I’d been so wrapped up in the dark, suffocating orbit of Devlin Bower that I’d completely stopped looking at the people who actually cared about me.
“I’m so sorry, Liz. I’ve been a terrible friend.”
“You’ve been dealing with a lot.” She squeezes my hand. “Come with me after? Marcus is going to meet me outside the locker room, and you can keep me company.”
I agree, mostly because I feel guilty for being so self-absorbed.
After the game—which they win—we make our way to the corridor outside the locker rooms. Marcus emerges first, sweeping Lizzy into his arms and spinning her around. She laughs, her face glowing with happiness.
Then Devlin comes out.
His eyes find me immediately, scanning me from head to toe. Then he deliberately, publicly, looks away. Ignores me completely.
The dismissal stings more than it should.
“I’m going home,” I announce, my voice tight.
Devlin walks away pointedly right after my words, disappearing around the corner.
I’m halfway to the exit when my phone buzzes in my pocket. The vibration is so sharp it feels like a jolt of electricity.
I pull it out, my breath hitching as I see his name on the screen.
at least you let me see those eyes tonight
you’re going to show me your shoulders later
I know I left marks there
if I’d stayed in that hallway a second longer, I would have had to kill every one of those bastards
because they would have heard exactly how you moan for me
Heat floods through me, so intense I can barely breathe. My skin feels two sizes too small for my body, and my vision blurs as the image of us in the this hallway flashes through my mind. My fingers shake so badly I almost drop the phone as I type out a reply.
A simple hello would have been nice. Congrats on the win.
His response is immediate:
save the congratulations for when I actually win something that matters
you know exactly who I’m coming for
“Hey, Val?” Liz touches my arm. “A bunch of us are going to grab food and drinks. Come with?”
“I don’t know—”
“Please? I promise it’ll be fun.”
Marcus adds, “Yeah, man. It’ll be chill.”
I’m trapped. I can’t say no without seeming like an asshole, so I agree.
The bar is crowded and loud, filled with students celebrating the win. We claim a large table in the back, and I settle in next to Liz, trying to look like I’m having a good time.
Then Devlin walks in.
He greets everyone, slapping backs and accepting congratulations. The fun continues unabated around us, the noise level rising.
