It’s always been that way, really. I learned to keep everything tucked in. When it felt like too much, I just buried it deeper. No one knows about the times I’d lie in bed, wishing I could figure it all out. When things go south, I compartmentalize. It’s easier than opening up Pandora’s Box and explaining why I feel the way I do and what the hell I’m supposed to do to fix it. I’ve always dealt with it alone. The idea of someone offering comfort? Never really crossed my mind. If you’ve been making it through life without help, why start asking for it now?
I manage a grateful smile. “Thanks, Kev. I’ll be fine.”
As I walk out of the locker room, the noise and camaraderie fading behind me, I realize how football, usually a safe escape, my way of keeping things simple, is not working as well as it usually does.
I glance at my phone. A text from Alli, a simple congratulation that somehow feels loaded with meaning. I’m tempted to call her, but I know I shouldn’t in case I do something stupid like years ago.
The parking lot is still alive with energy, a few scattered groups of fans lingering to celebrate the win. The night air is cool, carrying the distant sounds of laughter and music from the campus bars. I push through the throngs of people, trying to blend in and escape the feeling of being constantly watched.
I’m halfway to my car when I spot a familiar face among the crowd. My heart sinks as I recognize Ariel, one of the girls who caused a lot of trouble for me back at Clemson. Ariel and her sorority sisters made my social life unbearable, to the point where I stopped going to bars and experiencing student life because they wouldn’t stop showing up like a new pimple.
She hangs around the perimeter of the lot, her eyes scanning the crowd like she’s searching for someone. As soon as she spots me, her face lights up with a smile that’s anything but friendly.
“Jared!” she calls out, waving enthusiastically as she starts making her way toward me.
I stop in my tracks, dread and irritation tightening my chest. This isn’t the first time Ariel’s shown up uninvited. She’s been relentless; hell, she followed the team bus for away games.
I mentally slap sense into myself and quicken my pace, heading towards my car with a sense of urgency. The last thing I need right now is another confrontation, especially when I’m already grappling with my mess. I hear her calling after me, her voice growing more insistent.
“Jared, wait up! I just wanted to congratulate you on the game!”
I don’t turn around. Instead, I keep my eyes fixed on the car ahead, fumbling for my keys. As I reach the driver’s side, I hear her footsteps drawing closer. It’s hard to ignore the way my skin crawls at the thought of her intrusion.
“Please, just leave me alone,” I say, finally turning to face her with a forced calm. “I’m not in the mood for this.”
Ariel’s smile falters, but she doesn’t back down. “Come on, Jared. I’m just trying to be friendly. We had some good times, didn’t we?”
“Not really,” I reply coldly, still looking for my keys.
She lingers around me, her expression shifting from cheerful to hurt. “Is this how you treat old friends?”
“We were never friends, Ariel.”
“Why would you say that? We’ve known each other since—”
“Ariel,” I cut her off, my patience running thin. “You came up to me at the bar after our first game to congratulate me. I said thank you, and that should have been the end of it, but you followed me around the entire night. And after that, you followed me to my dorm. More than once. It wasn’t ‘good times.’ It was creepy.”
“There you are, babe!” Alli’s voice cuts through the pressure like a lifeline. I whip around, surprised to see her walking toward us with a bright, confident smile. Relief floods through me at the sight of her, but also confusion.
She steps right up beside me, slipping her arm through mine like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Her touch is light but grounding, and it sends a jolt through me. “I was wondering where you went,” she chirps, leaning up to brush a kiss against my cheek, her tone carrying an undercurrent of steel.
Ariel stiffens, her gaze darting between us. “I didn’t realize you had a girlfriend.”
“Oh, absolutely. I’m Alli.” Alli replies, her tone effortlessly casual as she tilts her head like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “We’ve been keeping it lowkey for a while now.”
Ariel’s eyes narrow in disbelief. “Really? I don’t believe that. You never dated anyone back at Clemson nor tried to. Not even me. And look at me.” She says cockily.
I’m frozen, my brain short-circuiting as I try to process what’s happening. Alli, on the other hand, is a picture of confidence. Without missing a beat, she turns to me, her eyes meeting mine briefly in a silent signal.
And then her lips are on mine.
It’s not just a quick peck or some half-hearted display for show. It’s a full-on kiss, her lips pressing against mine with a deliberate firmness that leaves no room for doubt. My brain shuts down as the kiss deepens, and for a moment, everything around us fades—Ariel, the crowd, the cold night air.
When she finally pulls back, her eyes lock onto mine for a heartbeat, and I catch something there that turns the temperature up by a thousand degrees. A spark.
Ariel’s face contorts into a face I’d never seen before, her bravado cracking beneath Alli’s stance. “Whatever,” she sneers. “This isn’t over.”
Before either of us can react, she moves like she’s going to shove Alli aside. Instinct kicks in, and I step between them, placing myself between Ariel and Alli, holding Alli behind my back, tight against me. My body tenses, trying to block out the threat.
