Chapter 22 #2
He glances at me. “That Mia chick seeing anyone?”
“A couple guys on our team.” I smirk.
“Is that how you guys all operate over at your fancy as fuck school?” There’s anger in his voice that he can’t quite disguise. Which is humorous coming from someone who goes to a boarding school more pretentious than Deimos.
“We do have an art school.” I rub the side of my mouth. “If you want in on Mia, she might be willing to add a third.”
“Seriously?” Jackson turns to look at me. His eyes are dark and a little wild. “Who wants a woman who everyone else has taken turns with?”
Does that mean he doesn’t want Evan anymore?
I chuckle. “Look around us. There are puck bunnies galore at this school. Ivan’s got two girls he’s talking to right now. It’s not exactly free love, but don’t shame anyone else’s game.”
“Rumor has it you and two other guys are dating the same girl.” Good to know he knows.
I was wondering if he was working his way there. “So what if we are?”
Jackson glares. “You said you were in a relationship with a girl.”
“I am.”
“But so are two other guys?”
“For not going to our school, you certainly seem to know a lot of gossip.” I turn to watch him, crossing my arms over my chest. “Who’s spilling all our secrets?”
Jackson looks at the pool table. His lips are pressed tight together.
“Why do you ask?” I try another tact. “Do you want to find your own—what did Mia call it—reverse harem and want pointers? Or maybe there’s a girl you wish didn’t already have guys to worship her tight, little body.”
Jackson’s face grows red with anger, but he takes a breath and releases it. I almost want to keep pushing him to get him to react. To get him to admit that he wants Evan. To force his hand before he does something to her. Let him attack me instead.
I’m more than willing to fight this asshole to keep Evan safe.
Turning, I find Axel watching us interact. He’s talking to a guy with dark hair. When he notices me, he gestures for the guy to follow him over.
“Hey, this is Wilder Bishop. Damon. Jackson.” Axel glances over the pool room. The music is so loud he has to yell a little to be heard. “We can head out to the backyard. It should be a little quieter there. Easier to talk.”
Jackson looks away from me, probably trying to maintain that tight control he has. But fuck, I want him to snap. Because if he does it on me, that means Evan is safe.
We follow Axel and Wilder through the winding halls of the frat and out the back door, down some steps into the backyard. The music spills out but isn’t as loud. There’s a fire pit and a bunch of chairs scattered around. Most of them are taken.
Wilder closes in on me. “That charity game last year. You were a junior, right?”
I meet his green eyes, recognizing him now that he’s closer. He kept me on my toes that game. It was exciting to have someone of the same caliber playing against me. “Yeah.”
“Fuck, I think this kid single-handedly beat us last year.” He slaps Axel on the chest. “That charity game I was telling you about.”
Axel looks me over. “From what I heard, he was supposed to be at the USHL this year.”
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Wilder grins and shakes his head like it’s inconceivable.
I shrug. How much am I going to hear that? “Shit changes.”
“No fuck.” Wilder leads us over to some chairs.
Jackson looks uncomfortable, but he takes a seat. “Why don’t you have a pre-frosh?”
Wilder smirks. “I’m not fit for company. Also, I have a single.”
“Zane doesn’t either. Those two aren’t exactly the ones you want rolling out the welcome wagon.” Axel grabs some drinks from a cooler and passes them to us. “Sorry, Coach’s order. Soda only. Otherwise, I’d offer you a beer.”
The guys talk about the team and the training. It’ll be interesting to get their opinions. These guys were recruited by the old coach, but this is Coach Mitchell’s first year with the team.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Snapchat message from Little Devil. Even though I’ve sent her plenty of messages, she usually only responds in text. I open it. It’s a pic of her, Hawk, and Cam in Hawk’s theater room with the caption Watching a movie. You should watch one later. *winky face emoji*
Last night we just talked. We came to some sort of unspoken agreement when I left that we wouldn’t press on the sore spots yet. It’s better to wait until I’m home and we can have it out. Hopefully by the time I’m home, I’ve sorted through the mess that is my head.
“That your girl?” Axel asks. His gaze is on my phone before he meets my eyes.
“Yeah.” I save the pic to the chat before closing it. “She’s interested in directing.”
“Movies or plays?” Axel asks, obviously making small talk.
“Movies.” Part of me wants to share everything about Evan, and the other part wants to hoard her away from everyone.
Axel nods. “There’s a guy on the team who’s in the drama department. I’ll hook you up with him so you can chat. He’s a junior, so he’ll be here next year if you accept.”
“That’d be good.” I sit back and just absorb this moment. It would be better with Cam and Hawk at my sides and Evan draped over my lap, her head resting on my shoulder. I could imagine a life here with them.
The only problem is if Jackson comes here too.
He needs to find out he can’t have Evan no matter what. She’s ours and is staying that way.