“Here we go.” Axel threw a look behind him.
“Are you coming to the game tomorrow?” Nick asked, his finger lingering on my hair. After Roman’s little display of marking his territory, I should’ve been more concerned about another show, but there was a rebellious side in me that wouldn’t allow me to cower to his wishes. There was also skepticism too.
“Yes. Kenzie and I will be there.”
“Good. Text me and let me know where you’re sitting in the stands.” He winked and glanced over his shoulder. “Oh, hey, Roman.” I could see the gleam in Nick’s sky blue eyes as though this were some kind of game.
I chanced a glance at him too, and all I saw was a blackness that was about to set off if provoked. It was as though the whole teasing and his constant pushing of me was just a facade. Roman looked like he was ready to commit murder. A chill coursed down my spine and I had an overwhelming urge to take off running as far away from him as possible.
“All hail the mighty falcons…” Students and fans were swaying from side to side with arms interlinked over shoulders as they sang Hillside U’s alma mater. I didn’t know the words, but I moved alongside Kenzie as the crowd sang with the players who had gathered together in front of the student section of the stadium to sing the school song. The Falcons had won again, convincingly, and the stadium had been packed tonight. The ESPN camera crew had been on the field too, so I guess this game was an important one.
Kenzie and I were only three rows from the front. I peered among the players and found Roman easily. I’d watched him all night. His hair was wild and sweaty, with stray strands sticking up in chunky points. He had a lingering smile, but his eyes were hard. Then I realized he was watching me, too. I wondered what was going through his head. Did he still blame me for what happened in the past? Did he ever care for me?
As the singing ended and fans and players cheered, Roman and I were rooted in place without breaking eye contact. He tapped an index finger near his eye and pointed in my direction.
“Theo, come on.” Kenzie was pulling me with her while I saw Roman’s eyes follow me before he turned and walked off with other teammates to the stadium tunnel. “What was that?” she asked.
“What?”
“The intense stare going on between you and Roman Martinez. I thought you and Nick were getting close.”
Obviously, I hadn’t mentioned anything to Kenzie because I didn’t really know how to explain it without it sounding like an over-the-top soap opera.
“I’m not close with anyone.”
“Right, Theo. Staring at strangers like you two were is just a normal occurrence. And the way he watched you…” she rubbed her arm. “It was as though he wanted to devour you whole. I’ve heard he can be very intense.”
You didn’t know the half of it.
“We grew up together.”
She paused with her jaw dropped. “How come I’m finding this out now?”
I raised a shoulder. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”
“Not a big deal?” She raised an eyebrow. “So tell me about this mysterious past of yours.”
“It’s not as interesting as you think,” I lied.
“I think you’re being evasive, and I also know he’s dated the same girl all through college. Everyone knows Taylor Shields is his girlfriend. So what’s going on between the two of you?”
Assuming Taylor was his girlfriend and flat out hearing that he’d dated her throughout college was like taking a sucker punch to the chest. Not only that, I was confused over Roman’s motives. I didn’t understand him at all. One minute he threatened me; the next minute he was charming me. Why?
“It’s nothing, Kenzie. Like you said, he’s just an intense person, and he was probably thinking back to our high school days when we were friends.”
She scoffed with a hand in the air. “Fine, Theo, be that way, but I would be careful if I were you. Being the other woman is not a good look.”
My eyes widened at her. “Are you serious? I’m not the other woman set out to ruin a relationship.” My fingers curled in my palms. He was mine before she came in the picture. He was the one pursuing me. I wanted to scream out. “I can’t believe you would say that.”
Kenzie stopped and grabbed one of my hands. “I’m sorry. It came out wrong. I don’t think you’re that kind of person. However, I’ve never seen two people as caught up in a moment as you and Roman were back there. Which screams out ‘more than just friends.’” She held her fingers up in air quotes.
“You’re right,” I added softly. “We were.”
She nodded in understanding. “I can tell. I just want you to be careful and not get hurt. Okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“If you ever need to talk, I’m here for you.”
“Thank you. I’ve never had—” A real girlfriend is what I wanted to say, but I thought it sounded kind of pathetic. “A friend as thoughtful as you,” I amended.
“You’re guarded, Theo, I know. But sometimes you have to put yourself out there, and you’d be surprised how many people would be happy to know you.”
“Thanks.” I felt like I could tell Kenzie anything, but that was for another day. If she could encourage me to attend games, parties, and actually live the college life when I thought I would basically go to class, study, and work, then the sky was the limit, right?
We reached the edge of the large gathering of people waiting until the players came out of the stadium. Some guys were laughing with red plastic cups in their hands, talking how Roman caught a one-handed pass between two defenders in the end zone. They were comparing him to Travis Kelce and already predicting him to forego his senior year and go high in the NFL draft after this season. Their loud voices carried over the stadium lit sky mingled in with other small groups talking animatedly. People were pumped and feeling good. Not to mention had been drinking since well before the game. Alcohol was not served at games, but walking through the parking lot earlier there were tents and grills set up all around the stadium grounds of people partying and tailgating. After the game, the party apparently continued. Especially after a win.
We threaded through the crowd and Kenzie must’ve had an internal Justin GPS because she quickly found him among some other players, Nick included. He spotted me and tilted his head with a sexy smile. “Hey you. Did you see that interception I caught?”
Nick had caught an errant pass from the opposing other team’s quarterback and ran it back eighty yards down the field to score a touchdown. Everyone saw it. It was one of the turning points of the game since it was tied at the time. I put a hand on my hip and pretended to think hard about what he did. “Hmm, I’m trying to recall.”
“You little brat.” He reached out and wrapped an arm around me, pulling me against him as he playfully rubbed my head. “You know you were impressed.”
I genuinely laughed because it was hard to resist his personality. “Okay. I think its coming back to me.”
“You think?” he asked incredulously. He held me tightly against him and leaned us over as he started tickling me.