Chapter 14 #3
By the time I leave the counter, I’m carrying a bucket of popcorn, two Diet Cokes, and a fresh box of Twizzlers pressed against my chest.
I turn.
Krista stands behind me.
Up close, she is even more intimidating. Sleek dark hair. Killer tan. Legs built to outrun most men on campus. Her fitted red top leaves no question that she spends more time training in one week than I have in my entire life.
Her gaze lands on the food.
Then my glasses.
Then my face.
“You’re in my seats.”
I adjust the drinks before one tips.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I glance toward the arena entrance, then back at her.
“That’s strange.”
Her expression hardens.
“What is?”
“The tickets in my account came directly from Kane. I would pull out my phone, but both hands are occupied, and I’m not sacrificing fifteen dollars’ worth of popcorn to win an argument.”
Krista folds her arms.
“He always left those seats for me.”
“Then his organizational skills have slipped.”
“You think this is funny?”
“A little.”
Her lips part, but another voice cuts in before she answers.
“Hannah,” Stella calls from behind her. “Get me extra napkins too.”
Krista’s entire body goes still.
Stella walks toward us without hurrying.
She doesn’t need to.
People shift out of her path before she reaches us.
Her gaze travels from Krista to me, then settles on the drinks tipping dangerously in my arms.
“Need help?”
“I had it.”
Krista looks at Stella.
Stella looks back.
Nothing is said.
Nothing needs to be.
Krista’s shoulders lose some of their height.
“I was just telling her those were my usual seats.”
Stella takes one Diet Coke from my hand.
“They aren’t tonight.”
Krista’s jaw tightens.
“Haverhill and I have history.”
“So do Kane and I,” Stella says. “I still know when he wants someone in his section.”
The emphasis lands cleanly.
Krista glances toward the court where the players are finishing warm-ups.
Her face closes.
“Whatever.”
She turns and disappears into the crowd.
I watch her go.
Then look at Stella.
“I had that handled.”
“I know.”
“You swooped in like I was about to get stuffed into a locker.”
“I wanted my Diet Coke.”
“You used your terrifying volleyball-queen stare.”
“I looked at her.”
“You looked at her like you were deciding where to bury the body.”
Stella takes a sip.
“Effective, though.”
“I had a plan.”
That gets her attention.
“What was the plan?”
I lift the popcorn bucket.
“Dump this over her head and run.”
Stella stares at me.
“I figured I could make it to the bathroom before she caught me. Once I locked the stall door, I’d have time to call campus security.”
Her mouth twitches.
“I’m serious. She’s faster than Kane.”
“She’s faster than almost everyone.”
“Exactly. I needed an obstacle course, not a fair fight.”
Stella starts laughing.
The sound is loud enough that several people look over.
I hand her the extra Twizzlers.
“You’re a D1 athlete built like a warrior goddess. I’m five feet of sarcasm wearing Uggs. We solve problems differently.”
“You were really going to throw popcorn at her?”
“Buttery popcorn. The grease adds confusion.”
Stella laughs harder and loops one arm through mine as we head back toward the seats.
“I definitely like you.”
“I liked you before you stole my candy.”
“You gave it to me.”
“I feared for my safety.”
“Also smart.”
We reach the aisle as the teams move toward their benches.
Kane stands near the scorer’s table listening to Coach. His attention shifts toward us.
First Stella.
Then me.
His eyes drop to the popcorn, the drinks, and the fresh box of Twizzlers.
I raise the bucket in greeting.
His smile appears.
Stella leans toward me.
“You know Krista saw that.”
“I know.”
“Still think you don’t belong in this section?”
I settle into my seat.
“I think this section needs better snacks and fewer territorial disputes.”
The third quarter begins with Stanford forcing a turnover.
Kane brings the ball across mid-court and calls the play. He uses the screen, keeps his dribble alive, then waits for the second defender to commit.
Patient.
One more bounce.
He finds Vale cutting along the baseline.
Vale scores through contact.
Kane looks toward me.
I nod once.
His expression changes.
Small.
Satisfied.
Stella leans closer.
“He trusts you.”
“He trusts the correction.”
“Same thing to him.”
On the next possession, Kane pulls up from the wing and scores.
Then steals the inbound pass before the defense can recover.
The crowd erupts.
He turns toward our section, chest rising hard, eyes bright beneath the arena lights.
Then he points at me.
Every woman in the row looks over.
My face heats.
Stella laughs.
“That looks like a successful experiment.”
I sink lower in my seat.
“I liked you better before you started talking.”
“No, you didn’t.”
She steals a handful of popcorn.
“You just met me.”
“And I already know your type.”
“I don’t have one.”
“Sure.”
Kane keeps smiling as he jogs back on defense.
I lift the popcorn bucket and point toward the scoreboard.
Get your head in the game.
His grin turns dangerous.
Stella watches us with the expression of someone who believes she has already read the ending.
I wish I felt as certain.