“I don’t want you to leave,” she cries, throwing her arms around me. “Dara isn’t here, and you’re all I’ve got, and I need you, Cal. Please, please, just be happy.”
Shoot me now. “I’ll try, Erin.” I brush bouncy curls back off her face. “For you, I’ll try.”
“Dude, you can’t still be pissed,” Thor says, coming up alongside me as I walk across the cafeteria toward the grill bar. It’s lunchtime, and I’m starving because I skipped breakfast athome, heading to school early, to avoid looking at my mum’s disappointed face and my little sister’s sad one. “Fuck your dad. He sounds like a dick, but don’t let it ruin your life. No girl is gonna come near you with a face like thunder.”
“Not sure where you got the idea I want attention from girls,” I say, picking up the tongs and helping myself to two grilled chicken breasts.
“Come on, man. Every girl in senior year is creaming their panties the second you enter the room. You’ve gotta capitalize on that.”
“Not interested,” I grit out as I spy long golden-blonde hair from the corner of my eye. Turning my head, I notice Astrid deep in conversation with her friend with the black hair. I can’t remember her name. Something beginning with G. Gemma, maybe? Astrid is smiling, and she truly is stunning. I love that she doesn’t seem aware of it, or if she is, she doesn’t flaunt it or feel the need to plaster herself in makeup or tight clothes to get attention.
“Not interested, my ass,” Thor mutters, adding a burger and chips to his plate.
“Mate, you really need to get your diet sorted. That stuff will clog your arteries and slow down your game.”
“We don’t have practice on Mondays,” he reminds me over a mouthful of fries. “And nice deflection, but I’m onto you, bro. You’re into Astrid. Hence theno interest in other girls. Got it.”
“That is not what I meant, and it’s not true. We’re?—”
“Hi, Callan.” The head cheerleader sidles up to my other side. “Did you have a good weekend?” she asks, peering at me from behind ridiculously long eyelashes. The girls back home are into those stupid fake lashes too.
“Forgotten you’re dating Garner, Ana?” Thor says, interrupting before I can answer the girl.
I load roasted veggies and rice onto my plate, content to ignore whatever petty drama this is.
All I know is I want no part of it.
I’m here for football. End of.
Ana scowls, and it’s not a good look on her. “I’m not sure what you’re implying Thor, but knock it off.”
Thor laughs. “You’re wasting your time with this one. He only has eyes for one girl at this school, and it’s not you.”
Ana’s gaze narrows on Thor before she instantly swings her attention in Astrid’s direction.
“I have eyes for no girl.” I pin sharp eyes on my teammate. “I’m here to play ball, and that’s it. I have zero time for anything else.” I flash Ana a fake smile. “No personal offense meant.”
“None taken, and I admire a guy who knows what he wants and goes for it.”
“Oh, look, here comes your boyfriend.” Thor grins like a maniac. Ana momentarily stiffens. “Good luck talking your way out of this,” he adds before following me toward the drinks fridge.
“Watch your back with that one,” he says.
“I have done nothing, nor do I intend to.” I hand him a bottle of water.
“Travis Garner is looking at you like he wants to remove your head from your shoulders,” he says, uncapping his water.
At his words, I look over at where Ana and her boyfriend are clearly arguing. Dude is tall and muscular, and like Thor said, he’s looking at me like he wants to punch my lights out. I’d like to see him try. I’m not lacking in the height or muscles department either, and I fancy my chances. The Irish are always the scrappier fighters.
Maybe if I get expelled, Da will send me home, but what do I have to go back to now? My team have already replaced me, and though I know they’d take me back, there is no guarantee I’dget my position back. My replacement is a talented prick, and he scored two goals on Sunday. Perhaps fighting the dickhead isn’t such a smart move after all.
“What’s his deal?” I ask, averting my eyes and dismissing the dude because fuck him and his missus. Not my fault she has a wandering eye.
“He’s our star QB.” Thor’s mocking tone has me cracking up.
“Not a fan?”
“Not even a bit. Of him or the sport.”
