Page 5 of The Game
What.
The.
Fuck.
My head is spinning, and every single sound in the bar is amplified, echoing off my skull in a ricochet of clinking glasses, overly loud laughter, and wailing guitars. She’s lying. She has to be. There is no way.
“Maybe you’re not ready to forgive me yet, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be at every game, every party. I’ll be there cheering you on until you’re ready.”
Terror gnaws at me. Her words ring true. She will. Her persistence was one of the things I used to love about her, but now. There’s no way she’ll let go of this if she wants to get me back. Not unless. Unless. I rack my brain, searching for a solution. Nothing, nothing. Maybe?
“I’ve moved on. Stay away from me.”
I stalk off without waiting to see her reaction. How am I ever going to make it through this year with her haunting mefrom the shadows? It’s like she’s one of those ghosts who attach themselves to a person rather than a place.
The bar was hot and packed full of bodies when I got here, but now I can barely breathe. The mass of people is closing in around me. All the voices and laughter are chafing my raw nerves, and I need to escape immediately. I can’t even take the time to stop and talk to the team, weaving through the crowd to get out the front door.
“Hey!”
I leave the indignant voice behind after slamming into someone in my rush, then lean on the squeaky metal bar to shove open the heavy front door. Fresh air washes over me and I can breathe a little easier.
I’m still leaning on the brick wall, gulping in the crisp air, when a heavy hand lands on my shoulder. My eyes fly open to find Beau staring at me. His eyebrows are pinched together, and he’s standing a little too close for comfort. The scratchy brick at my back prevents me from escaping his scrutiny.
“You okay, man?”
“I’m fine.”
He clears his throat, glancing above my head and back down to meet my gaze as if he can catch me in a lie. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Just ran into someone I wasn’t expecting. I’m going home. I’ll be fine.”
“Let me give you a ride. You look a little shook.”
“Nah. I’m fine. I got this. You go back to the team. It was fun.” At least until my world got tossedupside down.
His nod is tight, and I can tell he still doesn’t believe me, but he’s going to let it go. Thank fuck. I can’t get into this right now. I need to get home and hide out in my room. Figure out what the fuck I’m going to do about this completely unexpected complication.
“Okay. Text me when you get home, though.”
“Will do.”
I’d agree to anything to get him off my back so I can get the hell out of here. After he leaves, I head straight for Mabel, sinking into the worn velour seat, but I don’t start the ignition. I just sit in the car until the chilly air leaves my fingers stiff on the steering wheel, and my mind is calm enough to make the drive home.
Chapter 3
Exes And Coles
Jazz
I’m weaving through thescattered round tables with a cloth, wiping the rings of coffee and a handful of crumbs away on my last pass of the night, when Kate walks up to me.
“We good?” she asks, blue eyes darting between mine and the front door on repeat. Her boyfriend’s probably waiting for us to lock up, so he can take her home.
“We’re good. I’ll just grab my bag and we can get out of here.” I race to the back, tossing the dirty cloth into the laundry bin on my way, but I’m moving too fast and catch my foot on the pair of shoes someone left under the coat rack. My hand flies out, palm slamming into the wall to catch myself before I hit the floor. After grabbing my stuff, I slow myself down. Don’t want to take an embarrassing tumble. Not that Kate would care, or probably even notice she’s so anxious to get out of here.
When I make my way out front a little more cautiously, the back of Kate’s dark bob is silhouetted against the light of the door. She’s bouncing on her toes, peering out the window, so I pick up the pace.
I can’t help one last look around as I’m heading for her. I’m going to miss this place next year. Hopefully, I’ll have my own place. I’ve been saving up every cent I can, which isn’t much. I’ve got a couple of scholarships that cover tuition, but there’s still rent, and food, and all those other pesky bills that come before saving for my dream café. But there are always small business loans and grants. If I have to, I can get a job at another café while I save up to start my own place, but working for someone else is not it for me. I want the freedom and independence of being my own boss. After blending into the background as the youngest girl of six in my family, all I really want is something that is truly mine.