to wait for you. We could do some celebrating ourselves."
    "No. I don't want you to have to wait for me. I'll see you tomorrow."
    "Okay," she said, but she was suspicious. I could hear it in her voice.
    "’Night, Tiffany."
    "Goodnight."
    I hung up the phone. Jeff and Richard stared at me.
    "What?"
    "Lying to the girl already. That's not a good sign," Jeff said. Jeff Sherman was my running back. He stood five-foot-ten and weighed two hundred pounds. He redshirted last year, so this would be his first season as a starter. The kid came in eager and ready to learn, and I liked his work ethic. On the first day of spring practice, he asked me to work on hand-offs and play action routes, and we've been close ever since.
    Richard Bledsoe was my wide receiver. We had been playing catch since freshman year. Part of the reason I stayed another year was to get Richard a championship. He had been hurt and didn't get to play in our last national championship game.
    The three of us were inseparable, like any good QB-RB-WR tandem should be, and I was excited to see it translate to the field this year.
    "Yeah, and who the hell celebrates the first day of school. Tiffany isn't the brightest girl, but she's not that stupid," Richard said.
    "I know. I didn't want to deal with her tonight."
    "Trouble in blond girl paradise."
    Jeff always joked about Tiffany being the definitive blond chick. She embodied the stereotype, but she did it on purpose to get what she wanted. She was manipulative when it suited her.
    I didn't mind Jeff cracking jokes about her because he had an affinity for blondes himself.
    "No. Nothing like that. Tiffany's fine."
    "She is so fucking fine, dude," Jeff said.
    "She is a fine fuck, too," Richard said cracking up.
    "Dude, how do you know?" Jeff asked. I smirked at Jeff. He was a black guy from Alabama but sounded like a surfer from California.
    "When I passed out at his place last week, I heard her. ‘Oh Jack, fuck me Jack, that's it Jack, right there Jack.’" Richard thrashed his head from side to side.
    "Dude, you're a freak," Jeff said.
    "No, Tiffany is a freak," Richard said.
    I grabbed my backpack and headed for the door. 
    "Dude, too far, " Jeff said and hit Richard on the shoulder.
    They both followed, yelling my name.
    I stopped in the middle of the quad and waited for them to catch up.
    "J, man, I'm sorry," Richard said.
    "For what?"
    "For talking about your girl like that." I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head. I wasn't sure what they had said, but I didn't care. They could talk about Tiffany all they wanted. They were right; the girl was fine. She was a great fuck. She was a freak in bed. They could have her for all I care.
    I wanted Carrington.
    #
    C arrington Olivia Butler
    Of course, Jack woke up as soon as Jackson left. His screech filled the townhouse, but the sound wasn't as loud as the screeching in my heart.
    Okay, I know. A bit dramatic, but I am pissed.
    Not about how we left it. It could have been worse. It could have been better, too.
    I picked Jack