“Well, I’m over this,” I decided as I snatched up my bag from my chair and pushed my way past the rest of the girls in our row.
“Wait, Coco!” Taylor called after me. “Where are you going?”
I turned around briefly to yell back, “My freaking name is Covee. Not Coco, not Cami.Covee!”
She froze, completely stunned at my outburst. A few guys nearby laughed at the exchange. Taylor’s skin burned a bright red. I turned away and continued making my way down the stands. I refused to let guilt overtake me and force me to go back and apologize. Good manners be damned. Sure, Taylor didn’t exactly deserve an outburst, but she needed to be corrected. And it was my fault for waiting so long.
I guess my movement had caught his eye because Weston finally looked my direction as I was walking across the bottom of the stands. When I didn’t stop at his waving, he jogged up to the side of the fence, trying to keep up with me.
“Where are you going with that type of look?” He yelled up at me. His helmet was in his hands and his sweaty hair was slicked back. Weston looked incredible soaking wet. Too fuckable for his own good. I was almost annoyed at how he could turn me on even when I was this upset.
“Leaving,” I told him in a clipped tone.
“Wait, hold on, hold on,” he said. Now, he was walking alongside me. A few older fans and kids came down to the bottom of the stands to lean over a call at him. They snapped pictures and begged for autographs. Weston didn’t miss a beat, keeping up with me as I headed towards the exit.
“I have to go,” I told him and waved my hand in his direction. “Focus on your game.”
“Not when you’re storming off,” he told me. “Tell me what’s wrong. Is this about earlier? We’re going to handle that later.”
I heard a blaring whistle that caught almost everyone’s attention. Weston whipped his head back to the field where his coach and teammates stood watching, waiting for him. My heart pumped with embarrassment when I realized probably half of the arena had their attention on us. On Weston who was following me, trying to keep me from leaving.
“Weston.” I finally stopped walking. “Go back.”
He shook his head. “Not until you tell me what’s wrong. That vein in your neck is pulsing. You’re upset.”
I slapped my hand to my neck, surprised he’d noted that from a distance.
“Briggs, goddamnit!” Coach Axe yelled. “Get your ass over here!”
“Fuck him,” Weston told me, but I could see his body tense, even under those bulky shoulder pads.
I shook my head. “Stop. Go back. You know you have to.”
“I don’t have to,” he insisted. His knuckles were white. He was clutching his helmet.
“BRIGGS!” Coach Axe was beet red as knocked his clipboard against the steel bench to make an intimidating clash.
“Go,” I begged. “I’ll wait. Just not in here. I can’t watch anymore.”
“Okay.” He nodded. His eyes softened with gratefulness. “I’m parked in section eight.”
“Got it.” I motioned him away. “Now go.”
He gave me one last look before pulling on his helmet and jogging back towards his team. The crowd cheered as he rejoined everyone. I mistakenly gave the field one last look and locked eyes with Coach Axe. If looks could kill, I’d be gasping for breath right now. The man’s eyes were dark with fury. I tore my gaze away before he could intimidate me more and hurried the rest of the way out of the arena.
Deafening cheers echoed as I left the crowd behind. Those idiots were mindlessly supporting monsters. And before tonight, I would have had the grace to consider that maybe they didn’t know it. But, after my conversation with Elena and Taylor, I didn’t have any empathy. Because even if they didn’t know it, if they learned, would they want to do something? Or would they be like the girls and shrug it off like it was par for the course?
I hated that the answer was most likely the latter.
Chapter 28
It wasanother half hour before people flooded out of the stadium. I leaned against Weston’s truck, watching them file out in groups. The people passing by wore excitement on their faces. I envied them. When was the last time I actually enjoyed something without overthinking it?
A few nights ago, in this very parking lot, my brain reminded me. I blushed even though no one could read my mind.
Weston arrived after most of the parking lot was empty. He had Dakota, Kevin, and David in tow. When he saw me waiting, he gave me a smile. I half-expected him to kiss me in front of them, but he just threw his duffel in the back.
“Covee,” he said. I still leaned on his truck. He trapped me between his arms with either hand gripping the vehicle. “You going to explain to me what happened?”
