Chasing You

48

BRADEN

The morale is low.

We came home last night from our game and everyone pretty much got trashed. The whole team and the girls were here. Everyone is currently milking their hangovers in the girls living room since our house is trashed. My head is pounding as I lay my head against the back of the couch. My arm is wrapped around Lacey and she is tucked perfectly against my side.

Carter is laying down beside us with her head in Asher's lap and her feet on my lap asleep. Asher is chugging a Gatorade. Trey and Julie are on the loveseat both with sunglasses on. Rae has taken a spot on the armchair with Robbie passed out on the floor underneath her. Jeremy is sprawled out in front of the coffee table. While Tori is asleep on the bathroom floor.

"I have the hangover shakes," Julie breathes. She grabs her Propel bottle from the coffee table and chugs. I nod my head silently and wince. This hangover is ass. Lacey nods her head in agreement against my chest while Robbie changes the channel.

"That bottle of New Am was our downfall," Trey admits. I swear we all wince at the mention of the vodka we were downing last night. I really thought we had that game in the bag. Something happened in the second half and everyone fell out of rhythm. It fucking sucks I'll never play with Trey, Robbie, and Asher again.

"Who was the one who brought out that second bottle of New Amsterdam?" Jeremy groans from the floor. I have to shut my eyes just thinking about the bottles of vodka. We really all decided to drink our sorrows away last night. We also really didn't talk about how now these next two months are the last ones we have together. It's crazy because I feel like Robbie, Trey, and Asher are coming back. But they aren't. I hear the television talk about our loss on ESPN.

I tune it out. I don't need to hear that bullshit.

"You okay?" Lacey asks me. I open my eyes to look at her. Her blue ones stare back at mine with worry. She asked me how I felt about everything last night but I was a little too drunk to comprehend.

"Yeah, just tired," I say. I press a small kiss to her lips before pulling away. I love kissing her. She always tastes like mint and knows how to keep my mind away from everything.

"Hold on, Robbie, turn this up," Asher says. I look away from Lacey and to the tv. An ESPN news reporter sits in front of the television with our logo sat behind him-

"We actually have some interesting UNC transfer news for you-"

The guys and I all exchange a confused look. Transfer? No one has fucking said anything about transferring.

"Who the fuck is transferring?" Jeremy yells sitting up from the floor. Carter shifts from beside me.

The ESPN reporter continues, "It looks like Duke transfer, Jacob Kappalac, has decided on joining his rival team North Carolina. I mean this is an insane choice of school to pick. No one on this team even likes you since you're a Blue Devil and now the Blue Devils really-"

"Ain't no fucking way," Trey says. Asher and Robbie stay silent. I can feel my blood boiling. Jacob Kappalac, Jordan Kappalac's brother is coming here. To be my teammate. There's no way. I mean no way.

"Why would even come here after he did what he did?" Jeremy asks, turning around. I glance at Asher and he shares a confused look. While I probably look like I'm ready to choke someone out. Him and his brother and Burke are responsible for my shoulder injury.

"Does he expect Jeremy and I and the team to just forget what he fucking did? How can Coach just let him come here?" I ask, venmo dripping from my tone. I can't believe this is happening right now. My senior fucking season too.