I run my hand through my hair. But I don’t have an answer. I need to see her, but I don’t know if I can talk to her without making her even more angry at me. Especially without the guys with us.
“Text us. Text her. Maybe you can work out your shit when you can’t fuck her.” Hawk punches my arm before disappearing into the locker room.
I exhale and grab my backpack. I also grab Evan’s helmet. Could I have given it to Hawk or Cam? Yeah. Did I? No.
It’s an excuse. Because normally I wouldn’t need one to see my girl, but today, after this morning, I do need an excuse.I’m not ready to talk it out. My feelings are a tangled snarl of emotions that I can’t unwind.
But I need to see her. I need her to know... Fuck, that she’s still mine. But...
I walk the halls of our school, mostly empty now. Anyone who’s here is here for an after school activity and safely ensconced in a room.
The Anteros hallways are a little more active than Deimos. There’s a flurry of activity around the visual arts studio, and a cacophony of music spills out into the hallway near the music rooms. I make my way to the black box theater. It’s her short rehearsal night.
Most people will attend the football game this evening. It’s where Evan would be if she were still with Chase. But she’s not with him.
“Hi, Damon.”
I ignore Abby and her friend by the door to the other theater room. I don’t have time for her, and we don’t need another Olivia situation. Encouraging any interaction is a no-go.
Knowing they’re probably in rehearsal already because Evan runs a tight ship, I push through the door and walk in. Evan’s focus was crumbling all day. Her anger seemed to be the only thing shoring her up. We didn’t get much sleep last night. After staying up late, the drama of this morning, plus dealing with me being an asshole, I wasn’t surprised to see her almost a shell of herself.
But in here, she’s focused. She’s electric. And nothing will take this from her. I’ll make sure of that.
“What’s up, asshole?” Mia steps up next to me as I stand and watch Evan work.
“I’m leaving.” I don’t like Mia, but she seems to care about Evan.
“Are you going to tell her goodbye?” Mia arches an eyebrow like I’m going to fuck this up.
Maybe I will fuck this up. On the ice, I’m golden, but off... with her? It feels so easy with her. Too easy. But right now it’s hard.
Mia rolls her eyes and walks over to the desk to talk to Keira, who jerks her head up to look at me. Even her eyes narrow on me. No one likes me right now. Fuck, I don’t like me right now.
Keira stands and goes over to where Evan is on stage with the actors. She waits until Evan steps back to let the actors run through it again. I’ve watched her work.
Evan glances over at me. Will she tell them to send me away? She’s sad, but she’s also angry. I don’t blame her. But I want her to come over. To glare at me with those silver eyes. To fill my lungs with her woodsy scent.
I swallow.
My heart stops when I think she’s going to send me away, but she turns to Keira and says something before heading my way. When she reaches me, she takes my arm and pulls me toward the sound booth.
I let her. When the door is closed, I’m tempted to back her into it and kiss her senseless. Fuck her against the door because that’s where we connect, where we make sense.
She crosses her arms and glares at me. “You’re heading out?”
“Yes.” I hold out her helmet, and she takes it reluctantly.
“Hawk has a spare.” She shrugs like I didn’t need to bring it.
“This one is yours.”
Her silver eyes lift to mine.
I reach into my backpack and pull out a little container. When I hold it out to her, she takes it with a raised eyebrow.
“A snack.” I glance out at the cast working hard not to look over at us. At school, I’ve taken advantage of everyone knowingshe’s mine to kiss her whenever I want to. Which means people probably noticed the chill between us and Evan’s red eyes.
“Thank you.” She holds it against her heart.
