Epilogue - Watch Her Spiral
Gage
Loud cheers erupted through Stonewall’s small stadium as the announcer yelled into the microphone, the shrill feedback making me wince.
“Vanderhart throws another perfect toss to Phillips in the endzone. Touchdown Knights!”
I yanked my earbuds out and shoved them into my pocket, grumbling under my breath. The bright scoreboard on the left showed the clock slowly winding down the last quarter.
“What’s with the frown, Gage?” Slate poked my side from his seat on my right, dressed in black and gold like everyone else in the raucous student section. “You can’t hear your murder podcast over the game?”
“There’s only so much school spirit I can take.” Of course I wanted to support Axel, but spending my night under stadium lights so harsh the turf seemed to glow neon green was not my idea of a good time.
Slate rubbed my head, messing up my plum fauxhawk, one of the only people brave enough to do that. “We can’t miss Axel’s big night.”
“Why is this Axel’s big night?” Cordelia leaned over Slate to butt into our conversation. Her purple hair was half up with a gold and black ribbon blowing in the breeze. “It’s only a pre-season scrimmage with Pinehaven University.”
Panic streaked through Slate’s hazel eyes. “Uh, you know, it’s his first game back since that douchebag shot him.”
At least Haversham had finally been dealt with. His antics had fucked with Axel enough. If Brock hadn’t taken a tumble off that cliff, I’d be tempted to hunt him down and deliver my own brand of punishment.
It would have been much worse than what he got.
She coiled a lock of hair around her finger. “He played the other day at—”
“Why don’t you mind your own damn business, Cordi?” I growled. “No one was even talking to you.”
She flipped me off, but at least it shut her up before Slate accidentally spoiled the surprise.
A ghost of a smile twitched at my lips. I purposely sat this close to the insufferable girl to bask in her torment when Axel’s big plan unfolded.
I couldn’t wait to watch her spiral.
Slate frowned and grabbed a silver flask from his pocket. “Can’t you two get along for one night?"
“No,” we said in unison.
Cordelia flashed me another scowl before she stole Slate’s flask, downed a huge gulp, and turned to Lexi on her right. “We’re going to have so much fun this year, roomie.”
The redhead smiled, but as Killian squeezed her thigh and blood rushed to her cheeks, I was certain she planned to have more fun with her boyfriend than her roommate.
And that suited me just fine. It meant little Cordi would be all alone.
“Do you think everything’s going to work out like Axel wants?” Slate whispered in my ear.
“I’m sure.” The fucker obsessed over every detail and had the team practice it a hundred times.
Slate gave a long sigh and rested his cheek in his hand with his elbow on the black armrest. “I wish I had a girlfriend like Lorelei.”
“You? With a girlfriend?”
He shrugged. “I could change…”
“Doubtful.”
Battenberg had sat with us for most of the game until Axel waved her onto the field a few minutes ago, claiming she was his good luck charm. She dutifully went with a beaming smile to root for her boyfriend like his own personal cheerleader.
“If I ever start acting like a lovesick moron like Kill and Ax, just hit me over the head and knock my brain straight.” I had no intention of letting some hot piece of ass control that much of my life or happiness.
“Come on, Van Horn.” Slate shook his head, chuckling. Then his gaze flickered toward Cordi as she and Lexi laughed at something.
I snarled, lips twisting at that stupid smile.
He followed my line of sight. “You’re not still hung up on that shit from highschool, are you?”
My jaw clenched as the memory of Cordi’s cruel words, her laughter, echoed in my ears. I could still feel my heart cracking into a million pieces.
Slate leaned so close that the vodka on his breath infiltrated my nostrils. “I’m sure she never meant to—”
“I’m not talking about this, Slate.” Out of all the guys, he was the only one who knew what happened, and he’d kept his mouth shut all these years.
I snatched the cigarette from behind my ear and patted my pocket for a lighter.
“Don’t even think about it, Van Horn.” Killian shook his head, his glare focused on the cigarette between my lips. “You’ll get us kicked out if you spark that, and we’ll miss Axel’s big moment.”
Cordi tossed her hands up. “What are you guys talking about?”
She looked at Lexi, but her roommate was just as clueless.
The clock finally ran out, signaling the end of the game.
“And that’s it, folks.” The announcer’s voice sounded over the speakers as the crowd roared and the band played our fight song. “The Knights win over the Timberwolves.”
Kevin Davis, a member of the school newspaper, jogged onto the field to catch the star quarterback before he headed into the locker room.
“Vanderhart, how do you think the season will go,” he asked, sticking a microphone in Axel’s face. “Any predictions?”
Axel tore off his helmet and flicked damp strands of dark blond hair out of his face. Half the females in the stands swooned.
“It’s going to be a great season, that’s for sure.
We’ve got a lot of experience from the vets on the field, and the new recruits are full of amazing talent.
” He pumped his fist as whoops came from the team members nearby.
“Nothing can go wrong as long as I’ve got my beautiful good luck charm, Lorelei Battenberg, by my side. ”
Kevin laughed, his white teeth flashing. “You better make sure she sticks around.”
Axel rubbed his chin. “You know what? I have the perfect idea to keep the lovely Lorelei around.” He waved some of his teammates over, all of them wearing shit-eating grins.
Cordelia’s attention was now glued to the field as if she sensed something horrific unfolding.
This was it.
