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Seth wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we weaved through the crowd.
“Are you okay?” Seth asked.
“Of course.” And if my voice hadn’t pitched up, it would have been believable.
“Cadence.”
I took in a deep breath and blew it out. “I’m fine. I promise. We’re just going to the bathroom. After a soccer game. With a bunch of people around.”
“I can’t go into the girls’ bathroom with you, but I’m not leaving the exit either. If something happens, yell, and I’ll go in there.”
“The girls will murder you.”
He shrugged. “Sure, and I’ll let them after I murder whoever dared to put their hands on you. Woman or man. I don’t give a fuck. Scream and I’ll come in.”
I laughed at that thought. Seth would really get murdered if he dared to go into the woman’s bathroom.
“Thanks,” I said, giving him a big smile before slipping into the bathroom.
There was a short line, all five stalls taken. Busy was good. I tried to remain as still as possible as I waited. I knew I was safe. I knew nothing was going to happen to me. Yet, my heart still picked up speed and my nerves intensified inside of me. The longer it took, the more my hands became sweaty.
By the time I came back out, I was breathing heavily, my skin feeling too prickly. This was ridiculous. Going to a public bathroom shouldn’t scare me this much.
“It’s okay,” Seth said. “I’m here and the others are waiting.”
“Okay.”
Seth grabbed my hand and thankfully didn’t comment about how gross they were from sweat. He kept me close as he led the way back out to the parking lot to where the others were waiting by our vehicles.
“Where’s Paxon?” I asked, looking around the busy parking lot until I spotted him.
He wasn’t that far off, just across the lane by another vehicle, talking to an older man. Paxon kept hiking his bag up on his shoulder, glancing our way. The middle-aged man was slightly taller than him, with dark skin, greying brown hair, and broad shoulders. He rested his hand on Paxon’s shoulder, leaning in closer as he spoke.
“He needs saving,” I said and steered Seth to Paxon.
“Hey man, ready to go?” Seth called out, effectively interrupting the man in the middle of a sentence. “The others are ready to head over to the celebration.”
Paxon was more than relieved and jumped on the opportunity to escape.
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
Seth reached over and grabbed Paxon’s bag for him. I gave the stranger a weak smile. He only frowned back.
We left the man staring after Paxon.
I moved closer to Paxon. “Who is he?”
Paxon wrapped an arm around my shoulders, his warmth seeping into me. He smelled freshly showered, hair still damp, making it more brown than blond.
“And won’t you get sick with wet hair?”
Paxon chuckled. “He’s a college scout. And no, I won’t get sick. I’ll be fine.”
“Everything okay?” Seth asked, looking back at us.
Paxon gave him a tight smile. “Hell yeah. We just won. We’re going to state championship. Things couldn’t be better.” He squeezed me into his side and yelled out. “And now we celebrate!”
“Hell yeah we do!” Toby cheered back, grinning. He was practically hopping from foot to foot with giddiness. “This is going to be great.”
