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After morning skate, we usually came home for a few hours to relax before our second game of the week. Today, I didn’t feel very relaxed. I was all coiled up with anticipation of battling with my roommate about our bet, which I’d won.
Honestly, I wasn’t surprised she’d dipped—she hated losing—but after tossing my backpack on the couch, I noticed a distinct lack of bird noises as well.
“Where’s Henry?” I looked at Cole, who shrugged.
Mase had already disappeared downstairs, and Reece was shoulders deep in the fridge. Usually, Henry waited for us in the living room, probably because Reece gave her treats every time we came home.
“Here you go, baby girl,” he crooned, right on cue with a handful of strawberries.
Henry loved strawberries, and Reece kept some on hand for her. When he turned away from the fridge though, our house duck was nowhere to be seen. Reece made a clicking noise with his tongue, and Cole rolled his eyes.
“She’s not a squirrel. Eva probably brought her along.”
It hadn’t occurred to me Eva wouldn’t be home when we got here. Her presence might have been the reason I’d rushed the guys out of the locker room. Last night, she’d left with the rich-looking guy as soon as the game ended.
And she hadn’t come home. At least, not right away. She’d texted me to admit defeat, and to tell me not to worry, she was in good hands. I admit I reacted poorly to the idea she’d voluntarily gone out with her date. Instead of rehashing the game like we usually did, I’d holed up in my room to finish the response paper I’d abandoned on Thursday to chase her to the Kappa party.
Eva was exactly the type to enact revenge by disappearing. I’d pissed her off by spending the night at Jaden and Killsy’s apartment, and now she was showing me what it felt like to be on the other end. I appeased my temper by reminding myself she wouldn’t react if she didn’t care. At some point, we’d need to air out all our issues because this shit wasn’t healthy.
After a second, Cole’s words registered in my mind, and I caught his arm as he passed me heading for the stairs. “Brought her along where?”
Cole sent me a look that clearly said I was stupid. “The football game? TU plays at noon today, and she’s a cheerleader. Where do you think she goes most Saturdays?”
I checked my watch and cursed. The game had already started, so I wouldn’t be talking to her until tonight after my game at the earliest.
Reece grunted and spoke with a mouth full of strawberries. “You could go too. It’s not like she isn’t used to you following her around like a lovesick puppy.”
Cole pointed at him. “That’s a great idea, actually. She’s come to our games a couple of times now. We should go support her. She’d love it.”
I was almost sure she wouldn’t love it. She’d been a part of the football crew for years, and since this semester started, she’d been mostly hanging with us at the house during her down time. I didn’t have a problem with football players, despite what I’d said to Eva the night she moved in, but she seemed to be setting a very firm boundary between our group and theirs.
The memory of Eva patiently explaining stunts to us in the living room gave me another idea. “I think she’d love it more if we went to one of her cheer competitions.”
Both guys turned to stare at me.
Cole spoke up first. “I love this idea for us. We should surprise her. I don’t think any of her other friends come to those competitions.”
Reece pushed up the sleeves of his shirt and turned on the water in the sink. “An auditorium of cheerleaders who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting me? I’m in.”
He grabbed the dish soap and started washing the pile we’d left on the counter after breakfast. We took turns doing the dishes when Eva wasn’t here because we weren’t total dicks. She was busy all the time with cheering for the TU teams, working on her own competition skills, and her classes. I was surprised she was able to work in the dates her dad was pushing on her.
A little stab of guilt pricked me as I realized I wasn’t much better about demanding her time. Something else we should probably discuss.
Cole grabbed a banana and started up the stairs. “Since we’re not going to the football game and my girl Henry isn’t here, I’m taking a nap. Wake me up when it’s time to head back.”
Reece snorted. “Wake yourself up.”
I shook my head and grabbed my wallet and keys from my backpack. The football team was doing well this season, and I had some friends on the team. It wouldn’t be a hardship to watch them play while Eva cheered. Normally, I’d be heading for a nap too, but the guilt hadn’t dissipated. She’d come to my game last night. I could go to hers today.
Reece gave me the side eye when I opened the door, but he didn’t say anything. I still heard him loud and clear.Chasing after her like a lovesick puppy.He wouldn’t understand—his idea of a serious relationship was hooking up with the same girl twice.
I patently refused to analyze my actions as I drove to the stadium. Cole wanted to nap—I wanted to watch some live football. And see my hot as sin roommate in a cheerleading uniform.
Our football games regularly sold out, but I knew a lot of the stadium staff because they often worked the ice arena too. Parking was a bitch like usual, but my friend, Dougie, was working the west gate.
“Hey man,” I bumped his fist. “Can I get a pass?”
“Sure thing. You played like a beast last night.” He unlocked the door and pulled it aside enough for me to slip through.
