Chapter 2
two
I’m out of breath by the time I make it to the stadium, but I am happy to see I have only missed my opportunity to see Kyle before it starts. Sliding into the seats reserved for the girlfriends, I turn to Kasey.
“Did I miss anything?”
“No. They haven’t come out yet,” she tells me before turning back to her conversation with Amber.
I look over the crowd, amazed by how many people gather for these things. It was a shock when I attended my first one freshman year. It isn’t something most colleges do, but Walker University doesn’t spare any expense for their athletes.
My eyes catch on two of the hockey players sitting a few rows up.
Wyatt and Kellan. They are a different level of popular than Kyle is.
While our football team is decent, our hockey team is where the school makes all of its money.
Donors pour their money on the team because it is guaranteed at least two of our players will get drafted yearly.
Looking at Wyatt and Kellan, I know I am looking at the two drafts from this year. Everyone has been talking about it. I don’t really watch many sports, but it’s hard not to know how good our hockey team is.
Looking away from them, I focus back on the field. It is only a few minutes before the team is announced and they come running out. Pulling up the rear is Kyle, waving and showboating to the crowd.
Then his eyes meet mine. That spark of joy in his eyes dims as he sends me a little glare. I mouth “sorry” to him and then give him a thumbs-up. He pastes on a smile and turns back to the crowd, ignoring me.
The pep rally lasts about thirty minutes. I cheer with the crowd as they go over all the stats and what they hope for from this season. I try to show Kyle that I am here for him.
When it’s over, I make my way down toward the locker rooms. The security guard sees me and nods me through. It’s a perk of being a girlfriend.
Kyle takes his time coming out, and when he does, he doesn’t look happy to see me.
“I told you not to come,” he tells me.
“I know, but I’m your girlfriend. I’m going to be here for you. I can’t help that sometimes I will be late,” I remind him.
“It’s just starting to feel like this relationship doesn’t mean shit to you anymore.”
“You are being ridiculous. I have responsibilities now. I can’t leave my father alone. It is dangerous for him. You know this. Besides, we are seniors now. We need to start acting less like freshmen and more like the adults we need to be when we leave this place.”
He scoffs. “Speak for yourself. I’m going to go pro. That’s going to be as much of a party as college, if not more. I was planning to take you with me, but it seems like you don’t have the same goals anymore.”
I suck in a breath. “What is that even supposed to mean?”
His eyes narrow. “It means that this is my senior year. I am going to draft at the end of the season and will likely be on a professional team this time next year. I need to show my face. Be present around campus, and I need a girlfriend to be by my side. One who wants to do everything to help me make the pros. Right now, that’s not you. ”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I growl at him, my anger seeping in.
He sighs, as if I am the one being difficult right now. As if he is not being a complete asshole.
“Listen, Lyla. We have had a good three years. The memories we have shared, they will always hold a special place in my heart, but this isn’t working anymore. I think it’s best we go our separate ways.”
The condescending tone in his voice makes me want to punch him right in the throat. I could do it too. He wouldn’t see it coming. I have never once shown him my angry side.
Then I think of Will and Dad. We don’t have the money to be wasting it on bail. So instead, I take a deep breath to calm down.
“You want to throw away three years of trust and love?” I ask, the words tasting bitter in my mouth.
“Love? Eh. We are in college. No one falls in love in college. It’s time for me to sow my wild oats and all that. You understand, don’t you?”
I hate this man’s face.
Before I can respond, I see Macy, the head cheerleader, walk up behind him, putting her hands on him like she has a right to.
“Hey baby,” she chirps.
I guess she does now. He’s no longer mine. Mine to be jealous over nor my problem anymore. I just wish I would have gotten the memo before now.
“You are a real piece of work, Kyle. Fine, we are broken up, but don’t come crawling back when your gold digger dumps you for not making it pro because, let’s be honest. You were never going to make it. Everyone knows you’re mediocre at best…on and off the field.”
I turn and start walking away, hating the burn of tears behind my eyes. Then I look over my shoulder.
“Oh, and Kyle?” I wait until his attention is on me. “Go fuck yourself.”
With the last word, I storm out of there, evaluating everything that just happened as I start the long walk home.
Am I heartbroken? Not as much as I feel I should be after three years with him. I thought this would hurt more.
No, this feels more like a punch to my pride. Like I should have known better than to get into bed with a man like him.
I will never let a man make a fool of me again. If he wants to fuck other people, then good for him.
I am over his dumbass anyway.
I haven’t seen Lyla in a couple of days. Truth be told, I have been avoiding my normal hangouts so that I don’t have to war with myself about telling her about the cheerleader.
