“I’m not getting another ticket this year because you’re late, C.” I try to say it gently, but between this conversation and the fact that she didn’t even offer to chip in for the ticket I got the last time I rushed her to work, I’m getting pissed. “And I really hope y’all decided Jack should be treated like any other quarterback.”

She huffs out a breath as we pull up to the red light, but thankfully passes up whining about my driving for returning to our earlier conversation. “You know that’s not gonna happen, Ammo. She’s not like any other quarterback. Especially because no one wants to get into her pants.”

God, it’s like Cara is pushing every rainbow button of mine today. I can’t even respond to that comment, which, by the way, feels like pretty big talk from someone saving herself for marriage. My tongue suddenly feels too big for my mouth.

“People are really pissed about Robbie being replaced by a girl,” she says, tugging on the cross that hangs around her neck. “Which is obviously understandable.”

Is it? Because unless Jack sucks—and there’s no chance in hell she’d be here if she did—it sounds like this is just full-on misogyny. The words are clear in my head, but I can’t get them out of my mouth. I’ve already had more than one tense confrontation with Cara about Robbie since his accident, and I’m not eager to get into another one. It’s obviously sad anytime a seventeen-year-old kid dies, but I can’t join Cara and the rest of Atherton in the “Robbie was an angel” mindset—not knowing what an asshole he could be.

But then, unveiling Robbie’s sins means unveiling a whole lot more than that, so, into the vault it goes.

“I bet she thinks she’s gonna hook up with one of the guys on the team,” Cara continues, pulling down the sun visor to apply lip gloss in the little mirror. “At least one. Who do you think will go for her?” She doesn’t wait for me to answer. “The sad thing is, I bet someone will. I mean, they all hate her because of the Robbie thing, but, like, you know how those guys are.”

I keep my mouth shut and let Cara babble on, because if Jack’s butch vibes aren’t setting off anyone else’s gaydar, I’m damn sure not gonna be the one to mention it. Besides, right now I’m more worried about how neither the team nor the squad seems willing to give her a shot than Cara’s insecurities about a new girl showing up.