My eyes are still narrowed into tiny slits when I become aware of a body standing next to me. I turn, smiling wide when Milly, CJ’s mum, reveals herself from under her umbrella.
“Hey.”
“Hello, sweets, hope you don’t mind me joining you. CJ mentioned you’d all be here. As much as I love and support my son, coming here on my own is kind of boring. It wasn’t like I had someone to sit with me and explain what was happening to keep me entertained. The big matches I always attend. Just don’t tell CJ I bring my kindle.”
I laugh, knowing the stick she’d get if he ever found out. “Your secret’s safe with us. But you’re gonna be disappointed with us, because we have no idea either. The last time we came to watch, I spent the majority of the game with my eyes tightly closed,” I tell her. We both laugh.
“Hey, Milly, I didn’t know you were coming,” Willow says, looking around me. I forgot she met her when Milly had dinner with Cole’s parent’s.
“Hey.” She smiles, but it falls when she looks behind Willow. “Why are they not wearing a coat in this weather? Do they not understand they could get pneumonia?”
Willow and I start laughing. “Milly, if you think that’s bad, the last time we came here they were wearing shorts and skirts with skimpy tops.”
She shakes her head and then notices Becca standing next to Willow. “You must be Becca?”
Becca looks taken aback, never having met CJ’s mum before. “Um, yes. Can you read minds?” she blurts out, causing us to giggle.
Milly’s eyes soften. “Thankfully, no. I met up with Rosie earlier this week for our first session. She spoke about you a lot, so I kind of had you pictured in my head.” She pauses, looking around for the first time. “Speaking of, where is she? She said she was attending today.”
We all lose our easy banter as I address her. “Did you watch the news today?”
Pain and worry fill her eyes. “I did. It’s horrifying to see what the world is coming to. Those poor parents.”
I nod, my own sympathy for their parents rising. “I know. It’s a terrible tragedy. The girl who was reported missing today, Marie, was friends with Rosie. She took the news pretty hard. Marie has a twin sister who Rosie spoke with before we came out. After hearing what she had to say, she just wanted to stay in. She’s taken the news pretty bad.”
“That poor child. She really is going through too much.” She seems lost in thought before pulling keys out of her pocket, turning towards me. “Can you tell CJ I was here but had to leave? I’m going to go check in on Rosie, see if there’s anything I can do.”
“Okay.” I reach over, pulling her in for a hug. She’s kind-hearted, attentive, and devoted to everyone, not just the girls who walk into her life seeking comfort from the traumatic ordeals they’ve been through.
She kisses my cheek before pulling back. “See you soon, darling.”
I watch her go before turning back to the girls, who look in awe of the woman who has just left.
“She’s really amazing,” Willow says, still staring in the direction Milly just went.
“She is. Rosie adores and trusts her. She doesn’t make her feel like a victim or like she’s being pushed into talking. I really like her; she’s good for Rosie,” Becca adds.
“I believe if anyone can help Rosie, it’s Milly.”
They nod, agreeing, before turning their heads in the direction the loud howls are coming from. I grin, my own head turning towards the changing rooms, where both teams come piling out from different exits.
My eyes scan for CJ, finding his hulking body almost immediately. The second my eyes land on him, I sag, cocking my hip as I take him in.
He’s beautiful, inside and out. But in that kit, he’s a god. A hulking, gorgeous, seriously hot god.
His tanned skin looks darker against his red T-shirt and shorts, his thighs looking intimidatingly strong with their muscles bulging with each step he takes as he walks towards us.
His grin spreads when he notices me checking him out. I roll my eyes. However, I’m not ashamed to be caught ogling him.
My man is sexy as hell.
I take a step forward, ready to launch myself into his arms, but before my foot reaches the ground, some blonde bounces to a stop in front of him, blocking off our connection.
I growl, wanting to rip her hair out. I’d never act upon it though. Nope. Just picture it in my head over and over before I go to sleep tonight.
Willow leans over, whispering in my ear, “Did you just growl?”
My eyes narrow into slits, never leaving the back of the girl who is now on my shit list—and I don’t even know her.
“Why is he not excusing himself and walking away?” I ask no one, hurt when his laughter booms across the field.
“He’s just being polite,” Cole adds, making me jump.
I put my cup to my chest, glancing over at him. “Jesus, a little warning. You scared the shit out of me.”
