“Hey.” Grace entered the apartment and set a grocery bag on the dinette. “I grabbed more of those protein bars we like.” She faced me with a wide grin and looked me over. “Whatcha doing?”
“Nothing, just studying.” I dropped my phone on the coffee table and plucked my book off it.
THREE
ELI
“God, it’s dead in here today.” I stared at the phone on the desk and sighed. “Guess Fridays aren’t big crisis days.” I had another hour on my early afternoon shift at the helpline after my classes. I’d been unsuccessful in finding any information about where the Spirit Squad practices were being held this week.
“No, but it picks up around four. Too bad you’ve got an away game tomorrow.” Kate blew a lock of short hair off her freckled nose and stepped toward my desk. “What’s eating you, anyway? You don’t seem your usual happy self.” She hitched her hip onto the corner of my desk and peered at me with her stunning green eyes.
“Ah, an old boyfriend of mine showed up on the Spirit Squad, and I’d like to talk to him before we leave for the game this afternoon. My coach thought I was nuts when I asked if he knew where they practiced this week. It sounds like they use different facilities on different days, you know, depending on game times and all that shit.” I planted my elbows on the desk and scrubbed my face. Football practice sucked this week too. I hadn’t been myself since seeing Wren.
“Why the hell didn’t you say so?” Her face lit. “It just sohappens I’m dating a cheerleader.” She fished her phone from the pocket of her cargo pants. “Those girls make me wet.” With a laugh, she tapped her phone.
“Why am I not surprised?” I dropped my arms to my sides. Finally, I’d have my answer. But would it be too late?
Her phone chimed. Looking into the screen, she said, “They’re holding a last-minute practice at the Verde Dickey dome.” Her gaze met mine. “Don’t you practice there?” She hooked a brow.
“Yeah, but I’ve never seen the cheerleaders in the place.” Fuck, how much longer would Wren be there? I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.
“Go. This is important to you. We’re dead here, and I can handle it.” She pushed on my shoulder.
“Do you mean that?” I stood and grabbed my backpack from the floor under the desk.
“Of course.” She scoffed. “Just don’t return on Monday in a sour mood.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Grabbing her cheeks, I kissed her forehead and hightailed it out of the room.
God,I hoped I'd made it in time. After parking my truck in the lot, I strode toward the dome with my heart beating into my throat. I’d left in such a hurry, I still didn’t know what I’d say to Wren. Was this really a good idea? I halted at the entrance. I didn’t want to cause a scene. But we’d board a flight this afternoon, and the situation would be…awkward at best.
Popping the door open, I slipped inside, the rush of cool air washing over me.
Cheering filled the air, along with counting as the squad worked a routine on the opposite end of the field, their backs to me.
Great, I could wait until they finished and then pull Wrenaside. I found a folding chair, opened it behind a bin of footballs, and sat down, my full attention on Wren as he backflipped through the air and landed the splits, throwing his arms up, a wide smile lighting his face. He looked so happy.
Warmth threaded through my heart. His face was more angular than in high school, and he’d put on some muscle. He was still so gorgeous. I gnawed my lower lip. How could I have hurt him the way I had? And when his buddy Ethan had emerged from the stall? I’d thought I’d had a heart attack.
I planted my elbows on my thighs and threaded my fingers. If Ethan hadn’t been there, would I have had the courage to admit to Wren what had happened? Probably not. I turned my attention to the field.
Wren wiped his face with a towel and squeezed the shoulder of a blonde cheerleader.
They seemed close. Who was she? He was gay and not bisexual. Or was he? Were they dating? I peered closer at them. Sometimes sexuality was fluid and could change. I’d heard just about every scenario working at the helpline. He might have identified as gay in high school, and maybe now he considered himself bisexual? Fuck.
Wren smacked the woman on the ass and both laughed, the woman throwing her head back, her long ponytail swinging across her back.
She was pretty and fit. Was he into that now? He’d liked muscled men like me in high school. I ground my molars, watching them flirt. This was stupid. I shouldn’t be here. I looked like a damn stalker.
As I made to stand, he glanced my way. “Fuck.” I ducked down. Now was not the time. Not when his girlfriend was around. Had they met in class or when he joined the cheer team?
Cheering and counting filled the dome again.
I peeked over the bin, watching his strict but graceful movements as he followed along with the rest of the squad. My heart raced, and my stomach fluttered. He still did it for me. After allthis time, no man had ever given me these emotions. He might have broken me forever when he left me. But he deserved a better man or woman than me.
As I watched, mesmerized by his movements, my phone vibrated in my shorts. “Shit!” With a jump, I slipped it from my pocket and peered at the screen.
Casey
