Holding my breath, I tap in my birthday and the phone unlocks with a click.
Nat’s wallpaper is of an empty ice rink under arena lights.
“It was a DM,” Nat says.
I hesitate with my thumb hovering over the social media app. Some part of me feels like a controlling girlfriend trying to violate her partner’s privacy.
“It’s okay,” Nat says with an amused smile. “You can go in. I have nothing to hide.”
I tap on the app.
“There are a lot of notifications in here,” I murmur.
“Yeah, I don’t usually log on or post anything. It gets overwhelming, so I let Renea sort through the brand inquiries versus the…” Nat clears his throat, “the more personal inquiries.”
I scrunch my nose at a woman who’s sent a very indecent picture of herself to Nat. How many of these types of ‘inquiries’ does he get?
Don’t get side-tracked. You have more important things to worry about.
I scroll down until I get to Layla’s account.
After unblocking her, I read her latest messages.
‘Nat, that female mechanic is insane. She totally set me up and got me arrested for no reason.’
Nat didn’t respond to that message.
A few days later, Layla sent another message.
‘I’m not going to take this lying down. You better warn her. I’ll show everyone who that crazy woman really is.’
I scoff.
Layla has impeccable timing. Why did she choose today of all days to post her exposé? I’ve been trying to tell Nat the truth all afternoon, but—just like our first kiss—it keeps getting interrupted.
I feel Nat casting worried glances at me. “Riles, don’t worry. This happens a lot when you’re in the spotlight. People make up all sorts of things about you and hate you for no reason. It’s going to die down eventually.”
I sit straight up. It’s now or never. I have to tell Nat about my crush before he finds out from Layla of all people.
At that moment, Nat’s phone starts ringing in my hand.
I bite back a groan.
“It’s Max,” Nat declares as the team manager’s name splays on his car dashboard. “I wonder what he wants?”
I slide the green icon to answer the call and the phone immediately syncs to Nat’s car speakers.
Max’s voice booms over the line. “Campbell, congratulations again. I wanted to speak to you personally about something. Do you have time today?”
“Today?” Nat glances at me with an inquiring look.
‘No, stay with me. Listen to me while I tell you that I’ve been obsessed with you since I was a child and that it never went away and now we’re dating and you might think it’s weird, but I don’t care because you’re stuck with me’.
But I can’t have a deep conversation with Nat when he’s distracted. And I know he really wants to hear what Max has to say.
I nod my approval, not that he needs it.
Nat smiles. “Yeah, I can make time today. At the stadium?”
