Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
We’re in the final stretch of the game. I look out at the thousands of fans in the stadium as I cheer. “Let’s go Devils. Let’s go. Let’s go Devils. Let’s go.”Various shades of blood orange and black paint the crowd as they chant along with us—their voices raw with emotion as they manifest our victory over the Eagles.
A sense of urgency hangs in the air as the timer runs out. Our team is down 21–24, but it’s our ball and we’re practically in the end zone. There’s no doubt we can still snag this win.
With my pom-poms in my hands, I shout our cheer at the top of my lungs. We work the crowd, pumping them up as the play begins, but when the play begins and the stands fall silent, we cheerleaders do the same.
Catch it, Kamden!
You’ve got this. Go, baby, go!
Oh, fuck.
My heart splinters. That’s the game.
This loss is a tough one.
Cheerleading is its own sport and my focus should be on the fans and not the game, but it’s hard when my boyfriend is the one who just missed the winning pass in the end zone. This was their last chance, the final play.
The clock runs out and my eyes stay locked on the dwindling time. When the final buzzer sounds, a collective sigh erupts from the stands, washing over us all like a sharp gust of wind.
It’s our first loss of the season and the road to undefeated victory has come to a brutal end. Defeat hangs heavily over us and the look of sheer disappointment on the faces of my teammates mirrors mine.
“We’ll get 'em next time,” Gabby, our cheer captain, says in an attempt to boost our spirits. She picks up her pom-poms and makes her way to the row of benches in front of the fence. I’m certain Gabby feels that same gut-wrenching agony in the pit of her stomach that I feel.
My boyfriend Kamden is her ex and she’s still grossly obsessed with him. My distaste for her aside, I know she cares and the pain in Kamden’s eyes was heartbreaking for anyone who witnessed it. Which would be the thousands of people watching the game.
After taking a few pictures with fans, we make our way inside to the locker room. Defeat clouds us all as we change out of our uniforms, preparing to go on with our day. The majority of the team goes to Piggy’s Pub after the home games.It’s one of the few places in Rosewood where they don’t check IDs, so naturally, it’s where most of the students hang out. Although half of our crew is old enough to drink, the other half is not—me included.
I change out of my uniform into a jean miniskirt and burnt orange crop top, paired with a pair of black over-the-knee boots. My blonde hair, still damp from sweat after the intense game, somehow held its curls, so I give them a nice fluff, touch up my makeup, and head outside with Lucia and Jared to wait for our ride to Piggy’s.
An hour later, I’m sitting in a booth with a half-full glass of blackberry mojito in front of me. My shoe taps relentlessly against the floor underneath the table as I anxiously await Kamden’s arrival.
Avery, who is sitting beside me, slaps a hand to my knee. “Would you stop that? He’ll be here.”
Avery isn’t on the cheer team, but when I’m not on the sidelines, we’re always together. Four years ago, when my mom uprooted my sisters and I to a new town, I was walking around the corner in the hall at my new high school when I collided with a five-foot-eight bombshell who looked like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine.
Wavy brunette hair that hangs down to her tailbone, soft honey eyes, and cheekbones that nearly touch her eyelids when she smiles. She was a little intimidating at first, but I quickly learned she’s the sweetest person ever. After helping me pick up all the papers that fell out of my binder, we realized we were heading to the same class, so we walked together. We’ve been inseparable ever since.
I rub my lips together, smoothing my sticky gloss. My eyes remain pinned to the door, and when it swings open, they widen with hope. Another group of football players saunter in, Kamden’s best friend Jeremiah included. But Kamden has yet to arrive.
“I don’t think so, Ave,” I say with a sigh. “I know he’s beating himself up hard over this one. I bet the last thing he wants is to face all of these people who are wondering how he could have missed the winning pass.”
Jeremiah and the four guys he came in with crowd around the round table where the rest of the team is sitting.
I bump my shoulder against Avery’s and inch my ass toward her. “Lemme out. I need to talk to Jeremiah.”
“Ugh,” she grumbles as she slides out of the booth. “You’re so impatient.”
Avery doesn’t understand. She’s never competed a day in her life. Unless you count credit card limits. Sure, she was a spectator at the game, but she doesn’t realize how much pressure athletes put on themselves to perform well.
To her, sports are just hobbies.Her family is filthy rich so she doesn’t have to work for anything, and she doesn’t have an athletic bone in her body. The only reason she’s attending Rosewood U is because her father demanded she get a degree. He doesn't care what she studies as long as she studies something.
“Are you ready for another?” Lucia asks, pointing to my half-full glass from across the table as I slide out.
