Second Down (Moving the Chains Book 2) by Kata Čuić

odd is it that in spite of my memory loss, they’re throwing around theories without having all the facts?
    Alex rolls his eyes. “Yeah, Evie. They do. That’s not the point. In Rob’s head, he should have seen this coming. He’s a quarterback. That’s what he does. He sees all the players in motion, reads what’s going to happen, and makes the play.”
    “He couldn’t have known,” Jess whispers.
    “No, he couldn’t.” Jeremy responds. “But that doesn’t matter in his mind. All he sees is his failure. He’s always been this way. That’s why he’s so good at everything he does. If he screws something up, he works his ass off until he fixes it and never makes the same mistake twice.”
    “Until you.” Alex’s quiet admission drags everyone’s gaze to his serious face. “Since ninth grade, Rob hasn’t known what to do with you. It’s been eating away at him slowly. When you started dating Eddie last year, it crushed him. I know that guy as well as my own brothers. I know he thought Bio and being ordered to tutor you in Calc were his second chances. And Rob never blows a second chance. But he did this time. He just doesn’t fucking know how to process it.”
    Nausea claws up my throat as my headache reaches a fever pitch. “Even if I believe you, which I’m not saying I do…what does all this mean? He’s just…done with me because he thinks he screwed up?” Or because I’m too disgusting to be girlfriend material now.
    Alyssa pats my knee. “What don’t you believe, sweetie?”
    I blink at her, unsure how to answer. Between them discussing my assault like regular school gossip, all the information I can’t remember that’s been thrown at me, and my guilt over Rob, if I open my mouth, I might throw up.
    Instead I fall onto my back and stare at the ceiling.
    “You see?” Alyssa screeches. “Rob was right! She can’t handle this!”
    A booming voice from the doorway stops the argument before it can even begin. “Enough!”
    I don’t have to see him to know the expression on Mike’s face. He only yells when he means business, and that’s rare.
    “Everyone out,” he orders.
    “It’s my day to take her home,” Jess argues even as she rises from her position on the floor along with everyone else.
    I stay on my back. Movement is out of the question.
    They mumble words of parting, the usual apologies, then I hear Alex and Mike having a conversation not meant for my ears. They’re too far away for me to make sense of it anyway.
    Mike sits beside me, but thank God, makes no move to touch. His voice is quiet, his usually calm demeanor back in place. “Who let the cat out of the bag?”
    “Alex.”
    He makes a humming noise in the back of his throat. “And?”
    I slide my gaze to his face. “And, what?”
    “What are you thinking?”
    “I don’t know, Mike.” Tears well in my eyes, and I swallow the building tension in my throat. “I don’t know what to think anymore.”
    “You wanna know what I think?”
    My laugh comes out more as a choked-off sob. “Please. Please tell me what you think. All I’ve been hearing for the past week are everyone else’s thoughts.”
    “Hey, you can’t think for yourself right now. Might as well borrow one of my thoughts.”
    When I don’t respond, he takes it as his cue to unload on me. “Sometimes it’s easier to be strong for someone other than ourselves.”
    I meet his deep brown gaze. If anyone knows about inner strength and control, it’s Mike.
    He unfolds his massive body, stretching before offering me a hand. “Think about it. In the meantime, let’s get you home.”
    I close my eyes and inhale deeply, giving myself a moment to collect my swirling thoughts. Repressing the urge to shudder, I take his outstretched hand, and he pulls me up like I weigh nothing.
    “So it’s true? Alex wasn’t lying?”
    Mike hoists my backpack over his shoulder, then herds me out into the hallway. “Why would Alex lie about you and Rob being an