God, I was such an idiot. And so I made sure to not-think about his apologies and how he rushed away from my apartment. And out of my life.
I rose to my feet, effecting a lunge to stretch my calves.
As months passed, clarity eventually settled in. The only thing that made any sense was that he'd just been taking pity on me. Poor, stupid, deluded Briella, practically a textbook damsel in distress.So humiliating.
But, still, his rejection felt so muchworsethan breaking up with Ash. Wrong. Like a Band-Aid over a wound that needed stitches to heal.
When I wasn't as good at not-thinking about Maddox, I'd considered reaching out, thanking him for his help, his friendship, at a time when I needed it—even if it had only been motivated out of pity. I could let him know I was fine now. Wish him well. Like a mature, responsible adult who was completely over him could do.
Which was me…definitely.
Or itwas. Yesterday.
Today? Maybe not. Because seeing him again, all I could think of was how familiar he smelled. How he wore just therightamount of scruff on his jaw. How the scowl above those blue-grey eyes lent him an edgy, dangerous appeal.
And this wasexactlywhy I’d avoided anything to do with the football team, once the rumor mill had decided I'd "broken up with Ash over Mick."
Apparently, it was OK for Ash to have an entire sorority wing of extras. I was just supposed to accept it as the price of being the quarterback’s girlfriend.
Yeah, no.
"What, did you think he was serious? About you?" Kennedy rolled her eyes. "Someone has a primo ego. Mick won’t be any different. But maybe you’ve learned a valuable lesson."
"They don’t have to choose, Bree," Cheryl taunted. "Get used to it."
A bunch of giggles erupted. I shook my head and pushed past Kennedy and the rest. But they weren’t done…
"You have to spend more time on your back, honey."
I righted myself and inhaled the crisp February air. The day couldn't decide if it was going to rain or stay a vague,grey mist. But either way, the practice field was slowly turning into mud. Cold mud. Small puddles from an earlier rain dripped through the uneven grass.
"Ugh. This weather. Why did we let Kanami talk us into this?" Liesl groaned.
"We didn't. We lost the bet fair and square," I said.
"Yeah. The eye candy's not worth it. What an asshole."
"He's not. He's just…focused." I huffed visible breaths and pulled my winter headband down over my ears. "Seager said Mick's aiming for the draft next year."
"Well, when he's rich, I'm suresomeonewill put up with his surly grump-itude. Especially when he looks likethat." She grimaced and rolled her eyes. "But I'd rather have a golden retriever than a rottweiler."
"Here's my number." Maddox ripped a piece of paper out of a notebook and handed it to me. "If he shows up. If you need anything…”
"You didn't have to do all of this." I couldn't get my voice to rise above a whisper. "Just because of some random kiss."
The corner of his mouth lifted. "Wasn't random."
"Mmm, German shepherd. My opinion, anyway." I blew warm air into my fists. We needed to get going. I glanced at midfield.
Maddox stood with a small group, facing the referees. Seager, the freshman quarterback, looked like he had a scowl etched into every cell of his body.
I did a few jumping jacks to get my blood pumping.
"Geez, what's his problem?" One of the basketball players stretched her arms in front of her. I stopped jumping and jacking.
"He's just Seager," I said with a shrug. Beaux wasn’t a bad guy, just a bit childish. I got the impression he was used to getting his way—between his rugged good looks and his football talent. But even if he tried to hide it, the big bully was mostly full of hot air.
He'd joined the softball team's monthly service efforts at a nearby children’s program. And it didn't take long before he was wrapped so tight around a little girl’s finger, Amberine had him coloring unicorns while wearing daisies in his hair.