I shrug my shoulders and grab my glass. “Sure. Why not.”
The only perk of not having a car at Rosewood U is not having to drive anywhere. I’m well-versed in the bus schedule on campus and an Uber is just a tap away when we’re out.
With my drink in hand, I make my way through the crowd that’s suddenly gathered. Naturally, the majority of flaunters are women. I swear they sniff out the sweat on these men anytime they’re in public.
Jeremiah stands with his back to me so I approach him from behind, glancing at the girl he’s talking to. She’s got jet-black hair set in perfect curls and she’s twirling a lock around her finger. I’ve never seen her before, but by the mean mug she’s throwing at me, I’d guess I’m interrupting something. Nonetheless, I tap him on the shoulder, stealing his attention.
His dark chocolate eyes, coated in frustration, snap to mine.
Oh yeah. About Jeremiah—he’s a top-notch asshole and doesn’t like to be approached unless called upon. I literally can’t stand him, but I put up with him. I’m certain he feels the same way. And if his furrowed brow and lack of words aren’t telling enough, the audible sound of him breathing through his nostrils is.
“Sorry to interrupt. I was just wondering if Kamden is on his way?”
He looks past me, glowering as if he has better things to do. “You got a phone, don’t you? Call him and ask yourself.”
I bite my tongue, fighting the urge to lash out. “He’s not answering me.”
His eyes slowly roll to mine. “Guess he doesn't wanna talk to you then.”
Keep your cool, Brogan. He’s like this with everyone. It’s not personal.
Sure as hell seems like it is, though. He didn’t treat me this shitty until Kamden and I made our relationship official. I’d swear he’s jealous of the time I spend with Kamden.
“Thanks for your help, Jer,” I say with a sarcastic bite to my tone. “Much appreciated.”
With a smug grin plastered to his face, he turns back to his fuck toy for the night. I clench my fists, resisting the urge to grab the butter knife on the table beside me so I can plunge it into his back.
Karma will take care of him. May the next pussy he slides himself into be infested with an incurable disease.
I maneuver through the tables and bodies and return to our booth. Reaching across Avery, I grab my phone and sling purse. “I gotta go,” I tell them regretfully.
“What? No!” Avery hisses. “We just got here. You haven’t even finished your first drink and you’ve got another waiting.”
“Sorry.” I shrug. “Kamden isn’t answering my calls or texts and I need to make sure he’s okay.”
Avery sighs with her straw between her lips. “So his pride was temporarily emasculated. He’ll get over it.”
I fling my bag over my shoulder and open the Uber app on my phone. “Maybe so,” I tell her. “But his friends are all jackasses and I hate the thought of him beating himself up all alone.”
“Who says he’s alone?” Kelly curls her shoulders forward and the way she rapidly averts her gaze has me wondering if she knows something I don’t.
My finger freezes over the order button on the Uber app. “Who else would he be with?” I glance around at his teammates. “Everyone is here.”
But not everyone is here. Kamden’s not, and neither is Gabby.
“You don’t think…” I can’t even finish that sentence because it’s absurd. “No. Kamden can’t stand Gabby.”
Lucia and Kelly share a look and if one of them doesn’t say what they know right now, I will lose my shit.
“What?” I huff eagerly.
Avery shoots them both a glare and on my behalf she asks the question I don’t want to know the answer to. “Are they together? Because if they are…” She starts sliding out of her seat, ready to fight a bitch.
“No,” Lucia assures her, or at least, attempts to. “At least, not that we know of. It’s just odd, right? I mean, where are they?”
With a heavy sigh, I hit the order button on my phone. “I plan to prove you both wrong. Kamden would never cheat on me.”
They share another look and I know exactly what they’re both thinking. He cheated once, he’d do it again.
But I’m not Gabby and our relationship is not the same as the rocky one they had. We’re good. Solid. We’re fine. There is no way in hell Kamden is with his ex right now.
“You can’t just go to his dorm,” Avery says with worry in her tone.
I quirk a brow. “Why not?”
“Because.” She frowns. “What if he is with her and you walk in on them. You can’t unsee that.”
“I won’t,” I stammer. “Because they aren't. This is ridiculous, you guys.”
These accusations are really starting to piss me off. I’m so sick of hearing about Kamden and Gabby all the time. So they dated? Who fucking cares. They’re over now.
“Then I’ll come with you,” Avery tells me as she gathers her things, drink still in hand.
“No,” I spit out. “Stay and have fun with the girls. I’ll be fine. Promise.”