Eight sweaty football players lined up in front of Lorelei and tore their jerseys off, revealing black t-shirts underneath with a gold letter painted on each. Her mouth parted in a silent gasp when she realized what it spelled.
MARRY ME?
The crowd went nuts, clapping and whistling, making me strain to hear Axel’s next words.
“I fell in love when I least expected it and with the person I least expected. But I’m lucky to be one of the few to really know the sweet, kind, and amazing person you are.” He swallowed hard as emotion choked him, his blue eyes so bright even from here.
I twisted the skull ring around my index finger, resisting the urge to cover my ears. I loved Ax, but this mushy shit made me nauseous.
“Lorelei Battenberg, you are my heart and soul, and I want to spend the rest of my life making sure you’re the happiest person on this earth.”
Coach Carson passed Axel a box, and he jogged toward the blond, tears already streaking her cheeks. He dropped to one knee and unveiled the massive, blinding rock.
“Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
After Lorelei nodded with a tearful smile, the entire stadium shook as he slipped the ring on her finger and scooped her up in his arms. My fucking eardrums were going to burst.
The blood drained from Cordelia’s cheeks, and while everyone around her celebrated the happy couple, she snagged Slate’s flask and downed the rest.
She’d need a lot more than a little vodka to numb the heartache.
As if she plucked the thoughts right out of my head, she dug into her purse, tore open a little plastic bag, and tossed back whatever party drug she’d purchased earlier.
The amount of joy pumping through my veins had a full-blown smile curving my mouth.
Slate jabbed my bicep. “I knew you were a romantic at heart. You rarely smile in public.”
“I just can’t seem to control myself, Slate.”
Cordelia threw the thin strap of her glittery gold purse over her shoulder and stood, giving Lexi a fake smile. “I’m just going to the bathroom before it gets too crowded. I’ll meet you guys outside.”
Lexi’s brow furrowed as her roommate stumbled out the aisle and up the stairs to escape the celebration.
“I’m out of here.” I elbowed Slate. “I’ll see you guys back at the house.”
I didn’t even wait for his response before bounding up the stairs after the sad little bird with a broken heart. I hadn’t seen enough spiraling yet.
Cordelia hurried out of the stadium, getting as far from the crowd as possible. She didn’t notice me following her into Stonewall's darker, less-lit areas while tiny sobs slipped from her mouth.
I chuckled under my breath.
Aw, the little birdie was singing a sad song. If she knew her sounds of pain had my blood pumping, would she stop?
Soon, her steps became wobbly, and she seemed to wander aimlessly without really seeing her surroundings.
Damn it.
Cordi was headed straight toward the old stone staircase. The school had torn it down to make repairs after a few of the steps cracked. Couldn’t have wealthy heiresses tripping on their stilettos and breaking their necks.
She busted right through the yellow caution tape. If she continued on this path, she’d fall right over the edge where the stairs used to be. Then, all my plans to watch her suffer would be ruined.
I widened my stride to catch up, my pulse spiking. I wouldn’t let her fuck this up already.
Just as the inebriated girl reached the edge and walked right onto nothing, I darted forward, snatched her waist, and pulled her back onto firm ground. She screeched as I shoved her against the stone wall, trapping her body with mine.
The only sound for several long moments was our heavy breathing, so damn loud in this deserted part of campus. Her scent perfumed the air around us, and a wave of heat slithered over my body as her soft curves melted against my hard muscles.
“What the hell are you doing?” Her trembling hands rested on my back. “Why did you grab me, Gage?”
I jerked my chin toward the demolished staircase. “You almost fell to your death.”
Her jaw dropped when she noticed the gaping hole. “Y-you saved me?”
The fear and sadness began to fade as the drug overtook her senses, and lust swirled in her bloodshot eyes.
She wasn’t seeing me, though. She was still fantasizing about the guy she lost.
I broke away from her and scowled. “I’m not into Axel’s sloppy seconds.”
Cordi’s hand cocked back to slap me, but I grabbed it before her palm made contact with my cheek.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” My voice dipped to a low, dangerous growl.
“You are such an asshole, Van Horn.” She jerked her wrist out of my grasp and wiped the tears from her face. “What did I ever do to you?”
The fact that she didn’t remember only rubbed salt in the wound. “Next time you decide to go for a walk off a ledge, don’t expect me to save your ass.”
Her eyes narrowed as she glanced around, realizing how alone we were. “Are you following me?”
I snatched a cigarette from my pocket. “I was out here minding my business when you came stumbling up. You’re not into celebrating the happy couple’s engagement?”
“Fuck you, Gage.” Cordelia spun and marched back the way we’d come.
I couldn’t stop the grin from spreading over my mouth. Now that Axel had dumped her ass and had no intention of ever going back, Cordelia Chesson was fair game. And I intended to watch her crash and burn this year.
As I lit the cigarette and leaned against the wall, she stormed down the sidewalk several yards away now. Something moved within the shadows of the dogwood trees on her left, and a man dressed in dark jeans and a black hoodie appeared.
He snapped a picture of her with his phone and then melted back into the darkness.
Was someone else watching her? Some scorned ex-lover she fucked over?
I blew smoke out of my mouth and nearly crushed the cigarette between my fingers as my blood boiled. No one was spoiling this for me. This guy would learn the hard way that I didn’t share, not even enemies.
I had plans for this little bird, and I would be the only one to make her suffer.