He chuckles, his eyes crinkled with amusement. “I’ve been here for a good few minutes, Allie.”
“Well, at least you’re a good boyfriend.”
I know I’m being irrational, but she’s touching him, her hand squeezing his bicep, and he doesn’t seem to care. He hasn’t even looked in my direction once.
So much for giving him a good luck kiss. The whistle blows, indicating the game is about to start.
My pride is hurt, but so are my feelings. Since we’ve been together, I’ve never felt a shred of jealously. He’s teased girls, mostly friends, but it’s never done flirtatiously. Only in good fun. And most of the time, I’ve been there to witness it.
I listen to Cole finish kissing Willow before whispering something in her ear that makes her giggle. It makes me envious.
Since finding out another girl was found missing, I’ve craved a hug from him, to feel safe and loved.
As Cole rushes out onto the field, meeting his coach in their huddle, my eyes turn back to CJ, watching in horror as the girl wraps her arms around his neck.
A girl who is wearing his damn name and number.
The hug doesn’t last long, but it’s long enough for our eyes to meet over her shoulder. His face scrunches up with confusion as he watches me. Even when he pulls back slowly from her embrace, he doesn’t look away.
I shake my head, hoping he can see the hurt his actions have caused. I don’t know this girl. She could be an ex or someone he slept with before me. If the roles were reversed, I know he wouldn’t be happy.
Tears sting the back of my eyes, but I don’t let him see them, instead turning back to my friend, ignoring the howls coming from his teammates, gearing up to start.
“I’m sorry, but I need to go. I’m not feeling very well.”
“Are you sure?” Willow asks, pity filling her eyes.
I look away. “Yeah, I’m going to call my dad, see what he’s up to.”
“Want me to come with you?”
“No, I’ll be fine. Enjoy the game, you two.” I’m about to pick up my bag from the little huddle we made under a bench behind us, when I remember Becca’s crush. “Hey, Becca, where’s the guy you were telling us about?”
She blushes, looking away from the field. “Um, he’s number twenty-two.”
I glance around the field until I spot his number, my eyes widening when I see the size of him.
Shit, he makes CJ and Cole look like midgets.
I whistle through my teeth. “Holy shit! He’s fine.”
“He looks like he could crush buildings with his pinky finger,” Willow states, her eyes round.
Becca giggles, ducking her face into her scarf. I grin, looking back at my best friend in the whole world.
“I’ll see you at home. After I’ve called Dad, I’m gonna finish my homework.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in a bit. Do you want me to tell CJ anything?” Her voice is hesitant, quiet.
Pain fills my chest as I look back to the field, wincing when I see one of the opposing players rush him and ta
ke him to the ground with a loud thud. The girl from earlier starts shouting abuse, defending CJ, like she has the right, and that hurt grows a little more.
“No. He probably won’t even notice I’ve gone,” I whisper, before picking my bag up and leaving, ignoring her calls to wait.
CHAPTER TWELVE
By the time I make it back to our block of flats, I’m soaked, sweating, and wishing Willow and I wasn’t still sharing a car. When we have our own, it will save us a lot of hassle when we need to be in two different places.
I’m no longer hurt by CJ’s actions; I’m angry. I should have walked over and said something. I’ve seen how all the girls react around him. They have no boundaries, and CJ, ever the gentlemen, would never embarrass them by calling them out. It’s another thing I love about him, but sometimes, I wish he could let them down gently or just remove himself from the situation completely.
When we’re together and a girl goes too far, he’ll put his arm around me and kiss me, showing her he isn’t interested. Most get the picture, others… not so much.
It’s all that dark tanned skin and muscles. You can’t say no. It would be like me saying no to sweets, which would happen… never.
My thighs burn as I take the steps up to our building, my hand aching from the tight grip I’ve had on my umbrella. I couldn’t let the wind win by taking away my only shelter from the rain. Not that it’s done much good. My leggings are soaked through.
I don’t even want to look at the state of my boots. My black, biker ankle boots. I’d managed to save them from the mud puddles over at the field, but there was no saving them on the way home. I thought I’d be clever by taking a shortcut, but it turned out to be flooded, thanks to a blocked drain. I inwardly gag at the thought of what I walked through to get home. The smell was bad enough.
