I huff out a breath. “You need to open your eyes and pay attention. He hates me.”
“I think that’s a strong word for it. I also happen to think there’s an extremely thin line between love and hate.”
“You’ve just got all the truth bombs tonight, don’t you?”
He shrugs. “We’ll see.”
We arrive at the academy and pull into the football stadium parking lot. I’m immediately overwhelmed by the size of the crowd. What the hell had I been thinking coming here tonight? Straight into the lion’s den.
Despite my protest, Max pays for our tickets, grabs my hand, and drags me over to the stands where we find some seats on the end of the aisle.
My eyes drift over the players on the field, spotting Xander immediately. I’d know that lean, muscular build anywhere. And that thought alone is enough to irritate the shit out of me.
On the next play, Xander snatches the ball out of midair and runs it in for a touchdown. Max and I stand with the rest of the crowd and, amid the cheers, Xander glances up into the stands in our direction. How the hell he knows I’m in attendance at the game, much less exactly where I’m seated in the packed bleachers, is beyond me. It feels like his eyes are boring right into mine.
“Told you. He freaking senses you like a heat-seeking missile.” Max gives me a disbelieving look. “It’s totally hot.”
“I don’t know about hot, but I swear to you, just like that missile, all he wants to do is destroy me.”
“You’re being dramatic.”
My voice low, my words tumble out. “Am I, though? Even putting the shitty comment he made about my mom at the ice cream shop to the side… Watch him carefully in class sometime, and you’ll see how he messes with me. Or wait for him to smear lube on my locker or drag me into the bathroom with him again. Or maybe join me on a run through the woods so you can be chased, too.” I blink rapidly, not sure if I should keep going, but I do. “Or you could come on into the shower stall with me sometime and stand there naked waiting for whoever is out there to leave, then come out to find your towel, clothes, and phone have been stolen.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What the fuck?” A line creases his forehead. “Slow down, Cupcake. You’re saying he’sreallydone all that?”
Exasperated, I groan, “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I can’t say for sure it’s all been him, but I assume it is based on how weirdly, angrily obsessive he is about me.”
Max puts an arm around me. “You should have said something. That shower shit is scary.”
“Well, considering my phone got stolen last night, that was a little hard to do.”
He squeezes me to him. “Look, I’ll put my ear to the ground and see if I can find out any particular reason why he’s kind of … infatuated with you.” He winks. “You know, besides that you’re shit-hot with a banging body.”
My brows fly to my hairline.
“Cupcake, I may be gay, but I have eyes. I appreciate the feminine form.”
Chapter 14
Toward the end of the fourth quarter, Max sees someone he wants to say hello to and takes off, but only after my assurance that I’m fine and going to walk around for a bit.
I’ve only just settled in at the fenced-in field to watch the end of the game from a different vantage point, when out of the corner of my eye, I see someone waving. I focus on the figure and realize it’s my locker buddy, Justin, and he’s now jogging over to me.Oh, shit.Not that he’s given me any reason to be nervous around him—not at all. But Xander’s warning fills my head loud and insistent, like the primal roar of a wild beast.
A little breathless, Justin says, “Hey. Here supporting the Roses of Rosehaven, huh?”
I give him a quick smile. “Hey, yourself. And yep, I am. Enjoying the game?”
“I mostly just come for the social aspect of it.” He leans close, whispering, “I’m not a football fan. Don’t tell.”
“I’d never. Coach Lance had us come out tonight, or I probably wouldn’t be here either.” I shrug, glancing around to see who might be watching me talking to him.
“Ah, so you’re a runner. See, all I really know about you is that you’re new, have gorgeous red hair, and dislike having lube on your fingers.” He shoots me a cocky grin.
I bite down on my lip and look up at him with a cautious laugh. “Cute.”
“I like to think so.” He winks. “So, are you here on an athletic scholarship?”
I nod. “Yep.”