Free The Gryphon Project by Carrie Mac Page A

her about Clea’s earlier claim.
    “Maybe so.” Nadia kept her eyes on Clea. “But she used to be into Saul.”
    “Way before you,” Phoenix said. “Get over it.”
    Gryph emerged from the locker room, a bouquet of baseball bats over his shoulder. Clea ran for him, practically bouncing. She threw herself on him, and he lifted her right up off her feet and kissed her.
    “Fair enough,” Nadia mumbled. “But just let me have my catty attitude today, okay?”
    Saul was heading their way now, with a slow sort of waddle because of his padding. Nadia stood up with a flourish. “I can’t talk to him right now. I’m still upset.”
    “Come on, Nad. Why don’t you see what he has to say?”
    “Tell him to call me.” Nadia stood and grabbed her bag. “I’m going inside.”
    “Nadia—”
    “Later, Phee.” Nadia stalked off toward the school.
    “Do you want me to come with you?” Phoenix called over her shoulder.
    “No,” Nadia stopped. “No, actually. I don’t.”
    Phoenix turned her eyes up to the sky. “God? Oscar’s daughter here. Help?”
    Saul saw her leave, so he stopped to pull off his leg pads and then sprinted across the rest of the distance, leaving Clea and Gryph in a make-out knot behind him.
    “Where’d Nadia go?”
    “Inside.”
    “Is she still mad at me or something?”
    “Yeah.” Phoenix laughed. “Or something.”
    “Look, I couldn’t stay with Nadia this morning.” Saul sat beside her, toying with his catcher’s mask, which rested on his lap. “You know that, right?”
    “I know you chose the guys over Nadia. You always do. Even though she’s been your girlfriend for almost two years.”
    “It’s not like that!” Saul growled again. “I love Nadia, but my buddies are just as important. I’d be nothing without them. It’s not a matter of either or. I have to have both. Nadia and the guys. Got it?”
    “Got it,” Phoenix said.
    “But you don’t really. You don’t understand.”
    “Seems to be what everyone thinks of me today.”
    “But you don’t.” Saul let his catcher’s mask roll off his lap. “Gryph and Huy and Tariq, and even Neko now … we’re more than friends. We’re brothers . It’s different from you and Nadia being best friends. That whole BFF crap is for girls. It’s different for guys.”
    “Oh, really? How about you enlighten me?”
    “It’s just … I don’t know.” Saul shrugged. “It’s just different. You wouldn’t understand.”
    “I have an idea.” Phoenix shielded her eyes against the sun and looked at Saul. “How about you don’t presume to know me, and I don’t presume to know you. Sound fair?”
    “Sure.” Saul gave her a sardonic smile and stood. “That’s a great idea.” He started to walk away, but Phee called his name. He turned.
    “What?”
    “This morning,” Phee said, “you were shaking really hard. I’ve never seen you like that before. Are you okay?”
    “I came pretty close to having my head ripped off by a brick wall. You’d be shaking too.”
    “I guess.”
    “Right.” Saul was looking everywhere except at Phoenix.
    “But still, I’ve never seen you like that before. You’re sure you’re okay?”
    “Yeah.” Saul sighed. “I haven’t been feeling so great lately, that’s all.”
    “Maybe you should have my mom check you out.”
    “No!” Across the field, the coach called for Saul. “I mean, no thanks. I can’t.”
    “Well”—Phoenix tried to meet his eyes, but he shifted his glance back across the field and rubbed his face again—“maybe get your own doctor to check you out.”
    “Mind your own business, Phee.”
    “Saul!” the coach hollered. “Get over here or get out of here!”
    “Thanks for your concern and everything.” Saul backed away, clutching his helmet. “But don’t worry about me. Just go find Nadia and tell her that I love her. Try to make her understand.”
    “You just told me I didn’t understand.” Phoenix laughed. “So how can I make her