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Nick wrapped an arm around me, dragging me with him. “We got a game to get ready for. Right?” I allowed him to take me away because he was right. If we won, we were a shoo-in for the top seed in the playoffs for the national championship. When we were standing in the hall by our rooms, Nick went into counselor mode. “Give D a break. He just found out he’s gonna be a father.”
“Yeah. That stoic motherfucker as a dad? God help us all.”
That night, we won. We didn’t just win; we annihilated our opponent. “Helluva game today, guys,” Coach said when we were in the locker room. “But we’re not done. Remember that. Stay humble. Stay hungry… andall hail the mighty Falcons!” The locker room erupted in cheers, and water spewed everywhere from shaken water bottles.
By the time I’d talked to reporters, showered, and dressed, most of the team had already filed out of the locker room. Closing my locker and gathering my bag, I nodded at Jake, who passed by. “Good game tonight, Thomas.”
“Thanks.”
“See you at practice Monday,” he called out over his shoulder.
“Yeah.”
I checked my phone, returning a text from my dad, who was waiting outside in the parking lot for me. However, I paused when I heard Jake’s voice in the distance. “Yo, Joe, some of the guys on the team are headed over to Duffy’s with Natalie…” The locker room door closed behind them, leaving me in silence.
I clenched my fist, and my pulse kicked up at hearing her name. That didn’t sit well with me. At all.
I stalked out of the locker room and went down the hall and saw two of the female trainers coming out of one of the staff’s changing rooms. I’d seen Natalie exit this room several times after games. “Is Natalie in there by chance?”
One of the girls smiled and nodded. So, I fired off a text to my dad, letting him know I’d be late, and leaned against the wall, waiting. Rationale flew out the window when I heard her name, but I tried to justify it.Maybe I needed a little confirmation from her. Or maybe I wanted to dissuade her from going altogether.
Natalie
I gave my thick head of hair a shake and smoothed out the wrinkles in my casual floral-print dress that came down to my knees. It was only one of the few dresses I owned. I’d almost declined to go out tonight because I was tired. I also needed to study for finals this weekend. However, Lizzie convinced me to go and was going to meet me there.
Grabbing my backpack, I opened the door and froze. Axel was leaning against the wall in front of me. He took his time observing me as he moved closer. “You’re dressed up tonight.” His words held a strange undertone. “You going somewhere?”
I licked my lips, finding my words. “Out to dinner with friends.”
“Friends, huh?” He glanced to the side before returning his gaze to me. “Who?”
“It’s really none of your business, now is it?”
“You think so?” he asked casually before he was in my space and gripped my hips.
“Let me go.”
“Not yet. You and I are going to have a little talk.”
He stepped forward with his hands clenched around my waist, pushing us back into the dressing room. “What do you think you’re doing?” I panicked, glancing behind me, wondering if anyone was still around, but saw no one. I was usually the last person to leave.
“Finding a spot to talk,” he said and locked the door behind him.
I slipped out of his grasp and crossed my arms over my chest. “Axel, this isn’t funny.”
“I’m not playing around.” Ignoring me, he lifted me up and carried me over to a dressing area with a vanity. My butt hit the marble of the countertop while he took a step closer, standing between my legs.
“Now. Tell me who you’re going to dinner with,” he said with condescending patience, as if he were a parent who was speaking to a four-year-old.
How did he know where I was? Why was he asking me this? It dawned on me that he must’ve heard from someone. My eyes narrowed. “Why were you waiting outside the door? You already know who, don’t you?”
“I heard your name mentioned.” He ducked his chin.
“This is ridiculous. I’m going with a large group of friends, including my roommate Lizzie.”
“I told you how I felt about you hanging around my teammates.”
“And I told you it’s none of your business what I do.”