Kyle is parading the girl across campus too. I don’t know how Lyla doesn’t know it yet. She has to, right?
Anger still flows through my blood when I think about what Kyle is doing. I always knew he was an idiot, but I didn’t think he would do something to risk him losing Lyla. She is literally the best thing that has ever happened to him. He would be a fool to let her go.
I don’t want to see her hurt, but lord knows I have been praying they would break up for three years.
“Hey, I think the counter is clean.” Kellan breaks me from my thoughts.
I look down and see I’ve been scrubbing the same place for longer than necessary.
“Yeah, sorry,” I mumble.
“You nervous about the first game? We got this in the bag. This is our year to be the heroes. All the younger guys are looking up to us,” he tells me.
“I know we have it. I’m not worried about the game. Although it is a little bittersweet to think that this will be our last opener with the Wolves,” I admit.
“Well, we will have many more openers with our professional teams. Don’t let it get you too down.”
This is why he is our captain. He knows how to talk to people. I didn’t need the pep talk, but one of the younger players would have eaten this shit up.
“Where are Calvin and Jason?” I change the subject.
“Calvin is getting the beer. Jason is grabbing the snacks,” Kellan informs me.
“Good. Let’s finish getting the house ready then.”
Kellan laughs. “Yes, sir. You’d think you are the captain.”
He leaves the room and gets back to his task while I finish setting up the kitchen. Not too long after I finish, Calvin and Jason come back with the items.
Jason comes to my side. “I’m excited. This is my first college party.”
I pat him on the shoulder. Jason Pender is a good kid.
He is a promising goalie like I was when I was his age.
Since this summer when I met him, I’ve taken him under my wing and decided to help cultivate him into the man I know he can be.
He has the skills on the ice, but that’s not what is most difficult when switching to college hockey.
No, the most difficult part is maturing. Kellan has experience with that. His freshman year, he was an egotistical asshole.
I don’t want the same to happen to Jason. I want him to flourish here. Learn the life lessons that you are supposed to learn in college.
“Don’t drink too much. We might not have practice tomorrow with the team, but you and I will be on the ice. Understood?” I nudge his shoulder.
“Yes. I won’t get blackout drunk. Honestly, I want to remember tonight. This feels like a core memory.”
I smile to myself thinking about my first party. It’s something you never truly forget.
The doorbell rings, signaling the start to the party.
“Well, you better get the door then, freshman,” I tease him.
He is bouncing like an energetic puppy as he heads out of the kitchen toward the door.
I watch as people start to file in. I can’t focus on it though. Not when my thoughts are plagued by Lyla.
I need to see her.
I’m about to push off the counter to find a way to see her when I see him.
Kyle is here, and he isn’t alone.
Only, it’s not Lyla on his arm. It’s the same cheerleader that he was making out with at the rally. That only has my anger building.
I move closer, trying to hear what he is saying. I want to roll my eyes when I catch his words.
“…then I threw the ball, and it landed perfectly in Smith’s hands.
It was beautiful. Best pass of the game.
Coach thinks it will catch the eye of Seattle.
I would kill to play for them. I mean, I could play with the Garrett Stone and Jude Taylor.
They are some of the best in the league.
Man, playing with a team like that would be a dream.
There would be no way we wouldn’t come out on top at the end of the season. ”
It is killing me to not walk up to him and teach him a lesson. To scream into his face about what he is doing every time he leans down and kisses the trampy woman next to him.
How could he think she is better than Lyla?
Lyla has long, beautiful blonde hair. The brightest blue eyes I have ever seen in my life.
Not only does she look like an actual goddess, but she is kind.
She has a good heart. I haven’t talked with her much over the years, but I have seen the way she helps others.
She is genuinely an amazing human being.
She doesn’t deserve this shitstain of a person. Or should I say, he doesn’t deserve her.
I take a step forward but am caught by a hand on the shoulder.
I look back to see Kellan with Cora standing next to him.
“Hey, Wyatt. Why don’t we go into the kitchen?” She gives me a small, sad smile.
“I can handle myself. Kellan, get off of me,” I growl at him.
He shakes his head. “I can’t let you do it, man. I know it would feel good at the time, but it wouldn’t be good for you. Go take a walk. If you still want to punch him when you get back, I will help you get away with it. Scout’s honor.”
I take a deep breath and look back at the asshole. He is oblivious to the thoughts running through my head.
Kellan is right, though.
“Fine. I’ll be out back.”
I storm away from him, leaving Kyle behind as well. I step outside, closing the door behind me.
I need to get my shit together. I can’t let him ruin my peace.
I close my eyes as I lean against the house.
If only she wasn’t always what I see.