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After posing with locked arms above me, I kicked up my leg, propelling myself in the air, and tucked perfectly as I landed in Julian’s arms.
“Hell yeah, girl. You rocked it today.” Julian set me down, slinging one arm around me as he pumped his fist to the crowd. He loved to perform and rile up the fans. He was born to entertain people, and I was hashtag blessed to be his cheer partner.
The football team began approaching us in front of the student section, as was customary after every game, while we led the crowd in Hillside chants. I thrust my arm out before me and glanced to my left, seeing Axel coming toward us, leading his team. His helmet was off as he danced around like he owned the stadium, with his hands in the air, hollering out, “Who are we?”
Everyone followed in line and called back, “Hillside!”
He asked it again with his hands in the air, and the fans went wild, calling out our school’s name.
Again, he cupped a hand around his mouth. “I said…whooo are we?” His voice was deep and demanding as if he was the celebrity among us, with hands spread wide, expecting a response that came in an instant.
“Hillside!” the fans screamed back. Give him a minute and some girl might throw her panties from the stands. He turned to me with an impish grin and helmet in his hand, winking like we were two conspirators in a joke no one knew. I felt this vibe with him the other day when he was playing around at the coffee shop. Whatever it was, I went with it. If anyone was a troublemaker, it was him.
Soon, the band played our alma mater, and everyone started to sing. As the song ended, I felt a hand pressed against my lower back.
It wasn’t Julian, I knew, because I saw him over to my left. I slowly glanced up behind me to see Dmitri hovering over me as stone-faced as ever. “Hey,” I said with caution. Heat radiated through my skirt as he touched me.
No response. His fingers tightened against me as he glowered at his friend.
“Are you always this cheerful after a win?”
“Shut up, Sorina,” he practically snarled. His glare never strayed from Axel, who gave me his attention and wiggled his fingers in a wave.
My eyes widened, wondering if Axel had any concept of how ruthless Dmitri could be. I wanted to share in his joke, but I was tensing up.
Despite it all, something in me rebelled when he was so overhanded with me. I refused to let him get a rise out of me and glanced down at my nails. “Is that supposed to be some kind of warning?”
His chin touched the space between my neck and shoulder. “You made a grave mistake coming here,” he said in a barely contained voice. I tipped my head back and watched as he stared at his supposed friend with a look so cold, it would’ve frozen the whole stadium.
“Why?” I asked, staring at him, but he turned away from me.
“Keep this up, and I won’t be able to excuse my actions anymore.” He glanced off to the side as though he was disgusted with himself and stalked around me.
I stared at his back, wondering why this man was so hot and cold with me. Why was he so overbearing? Why didn’t he avoid me if I annoyed him so much? Why did my heart speed up whenever he was around? Why did I still care what he thought of me?
My pondering was cut short when Dmitri’s clipped strides cut the distance between him and Axel. My heart stopped. He was going after him. Out of nowhere, Nick and Roman were on him like secret service members, dragging him away toward the exit on the field.
I got the text when I made it back to my apartment after the game.
Party at the house, and you’re coming. No excuses. Be here in an hour.
Kenzie had texted me. I gave them my number when I left the coffee shop the other day. She’d promised me we would hang out soon, and she was apparently making good on it.
I stared for a sec and texted back:
Can I bring my roomies?
Kenzie:Of course.
“There’s a party at Dmitri’s house.”
Julian was next to me, as well as Carly, as we sat on the couch watchingSweet Home Alabama. “Are you going?” she asked. By now, they both knew who Dmitri was. I explained to them how it was his duty to look out for me. Julian still made the random comment about him being unstable, but it was what it was. I couldn’t fault him for his impression.
I laid my phone on my lap. “Only if you both go with me.”
My phone buzzed again.
Kenzie:It’s a pool party. Bring your swimsuit.
