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“See,” Will said, giving Janessa’s shoulder a squeeze. “That’s a good person to go to Jay’s defense.”
Janessa blew out a breath and straightened. “Can he arrest him?”
“I’m sure he could,” Will assured. “He might be off duty, but he’s still a cop.”
The man reached the pair and motioned for Jay to continue into the changing room, then turned his attention fully on Donny’s dad. He pulled out his badge, proving that he was never fully off duty, then said a few words to Donny’s dad before pointing at the bleachers.
Will took his arm from around Janessa’s shoulders, aware of how it might look to let it linger there. He thought it was unlikely she’d go confront the disruptive man now that a police officer was involved.
Hopefully, the man would just settle down and enjoy the game. If he was like this for every game, it was going to be a realllllly long season. And Will had a feeling Jay was going to threaten to kick Donny off the team if his dad didn’t behave.
“Anyone want anything from the canteen?” Gareth asked, as he and Aria stood up and headed down the bleacher steps. “Text me if you do.”
Janessa pulled out her phone, then glanced at Will. “Want me to order anything?”
“Uh… sure. A soda would be nice.”
Peyton and Layla wanted some chips, but Charli and Misha both said only water for the kids.
“Will they need help bringing the stuff back?” Will asked.
Janessa shrugged. “Want to go see?”
“As long as you’re not going to use our trip to the main level as an excuse to have a chat with the irate parent.”
She narrowed her gaze at him. “I’ll restrain myself.”
“In that case, let’s go see if Gareth needs help.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The cheerleaders had left the court, but there were people milling around in front of the bleachers or standing in groups chatting. The man who’d been harassing Jay stood off to the side near the door, arms crossed with a frown on his face, glaring at the people who walked past him.
Janessa looked away from him, afraid that if she didn’t, she’d march right up to him and give him a piece of her mind. Unfortunately, as she looked across the other people there, her gaze found someone else she’d rather not have seen.
Daphne.
What was she doing there? The only times Janessa had seen her at games in the past was when she came with Will. But there she was, along with a couple of her friends. Who wasn’t with her, however, was her new boyfriend.
When their gazes met, the frown already on Daphne’s face deepened. What on earth was she frowning about? Was she upset that Will was with her and the other Halversons? Surely Daphne had to have known that Will would be at the game and that he’d sit with them, since he didn’t have to sit with her any longer.
Then Janessa remembered that Will had put his arm around her to keep her from charging the court to rescue Jay. Had Daphne seen that and, for some reason, decided she didn’t like it?
Not that it mattered. Daphne gave up the right to an opinion on what Will did the moment she’d broken up with him.
A part of Janessa wanted to reach out and take Will’s hand, just to mess with Daphne. But unfortunately, doing that would set off a cascade of rumors that neither of them would want to deal with. It was tempting, though.
Will seemed oblivious to Daphne’s presence, sticking close enough that his arm brushed Janessa’s as they walked toward the large doors of the gym that led out to the main hall where the canteen was located. Though they exchanged greetings with several people, they didn’t stop to chat.
Janessa spotted Gareth and Aria at the canteen counter, with a few people in line behind them.
“Need a hand?” Janessa asked as they approached them.
Gareth glanced over and smiled. “That’d be great.”
Aria handed off bags of chips, cans of soda, and bottles of water. Janessa took some, while Will took the rest.
“I’m just waiting for the hotdogs,” Gareth said.