The last thing I need is to hear Avery tell me how she was right and I was wrong if by some chance they are together. Which they’re not.
Much like I don’t get along with Kamden’s best friend, Kamden doesn’t get along with mine either. Avery is certain he’s going to break my heart.
Kamden doesn’t have the best reputation with girls. He and Gabby dated for a year and apparently, he cheated on her. I’m not sure why she even wants him back after he broke her heart, but I can only assume it’s because Kamden is royalty at Rosewood U. His “usually” stellar skills on the field, paired with the fact that his family owns one of the biggest cyber security companies in the world, make him a magnet for women.
Avery sucks down the rest of her drink then puts her empty glass on the table. She steps closer, her voice a near whisper. “You sure, B?”
B is what she calls me when she’s using her serious tone. When she’s being playful or joking around, it’s usually bitch or slut. We have that sort of friendship, and I treasure it with every fiber of my being.
“Positive,” I assure her. “I’ll see you back home later.” Home being our dorm room at Hallstrom Hall.
“Okay.” She pulls me in for a hug. “Don’t let what they said get to you. You’re probably right. He’s just beating himself up right now…alone.”
My arms tighten around her before I take a step back. “Thank you,” I tell her before heading toward the exit.
Pushing the door open, I step outside and the cool night air smacks against my bare skin, sending a shiver up my spine.
I hug myself with my phone clutched under my armpit, watching impatiently for the red Camry my driver is in even though it’s still a ways away.
I brush off any negative thoughts about Kamden and Gabby. Even if for some strange chance they are together, it doesn’t mean there is something going on between the two of them. Kamden assured me the flame between them burnt out long before they broke up. He claims he never actually cheated on her because they were on a break, but I honestly don’t know what to believe.
I try to call Kamden one more time. My Uber is still six minutes away, so I have time to cancel if he’s just running late.
As suspected, it goes to his voicemail, and this time, I decide to leave a message. “Hey, Kam?—”
My words are cut off when a strong force pushes me into the building. My back crashes hard and I feel the crunch of my spine against the brick surface. With my breath in my throat and my head in a daze, my phone slips from my hand and goes flying somewhere in the midst of, what appears to be, a fight that broke out.
Still sitting on the sidewalk where I landed with my back pressed against the building, I watch two men who seem to be locked in a violent confrontation. I catch snippets of the verbal assault. Something about someone running over someone’s foot and breaking it.
Ouch.
I’m about to push myself off the ground when a fist goes flying through the air, but the guy ducks just in time, missing the blow by a split second.
The guy who almost got hit turns around and my heart jumps into my throat.
Him.
His familiar eyes are the first thing I notice. The second thing I notice is that his hair is darker. The blond tips have grown out and are barely visible now.
Hayes takes steps toward me, walking away from his own fight while the other guy—who’s being held back by his friend—hurls insults and threats at him.
The corner of his mouth lifts into an egotistical grin. “Hello again, Legs. I told you we’d see each other again.” He extends his hand as if he actually expects me to accept it. I stare grossly at it like it’s coated in cyanide.
“Well, come on now. Don’t be a stubborn ass. Let me help you up.”
My lip curls in disgust as his eyes skim down my body, landing on my legs. Remembering I’m wearing a skirt, I quickly clench my thighs together. “Now who’s the one undressing the other with their eyes?”
“Been there. Fucked that.”
“God, you’re infuriating. I see your ego is still larger than life. And for what it's worth, having sex with you was the biggest mistake of my life.”
His fingers trace along the stubble on his chin. “Ya know, I wish I could say it was the biggest mistake of mine. But I once slept with an older woman who claimed to be a witch and she said she cast a spell on me when I told her I didn’t do relationships. She actually fucking cackled on her way out of my room. Talk about regret.”
“Why the hell am I even listening to this right now?” I deadpan as I push myself onto my feet. Dusting off the gravel on my leg, I don’t even look at him out of fear his gorgeous physique will put me under a spell. No. Never again.
“Look. I was just trying to help. Not my fault you're such a stubborn ass.”
“Why would I let you help me?” I stammer. “Your childish street fight is the reason I’m down here in the first place.”
“About that,” he begins as he draws his fingers around his mouth, smearing a streak of blood. “I actually saved your life. So a thank-you would be nice. I won’t hold my breath, though.”
“Please do,” I growl. “With any luck, you’ll pass out and I can continue on with my night.”
The sound of a horn blaring grabs my attention and when I finally see where it’s coming from, the vehicle speeds off. Not just any vehicle. My Uber ride.
“Hey!” I throw my hands in the air, shouting, “Don’t leave.”
