Page 90 of Playing with the Heartbreaker

I think she just wants a free semester before she goes off to college. In the fall, she’s headed to some east coast school, and we probably would have broken up in May after her graduation, anyway.

Still, I grip my steering wheel until my knuckles turn white.

She was so nonchalant about the whole thing. Like the past year didn’t mean anything to her.

I try not to think about her. We were fine together, I guess. Comfortable. But if I’m honest with myself, I probably stayed with her because I was too afraid to be alone. Not that I would ever admit that out loud to anyone.

I won’t even admit it out loud to myself.

To show school spirit and to show Coach Alesi I can follow directions, that’s why I’m here. To preserve my future on the soccer team next year.

I’ve never loved school functions, especially ones with expectations.

If it weren’t for my respect for my coach, I would be at home right now playing a video game with my friends instead. It’s finally time to face the music—literally and metaphorically.

Better just make an appearance and get it over with. Coach just said we had to show up, not that we had to stay long.

I step out into the freezing air. Whoever decided to let the Midwest have winter, I would like to personally introduce to my middle finger.

I hunker down further into my coat and pull the collar up against the biting wind that threatens to cut me open. I speed walk as fast as humanly possible without wiping out. The lot is still slippery, despite all the road salt. I smile a little at that, knowing that was probably Charlotte McKinnon’s doing. My sister’s best friend and junior class president thinks of all of those details.

Charlotte and I have never been super close as friends, but we’ve been in each other’s orbit for as long as I can remember. Being best friends with my twin sister meant she was around a lot when we were kids and continues to be.

I’m grateful she’s stuck by Anita for so long. My sister isn’t exactly the most social creature, and I got more of the charisma gene than she did. Not bragging or anything. It’s just the truth. She got more of the brains from our shared DNA, so I guess we both just have to work with our strengths.

The wind tugs tears from my eyes as I make my way up to the double doors of the school gymnasium. The instructions were very clear that we were to enter from here instead of from the school’s main entrance. I’m glad for this, because it is flippin’ cold out here, and the main entrance is further away.

But when I get inside, I understand why this was the directive. Constructed from the doorway and leading into the gym is a massive arch tunnel covered in fake snow and twinkle lights. It’s like walking through an igloo, if that igloo was lit by blue LEDs.

Stuff like this doesn’t usually awe me, but I have to admit, it’s impressive. And even though I’d rather be cleaning mud off my cleats than be here, I let myself have this small moment of appreciation.

Of course, it doesn’t last long.

As soon as I’m through the tunnel, my gaze locks on the one person I don’t want to see. My ex is draped across some football player whose name I’ve already forgotten, and her relaxed blond waves spill over his massive chest, which looks like he squeezed into his younger brother’s suit.

My jaw and fist both clench, and I’m about ready to turn around and bolt.

I run through some scenarios in my mind and try to decide what would be the most mature thing to do. I could go up and say hi to her, but that might make it seem like I sought her out, which would be wrong. It would just be to diffuse the tension.

Though from her smile and sparkling eyes, the tension I feel is one-sided.

I could go in and ignore her completely. That would probably be the best option at this point. I catch my teammate Lucas’s eye. He and some other guys are talking to a few girls from some team or another. They wave me over, and I start toward them.

Might as well get it over with.

They can vouch for me with Coach.

The DJ booth lights blind me for a few seconds, with its rotation of blue and green and red and purple on a loop so quick it feels like I’m trapped inside a kaleidoscope. I blink and avert my eyes to clear my vision.

I had a mild concussion in one of the games late in the season, and bright lights still bother me sometimes. But I refuse to be defeated by some lights and my ex, so I straighten myself up and keep walking.

“Rodriguez, you made it.” Lucas and I do a fist bump.

I shrug. “Coach’s orders.”

“Don’t be so glum.” His eyes slip past me and I know the second he catches sight of Shelby, because his smile turns to a grimace. “Have you met Elodie?”

I make polite conversation with Elodie the volleyball player, as well as two tennis girls, flirt a bit, turning on the charm and trying to avoid looking at Shelby and her new beefcake.