We have an arrangement of sorts. He is a huge hockey fan, so he lets me slip into the stadium undetected when needed in exchange for getting him tickets to our games. It’s not a hardship for me. I never give my tickets to anyone anyway.
“Wow, he let us in without question,” Kellan murmurs.
I don’t bother to respond. We walk toward the locker rooms when I see him. Kyle is leaning over a woman in the hall. They are kissing, so I go to turn and walk the other way. I really don’t want to see Lyla making out with Kyle. I may be masochistic when it comes to her, but even I have my limits.
Something makes me look back, though. What I see makes me freeze.
“Is there a reason we are staring at Thomson making out with some girl?” Kellan whispers to me.
That snaps me out of it. I am full-on glaring at the cheating asshole.
“What’s your beef with him?” Kellan asks.
“That’s not his girlfriend he is kissing,” I growl.
Kellan looks down at me before looking back at them. “It’s not our business. Unless you know something I don’t?”
He’s right. It is none of my business. Lyla wouldn’t even believe me if I told her. Maybe if I took a picture and sent it to her, but I don’t want to see her hurt. I also don’t want to be the person to cause that hurt, even if indirectly.
Fuck, I can’t do anything about this even if I want to walk over there and punch Kyle in his douchebag face.
Where the fuck is Lyla anyway? The whole reason I came down here was to see if I could get a glimpse of her. She is usually with the girlfriends before the pep rallies and games. At least the ones she comes to. Could she not make it today? Is that why this cocksucker is locking lips with another woman?
“We should go find our seats,” Kellan whispers to me.
I breathe in deeply, my fists clenched. Then I let it out, trying to relax.
“Yeah, we should. If we don’t, I might do something I regret.”
“Man, I told you. I’m not hurting anyone,” Kellan jokes, jostling my shoulder as he turns to head the way we came.
“I didn’t ask you to. You might have to bail me out, though.” I joke along with him, walking at his side.
“Nah, I’m not all money like you. Bail yourself out.”
As we walk away, I don’t forget about what I saw. I know I need to do something, I just don’t know what it is.
Thankfully, I have a whole rally to figure it out. One where I plan to stare daggers into the fucker’s back until he can feel my ire from across the crowd of people.
Kyle Thomson is marked. I will make him pay for what he is doing to Lyla one way or another.
two
I’m out of breath by the time I make it to the stadium, but I am happy to see I have only missed my opportunity to see Kyle before it starts. Sliding into the seats reserved for the girlfriends, I turn to Kasey.
“Did I miss anything?”
“No. They haven’t come out yet,” she tells me before turning back to her conversation with Amber.
I look over the crowd, amazed by how many people gather for these things. It was a shock when I attended my first one freshman year. It isn’t something most colleges do, but Walker University doesn’t spare any expense for their athletes.
My eyes catch on two of the hockey players sitting a few rows up. Wyatt and Kellan. They are a different level of popular than Kyle is. While our football team is decent, our hockey team is where the school makes all of its money. Donors pour theirmoney on the team because it is guaranteed at least two of our players will get drafted yearly.
Looking at Wyatt and Kellan, I know I am looking at the two drafts from this year. Everyone has been talking about it. I don’t really watch many sports, but it’s hard not to know how good our hockey team is.
Looking away from them, I focus back on the field. It is only a few minutes before the team is announced and they come running out. Pulling up the rear is Kyle, waving and showboating to the crowd.
Then his eyes meet mine. That spark of joy in his eyes dims as he sends me a little glare. I mouth “sorry” to him and then give him a thumbs-up. He pastes on a smile and turns back to the crowd, ignoring me.