It’s pointless. He’s gone.
“Thanks a lot, jackass. You made me miss my ride home.”
He smirks. “There’s the thank-you I was looking for. “
My eyes dart to a man coming swiftly toward us. “Look out!” I warn.
In one swift motion, Hayes spins around and lands a powerful punch on the man's jaw. The assailant stumbles backward and Hayes turns back to me, maintaining a calm smile on his face as if punching a guy in front of a bar is the most normal thing ever.
When it comes to Hayes, I’m honestly not even surprised.
“Wish I could say it was good seeing you again, but it wasn’t. Have a nice life.” My eyes scan the sidewalk for my phone, but with so many people passing through here, going in and out the door and down the strip, I can’t find it. I keep looking and with every passing second, the knot in my stomach tightens.
Hayes rubs his bloodied knuckles. “You’ve got a way with words, Legs. Anyone ever told you that?”
I spin around to face the jackass, hands on my hips. “Why are you following me?”
“Wow. Someone really pissed you off tonight.”
“Yeah,” I retort. “You.”
He shrugs nonchalantly. “Story of my life. Always pissing someone off.”
“Yeah, well, maybe it’s time you reevaluate the way you treat people.” I bend down, trying to look for my phone when I realize Hayes’s eyes are glued to my ass.
“Why? I’m perfectly happy with my life.”
Rolling my eyes, I try to turn so that he can’t see the ass I have worked very hard on because it is a privilege he does not deserve. “Yeah, well, you pushed me, I dropped my phone. So I am not happy right now.”
His index finger shoots up. “Correction. I saved you.”
I laugh dryly. “In the midst of your masculinity battle, you and that jerk pushed me into the building. How the fuck was that saving me?”
His brow lifts. “Masculinity battle?”
“Well, yeah. Isn’t that why all guys fight?”
He crosses his arms as if deep in thought, tapping his finger to his chin. “I did run over his foot with my bike, so I don’t blame him for coming at me. Doesn’t mean I won’t defend myself, though.”
Ah. So he’s the culprit who ran over someone’s foot. It's not surprising.
I shake my head in disbelief while making another attempt at walking away from him. “I have to go.”
He grabs my arm, not forcefully, but enough that he stops me in my tracks. The way his eyes scan me, it’s as if he can feel the spark between us as much as I can. Which is why I pull away from his grip. “Lemme help you find your phone. I’m already late for work, but it’s the least I can do.”
“Work? At this time of the day?” I look around, wondering what he could possibly do to show up at work this late in the evening.
“Money isn’t only made when the sun is up. Some of us have to work at night, too.” He casts his eyes down just briefly, as if he’s embarrassed. But not even two seconds later, the Hayes I can’t stand returns.
I’m sort of surprised. Not that he has a job, but that he’s heading to work after fighting outside of a bar. It’s a little odd.
Regardless, I don’t say anything as I crouch down to get a better look at the sidewalk. If he wants to help me find my phone, I’ll let him because I’d really like to find my boyfriend before he cheats on me.
Ugh. Why do I think like this? Why am I always expecting the worst-case scenario?
A group of people come toward me, not paying any attention, and just before they collide with me, someone grabs my arm and pulls me onto my feet and out of the way. I stumble, but quickly regain my balance as strong arms wrap around me from behind.
I lunge forward and out of his hold. “Thank you,” I say quietly, because as annoyed as I am right now, I’m still a decent human being.
“Twice,” Hayes quips.
My forehead creases as I look at him in confusion. “Huh?”
He steps closer, the heat of him somehow cutting the cold around me. “That’s twice I’ve saved you now.”
I take a deep breath. “Whatever.”
Minutes pass with no luck when Hayes puts something in front of my face. “You’re welcome.”
I snatch my phone from his hand, relief flooding my veins. But when I turn around to really thank him, I catch his backside, walking away.
I’m not sure why I wait, watching him disappear into the mix of people, but it’s not until he’s out of sight that I swipe my phone open and order a new ride.
After a tiring twenty-minute wait, my ride arrives and I’m exhausted. Like, barely able to keep my eyes open exhausted. So instead of trying to track down Kamden, I put my trust in him and I go back to my room so I can crash.
Freshman year is supposed to be fun. It should be about finding myself and what I really want in life. It should be full of adventure with my friends and nights partying where we go home and laugh about all the crazy shit we did together.
It should not be about fucking playboys and worrying if my football star boyfriend is going to cheat on me with his ex who is my captain. Yet, here I am.
You need to learn to make better choices, Brogan.