“Dude, what is wrong with you?” Kappy asked right as I shot off another warning text to Niko.
“Ali’s on a date,” I forced out.
Kappy’s face cracked. “With who?”
“That fucking Niko kid.” I dropped my head and held my temples.
Kappy busted up laughing. “I knew I liked that kid. He’s got charisma.”
“Don’t say that,” I snapped. “What do I do? How do I stop this?” I begged.
Kappy’s eyes stayed on Colt, who he was busy spotting on the bench press. “Sorry, but I don't think you can. You guys aren’t together, man. You don’t get a say in who she sees. You didn’t want a relationship with her.”
I let out a frustrated growl. “But Ido.”
“But youdidn’t.” He cut me a look. “So now you gotta chill out.”
I shook my head. “You can’t say that. It’s Ali. She’s… she’s…” I struggled with how to say it.
“She’s what?” Colt asked as he racked the weight.
“She’smine.”
I dropped my head.Fuck. She wasn’t mine. She was her own person. But we were meant to be together. The last time I sat back, things completely fell apart and she was stuck with someone who treated her horribly. I couldn’t let that happen again. I couldn’t risk it.
Silence rang out in the gym.
I turned to make sure my friends were still there.
Colt’s face broke into a huge smile before he started clapping his hands. “Let’s go! See, that’s the kind of fire I wanted to see from you a fuckin’ decade ago.”
I pulled at the back of my neck. “So, what do I do?”
Colt wiped his sweat away with a towel. “You do what you should’ve done before.”
“And that is?”
“Go over there!” Colt said. “Tell her how you feel. Fix things. Stop this before it’s too late.”
“What? No.” Kappy shook his head, looking absolutely flabbergasted. “He absolutely shouldnotgo over there. What are you saying, Colt?”
“Yes, go over there, crash it, confess your feelings, do something other than just sit here like a bum,” Colt urged.“Take action, my man.”
I rubbed my jaw. “Are you sure that’s good advice?”
“No,” Kappy said with wild eyes. “It isnotgood advice at all!”
Colt snorted. “Well,Igot my girl back within months,hehad to learn a whole other sport and win a gold medal first.”
“Hey, that’s not fair,” Kappy started to argue, but I couldn’t listen. I was at a complete loss as I stared at the story Niko just posted to his socials.
“Dude, are you okay? You’re all white,” Kappy said. “Do I need to call Piper foryou?”
I couldn’t even speak. It felt like someone ripped my heart out and threw it on the ground. I showed them my phone.
Kappy laughed. “Who’s getting it on?”
Colt smacked him upside the head. “That’s Ali's jacket, dumbass.”
