“Leave the guy alone. He’s in love.” The pair of them make kissy faces and imitate their best googly eyes, earning a soft chuckle from me.
“In love? No,” I shoot back easily, setting the phone down but not quite pushing it out of reach. “Obsessed. Do try to keep up.” They both laugh, shaking their heads, and I let the noise wash over me. I’m under no illusion of my unhealthy infatuation with Meg, and I’m not ashamed. I give what I’m comfortable giving without any expectations that she should reciprocate. That’s why, when she does, it feels all the sweeter.
Finishing up my job, I slip out of the servers without leaving any trace. My phone buzzes a moment later and I lunge for it, only slightly disappointed that it’s a notification from my off-shore account which just became marginally more attractive. Not the beauty I was hoping for, but no one can be mad at a pay day. Rolling my shoulders, I shift in the rigid chair, deciding I’ve earned myself a coffee. However, the shadow that steps into the doorframe appears to disagree.
Everest sets his sight on me, and he glides through the room as if no one else exists. His aura collides with the peaceful atmosphere, halting conversations and gaining more than just the professor’s attention. Although, no one says a word againstthe out-of-place captain. They just let him eat up the carpet with long, powerful strides. He stops only to drag out the chair beside me and drop himself into it heavily.
“Well, well. If it isn’t Hollowbrook’s finest tyrant. To what do I owe the pleasure?” I lean back, loosely folding my arms across my chest. Everest looks like shit. There’s a faint bruise shadowing his tight jaw, dark circles around green eyes which are otherwise laser focused. He’s wearing his practice jersey and baggy shorts, although there’s no sign of physical exertion.
“You’re going to help me,” he states flatly. A snort escapes me, my features lifting with amusement.
“I can see you’re a novice at this. At least say please and phrase it as a question so I feel like I have a say in whatever it is.” I lean back further, propping my crossed ankles up on his thigh. He shoves me off immediately. Someone is not in the mood for games today. Or any day really.
“We need to do something about Meg,” Everest almost growls now. This kills my smile. There is no ‘we’, and I’m rather fond of Meg as she is. However, my curiosity wins out and I decide to play along for a little while, only to find out what his angle is.
“I’m going to make an educated guess that the game didn’t go well,” I tilt my head slightly.
A beat of surprise flickers in Everest’s green eyes and yeah, to be honest, I’m also surprised Meg hasn’t told me all about the match yet but I’m not getting in my head about it. We’re fine, totally fine, more than fine, and I don’t need to be in her pocket every second of every day. Although I did check the outside surveillance to make sure she got home safe. And her webcam once to make sure she was sleeping safe and sound. And then lay awake all night waiting for my phone to light up with a notification, but again. Everything. Is. Fine.
Sighing, Everest’s posture stiffens enough to appear painful. Flexing his hands as if he doesn’t know what to do with them, he fights against the tic in his jaw.
“I fucked up on the pitch. I acted rashly and…” He falters, and that strikes me more than his intrusion in here. Of everything I’ve found out about Everest Calloway online, he isn’t one to hesitate. He barely has a thought that isn’t installed by his parents, but when he does, he’s stubbornly resolute. Not the mess of a man sitting before me who appears to be dragging each word up from a place of confusion and swallowing hard before forcing the rest of his sentence out. “I’m not proud of what happened.”
My mouth turns down slightly. Aside from the faint buzz of machinery, the rest of the room is silent, the icy chill sweeping through having nothing to do with the air-con anymore.
I study him closely, waiting for the arrogance to break through. For a back handed comment that implies whatever happened, it was either Meg’s fault or well deserved. But none of that comes.
“In privileged brat, I do believe that was an apology,” I hum lightly. “Although, I’m not the one you should be apologizing to. So why are you really here?”
Everest’s stare doesn’t waver, his green eyes remaining locked on mine in a way that would make most men cower. I recognize it for what it is. He’s trying to strip me back in the same way I’m doing to him. Good luck. I’ve been trying to psychoanalyze myself most of my life, and I’m starting to think there really is just nothing there to see. Huffing through his nose, Everest finally breaks eye contact, noticing that he has the attention of everyone in the room staring at his back.
“Walk with me,” he commands and stands, leading the way before I’ve agreed to follow. James and Tyler cut me a warning glance but I merely shrug and follow suit, pocketing my phoneand striding out behind Everest. It was time I stretched my legs anyway. Everest is lingering by the exit to the IT block, just out of reach by the dulled light streaming through the open door. The weather is far more enjoyable than yesterday, but there’s still the weight of oppression pressing down from heavy clouds.
I pass him and he falls into step as we breach the fresh outside air. Most students are in their classes, leaving just the rogue wanderer to witness our leisurely stroll together. Of those few, none dare to look too long. He turns towards a narrow path leading away from the quad and as we slip between tall buildings, I realize where we’re heading. Directly to the stadium.
“You might think you know who I am,” Everest starts, facing forward, “but there’s so much you don’t know. That no one knows.”
“Humor me,” I reply lightly, though my attention has sharpened in a way I couldn’t switch off if I tried. Out of the corner of my eye, I take in every little detail. The flexing of his fingers, the uncomfortable straightness of his spine.
“To the outside world, I’m the asshole that’s always goading her. And I suppose that’s true.” Pausing to drag open the stadium door, he enters first and the door nearly breaks my shoulder as I slip through after him. What a gentleman. He doesn’t speak again until we step onto the empty field, crossing the vibrant green turf until he stops at a specific point on the sidelines. His eyes become fixed on it.
“How long have you known her?” he asks, catching me off guard. I thought this was to be Memoir de Everest. Maybe something every new student on campus gets as a way of introduction before Everest sets down the rules he expects us all to abide by. Now I’m getting the feeling that this, whatever this is, is solely for my benefit.
“Since the car accident when Harrison got away. I was there when she was found, and I’ve been with her ever since.” Ireply, getting straight to the point. There’s no point denying my part in Meg’s recovery. I’ve been there when no one else has. I let the silence settle, watching Everest closely as he stares at the painted sideline. It’s clear that wasn’t the answer he was expecting, but he does well to ingest the information without any reaction.
“If you’d seen her before, you’d understand why I’m pushing her so hard. She was phenomenal.” Everest breathes, something almost distant flickering in his eyes now. “There was no one like her. Fierce in her convictions, even when she was wrong. She was a force to be reckoned with, and a worthy competitor. I thought by being my usual self, she’d find her way back in no time. But that’s not happening.”
I watch him as he speaks, really watch him, trying to decide what we’re doing here. Going for a trip down memory lane, for the sake of admiration? Nostalgia? I can’t quite decide, but it appears all too much like Everest is chasing something that’s already slipping through his fingers.
“Why does it matter?” I ask indifferently. A frown pulls Everest’s brows together as he twists his head to look at me.
“What?” he blinks, seeming to be unable to comprehend my question. I kick a piece of turf, pushing my hands in my sweatpants’ pockets.
“If she finds her way back or not. Why does it matter?”
He turns to me now, staring down from his entire inch taller as if he’s a king talking down to his subject. I stand just as tall, shoulders pulled back and brow raised.
“It kills me to see her second guess herself. To shy away from what she’s naturally good at.” His hands flex again, his demeanor becoming restless. “I’m just trying to bring back her spirit, and if she has to hate me for that to happen, so be it.”
