I follow Easton through the sea of people before finding seats with the perfect view. Not of the field—I could care less about that—but the sidelines, where Amelia is sporting a cheerleading uniform that makes me question my sanity.
What part of me thought this would be a good idea? While cheerleaders have never been my type, they've also never looked like that. Her hair is pulled back into a ponytail with a big ribbon tied into a bow. She's talking to Kennedy about something and showing that perfect Amelia smile.
“You good?” Easton asks.
I snap myself out of it and nod. “Why wouldn't I be?”
He shrugs. “Because you were just zoned out, staring at Amelia.”
Fuck. Think fast. “Not her.”
His eyes widen. “Kennedy?”
Good enough, I guess. I shrug in response, careful not to confirm anything. It's not that Kennedy is ugly. She's a pretty girl. But when I constantly see her with Amelia, there is no comparison. Meelz would win, hands down, every time.
“Figures,” he groans. “I finally find a girl I think is cute, and you have a thing for her, too.”
My head whips toward him, and I can't help but smile. “You have a thing for Kennedy?”
“Why are you acting so surprised? So do you.”
“I'm not. I just didn’t expect that. You haven't so much as looked at another girl since Tessa.”
He nods slowly and looks over at his sister and her roommate. “I don't think I'll ever get over Tess, but she's happy. The last thing I want is to stand in the way of that.”
I watch the way he looks at Kennedy, and it feels good to see that glint in his eyes again. “You take her, man.”
“You sure?”
“Definitely.” It's not her I can't get my mind off of, anyway.
Turning my attention back to the girls, Kennedy smiles and waves at Easton. Amelia turns to see who she's waving at, and when she spots me, her eyes roll. Still, I've known her long enough to see her struggling. I might not be able to be with her, but I won't quit until she stops trying to eliminate me from her life.
Call it idiotic. Call it cruel. Call me a sadist. But I need to have her in the only way I can.
Whether she likes it or not, I'm here for the long term.
THE GAME ENDS WITH North Haven University taking the win. The crowd roars as all the cheerleaders shake their pom-poms to celebrate. As the football team runs off the field, Mason winks at Amelia. All her teammates turn to her, and Kennedy nudges her with her elbow, but I'm seeing fucking red. If he knows what's good for him, he'll stay far as fuck away from her.
I've heard stories about that guy, and none of them are good. Apparently, he has a thing for girls who are drunk or high. There are rumors that he’s helped that situation along intentionally sometimes. So help me God, if he tries that shit on Amelia, I'll rip that throwing arm right off his body and beat him with it. Try to be a quarterback with one fucking arm, prick.
Easton and I leave the stadium and head for his car. Waiting for Amelia would be pointless. He and I both know that. The cheerleaders normally leave with the team out a different entrance than the students, and by the time we get over there, she'll be long gone.
“So, after-party?” he questions.
I pull out my phone and see three missed calls from Blade. Fucking lovely. I can only imagine what the fuck he wants. More bitch-boy errands, I'm guessing.
“I'm going to pass on this one,” I tell him. “I've got some shit to do.”
He nods and unlocks his car. “Well, I'll catch you at home then.”
The light bounces off his face, and I notice his expression. It's one I haven't seen in a while, and I couldn't be more relieved to have it back. Maybe he’s not so hopeless after all.
“You're going to hook up with Kennedy, aren't you?”
He smirks, climbing into the driver's side. “I don't know what you're talking about. I'm going to a party.”
I chuckle softly. “You're just as bad of a liar as your sister is.”
“Fuck you, too,” he quips.
Easton pulls out of the parking space, and I climb onto my motorcycle. Always being on campus, I feel like I never get enough time to ride this thing. But tonight is perfect for it. It's not too cold, and traffic isn't terrible.
The engine roars to life, and I pull my helmet over my head.
Now if only I liked the destination.
PULLING UP TO THE abandoned house, Blade is already waiting for me on the porch. He looks pissed, and I don't even have my helmet off all the way before he's storming toward me. His face is an angry shade of red and his fists are clenched by his sides.
“Where the fuck were you?” he sneers.
“Football game.”
A dry laugh bubbles out of his mouth. “A football game. A fucking football game.” Suddenly, he grips my shirt and pulls me into him. “Has no one ever taught you how to answer your goddamn phone?”
Grabbing his wrists, I force him off me and straighten my shirt. “Hasn't anyone taught you not to be a fucking douchebag? I'm sure you were just fine without me, princess.”
He scoffs. “Ray was arrested tonight with half a supply of heroin on him.”
His words spark no sympathy in me. Ray knew what he was getting into when he made the decision to deal drugs. I also don't believe for a second that Blade is worried about him.
“Boss is fucking pissed. All that product, fucking gone.”
Yep. There it is.
“That sucks and all, but I don't know what the fuck this has to do with me.”
He shakes his head and pulls a package out of his waistband. “You've got to sell all this.”
“And get arrested, too?” I step back. “No fucking way. I'm not doing it.”
That only seems to piss him off more. He pulls the switchblade out of his pocket and comes closer, putting it to my neck. His face is so close to mine, I nearly gag on his breath, but I wouldn't put it past him to stab me. The dude is a fucking psycho.
“I think you're starting to forget who the boss is here, Bronsyn,” he growls. “Or do I need to find someone who will listen better? Easton, perhaps?”
I contemplate my options for a moment, but none of them result in Easton and me both making it away safely. Either I do this shit, or he pulls my best friend right back into this mess. And Blade with a vendetta is so much worse than just Easton choosing to work for him before. He'd get him to overdose just for revenge.
Ripping the package from him, I roll my eyes, and he smirks as he steps back.
“Now that wasn't so hard, was it, Zaynie?”
The nickname causes the hair on my arms to stand straight up. “What did you just call me?”
That arrogant grin on his face only becomes more irritating. “You like that, huh?” I swallow hard. “You didn't honestly think I just assume you’re doing your job, did you?”
“You're fucking stalking me?”
He tilts his head to the side. “More like watching over what's mine—like your loyalty.”
With a wink, he turns around and walks off into the woods. For a minute, I can't move.