Chapter 3
CHAPTER
THREE
SILAS
I spot Brooke, Eli, and a few other guys sitting with them. They all look like Brads. Three-quarter zips; nice, clean-cut hair; jeans that look like they’ve been ironed, for fuck’s sake. They probably all drink matcha too.
Essentially, the complete opposite of me.
I’m covered in tattoos, and I have short hair, too, but mine always looks a little messy.
And considering my physique, there’s no mistaking I’m an athlete.
The thing about me that they wouldn’t know by looks alone is that I’m probably smarter than they are.
I don’t hide my intelligence, but I don’t flaunt it like these dickbags.
Plus, it’s something I had to grow into.
The confidence to accept that I was smart and not the funny, dumb kid who couldn’t read in elementary school.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t read; I’m dyslexic, and no one caught it until I was in middle school.
It wasn’t a teacher, but was a coach actually.
Once we figured it out, my life changed.
Hours of after-school tutoring at an Orton-Gillingham reading center, vision therapy, and a shit ton of hard work paid off.
School became fun, but I still wanted to fit in, so I held on to my sense of humor.
But when I came to college, I became comfortable with how smart I was.
These guys though? They want you to know how smart they are. They think they’re better than everyone.
“Let’s sit down there.” I point to the seats right above Brooke.
Bo shakes his head and laughs. “Lead the way, Romeo.”
“Wait, we’re going to sit with Brooke? Isn’t she with that boyfriend of hers? I don’t want to sit with those dickheads.”
“Why do you think we’re here in the first place?” Bo hits him in the chest. “Keep up, Griff.”
“Oh shit,” I hear him mumble behind me as I descend the stairs to the row directly above Brooke and Eli.
A few people recognize us as we walk by, and we smile and nod. Bo stops for a few selfies, but I move down the row until I’m right behind Brooke’s seat. She hasn’t noticed me yet, but Eli turns as I plop down in my seat, and I see him roll his eyes.
I love to fuck with this guy whenever he’s around—which, funny enough, she doesn’t bring him around much. Or he doesn’t want to be around us. Who knows? I sure as fuck don’t care.
I lean forward, in between them, and turn my face to Brooke. “Hey.”
She nearly jumps with surprise. “Silas. What are you doing here?”
“I’m watching the basketball game. Huge fan.”
“You are not.” She leans away from the close proximity of my face to hers.
“Oh, but I am.”
Eli clears his throat. “Brooke, you didn’t tell me your security crew would be joining us tonight.”
“They’re not my security crew, Eli. I had no idea they were coming.”
“Hey, Brooke. How’s it going?” Bo sits down next to me and smiles at her.
“Hi, Bo.” She smiles, but she looks uncomfortable as Eli gives her the side-eye.
“Little Linson! What up?” Aston holds out a fist for her to bump.
“So, you had no idea they were coming, but they intend to sit right behind us. Awesome.” Eli shakes his head, irritated.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand why it’s a problem. They’re my friends. You have your friends here, and I didn’t care that they were coming with us.”
“Actually, Brooke, I had these plans with my friends and invited you to join.”
What a fucking asshole. How can she be with a guy like this?
I lean forward again, with a smile on my face, ready to tear into this douchecanoe, but Brooke catches my eye and subtly shakes her head.
“Okay, well, I thought you wanted me here because you said you hadn’t seen me much this week. Sorry that I misunderstood.”
Fuck that. She shouldn’t be with a guy like this. She should not be apologizing to this guy.
Bo grabs my shoulder and pulls me back. “Dude, let it be. Don’t make a scene here. There are eyes and cameras all around.”
“I won’t, but do you hear this guy?”
Bo nods. “I do, but we gotta stay out of it unless she asks for our help. He lays a hand on her though? Game over for him.”
Aston leans forward, phone in his hand. “Yeah, brother, just let it ride out.”
As we watch the game, my jealousy and aggravation with this guy fester. He’s so condescending to her, and he’s the kind of guy who’s always right. Everything she says, he counters. He leaves her out of conversations with his friends too.
I know for certain that if her brother saw any of this, regardless of him wanting to let her figure this out on her own, he would be pissed. Maybe as much as I am. He’s crazy protective of her, and I know Beck wouldn’t stand letting someone treat his sister like this.
We’re almost to the end of the first half, and if Brooke wasn’t still sitting here, I would be gone. Now, I appreciate any fellow athlete, but this shit is boring. Or maybe my attention is too occupied elsewhere for me to pay attention to the game.
At least the crowd is into it. The camera guy has zoomed in on me, Bo, and Aston a few times, and we even stood up once when the crowd was cheering for us. I mean, we are in the playoffs, so it’s a pretty big deal at the university.
They’re doing one of those stupid kiss cameras now though. Every couple they’ve targeted in the crowd kisses and laughs, and then they move on. But now they’re on Brooke and Eli.
She hasn’t noticed it yet, but he has, and he’s shaking his head and waving off the camera. When she notices his movement, she glances around, then finally up at the Jumbotron.
Her face goes scarlet, and she shrinks in her seat a little.
The crowd starts to chant, “Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her,” but Eli looks like he’s about to bolt.
What the fuck is wrong with this guy? How does he not realize what he has next to him?
I can’t stand sitting here, watching this shitstorm. “Fuck it.”
Leaning down, I reach my hand around and cup her jaw, turning her head toward me. Before she can react, I take her lips with mine. It’s gentle but firm and full of intent. There’s no doubt she knows I want this.
Then I pull back, and I cup the other side of her face so she can see the sincerity in my eyes. “When you’re done with this guy—and you will be soon—I’ll be happy to take the title.” I kiss her softly again.
She pulls her head away first this time. “What? What title? Silas, oh my God,” she says, shaking her head.
“Yours.” Then I sit back in my seat, and the crowd goes wild, cheering.
Aston is standing and facing me, clapping.
Bo has a smile on his face, phone in hand, recording me or taking pictures of me. “That was awesome, man. I got it all on here for you. Gotta send it to Chelsea and the group chat.”
I chuckle, but I look back at Brooke, and she’s got one hand on Eli’s arm, trying to get him to look at her. When he pulls his arm away forcefully, she leans back in her seat and crosses her arms over her chest.
Seeing her upset bothers me, and I’m sure she isn’t happy with me right now, but I just couldn’t help it. He was leaving her hanging, and no other guy in this place would have passed up on kissing Brooke Linson.
How does he not see how beautiful she is? Besides that, she’s one of the smartest and kindest people I know. I’ll never understand how he trapped her into a relationship. But I guess if he’s the first guy she’s ever really dated, maybe her expectations were low. I’m gonna change all that.
As I watch them, I can’t help but smile because I love that I pissed him off, but more importantly, that she didn’t push me away.