He excuses himself and starts toward me, and it hits me hard that even at the biggest game of the year,I’mwhat made him smile like that.
When we meet by the fence, his gaze drops to the red hoodie I’m wearing, the one that he gave me after our first date.
“God damn, Darlin’,” he drawls, sexier than he has any right to be, “you gotta know you’re killing me.”
My face feels warm as I duck my head, tugging at the hem. “It’s yours.”
“Looks a hell of a lot better on you, though,” he says, leaning in closer. “You’ve got no idea what seeing you wearing thatdoes to me.”
“Nate, stop,” I whisper, glancing around. “People will hear you.”
He chuckles, a low sound that makes my stomach tighten. “Can’t help it.”
I bite my lip as my heart starts to pick up for reasons other than being at a sports event. “You should go. The game’s starting soon.”
He sighs, regret flashing across his face. “Have you seen Alex yet?”
“Not yet. I was going to look for him.”
“He came with me, should already be in the stands,” Nate says, stepping back, but his hand is still on top of mine on the fence like he doesn’t quite want to let me go. “Text me where y’all are sitting so I can see you.”
“I will.”
Before he jogs off, he dips his head and murmurs, warm against my ear, “Thanks for coming. Means more than you know.”
He gives me a quick kiss that makes my knees feel weak, and then he’s off, jogging back to the sideline, calling something out to the assistant coach.
I don’t see Alex, so I assume he must’ve gone to get something to eat, and I make my way up the bleachers, careful not to trip over anyone. Stopping briefly to wave at Addie from where she sits under a shared blanket with Emily.
The cold wind bites at my face, but my hoodie is warm, and it still smells faintly like Nate. I pull out my phone to text him where I’m sitting, but pause when I spot Alex.
He’s standing off to the side, looking uncomfortable withhis shoulders hunched. I begin to approach him, to find out what’s wrong, before I see the person he’s talking to.
Jason Barnett.
They’re close. Too close for two people who, by all accounts, don’t even know each other. Jason is saying something, his mouth twisted into an angry frown, while Alex’s jaw is set, facing the ground, with his fists clenched at his sides.
Whatever Alex says next makes Jason even angrier.
He pushes Alex hard, sending him back against the wall, before he stomps away toward the locker room.
I watch Alex, leaning against the wall, clutching his chest.
I know that feeling all too well.
Jason’s been nothing but nice in class. He participates and asks questions, and when his dad was an ass, he apologized.
I can’t believe he would be capable of bullying Alex, especially considering he’s Nate’s brother.
I stand there, frozen, with my breath fogging in the cold. Part of me wants to run down the bleachers and demand to know what the hell that was about.
Another part of me isn’t sure it’s my place.
Maybe I should get Nate.
Alex straightens up before I can decide, shoving his hands into his pockets. He slowly starts to climb the bleachers, switching directions when he spots me.
“Are you okay?” I ask when he’s in hearing range.