So lost in my thoughts, I don’t see anyone coming down the stairs until my umbrella smacks them in the face, knocking me back a step. “I’m so sorry,” I stress, moving the umbrella to reveal my victim. “Alex!” I call, surprised.
He rubs his head, wincing. “Hey. I came by to see if you wanted to hang out. They said you weren’t in.”
I pause for a moment, certain I told him we were watching the boys play today, and instantly feel bad if I didn’t. He’s not really social, and I do try to get him out more. But Alex likes to keep to himself, I’ve noticed.
“I’m so sorry. We were watching the lads play rugby. It’s the charity game today. I thought I told you about it.”
He removes his glasses, wiping them on the sleeve of his jacket before putting them back on. “I must have forgotten. My nan hasn’t been well.”
I gasp, feeling like a terrible friend. “Alex, why didn’t you say something? I could have come around to help you out. Is she okay?”
I’ve yet to meet his nan, but he has offered for me to go meet her a few times. It’s just always been when I’m busy, so it’s been hard to find a time that suits both of us. But still, if she’s sick, I would have dropped everything to help him. It’s what friends do.
He waves me off. “It’s only the flu. I’ve got it handled. She’s doing loads better now, just a sore throat.”
“I’m glad. You should have said something though. I would have made her some soup.”
His eyes twinkle. “I’ve eaten your soup. It tastes like water.”
I narrow my eyes because I’m a damn good cook. I had to be; my mother wasn’t really the kind of person to lay food on the table. If you wanted to be fed, you fed yourself. She ate out at fancy restaurants, but I got sick of the food pretty quickly.
“I’m a good cook,” I defend, placing one hand on my hip.
He laughs. “Yeah, but everyone has their kryptonite. Yours is soup.”
I giggle, shaking my head. “At least I know what to make CJ later.”
He frowns, taking a step forward and placing his hand on my shoulder. “Hey, are you okay? What’s happened? Did he eat your sweets again?”
I scoff. “I wish. It’s nothing. I’m probably just being stupid.”
“Tell me,” he urges, removing his hand to tuck it in his pocket.
“Some girl was flirting with him at the field and it looked like he was enjoying it. He didn’t even excuse himself to come see me before the game started. It hurt a lot more than I thought it would.”
Anger flashes in his eyes. “Want me to have a word with him?”
I’d laugh, but I don’t want to hurt his feelings. He wouldn’t stand a chance against CJ and we both know it, but the fact he’s willing to… it’s admirable and kind of cute.
“It’s fine. I’m being dramatic.”
“Just be careful. He has a reputation around here, you know. I heard stories about him before you showed up. Most girls would jump at the chance to be with him. Do you think he can keep turning them down? He’s a male after all.”
I glance at him, hurt, my heart full of sorrow and anguish at his harsh words.
Why would he say that?
“I’m going to go. I don’t feel all that well,” I snap, my voice full of hurt.
His face softens, but guilt lingers in his eyes. “Sorry! That came out wrong, Allie,” he says, grabbing my arm to stop me when I walk past him.
I spin around, careful not to hit him with my umbrella again. “It’s fine. I know how you feel about CJ; I do. But he’s not like that, not with me. I’m not some stupid girl who is willing to put up with shit just to be with someone. If I truly thought he would cheat on me, or had cheated on me, I’d be gone in a flash. I might be hurt he flirted back with some girl, but I know, in my heart, that is all it will ever be. But I’m still allowed to have a snit about it. I’m still a girl after all.”
It wasn’t until hearing him accuse CJ that I realised he would never do anything intentionally to hurt me. I may be hurt and angry right now, but that much I do know.
He rubs a hand over his head, looking remorseful. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” He pauses, looking out into the carpark before back to me. “Do you want to grab something to eat?”
I wasn’t lying earlier when I said I feel sick. I’ve had an upset stomach since the field, and it’s only gotten worse since leaving. It’s the anxiety and stress over the situation, knowing I probably reacted worse than I should have.
“It’s fine. Just, please, give him a chance. If he does step out of line, you can say whatever you want about him. I promise.” I return the relieved smile he gives me. “As for food, I couldn’t eat even if I wanted to. I’m really not feeling all that great. I’m gonna go lie down. Maybe tomorrow?”
His shoulders slump, his entire expression crumbling. “Yeah, sounds good.”
I feel bad for letting him down. I hate that look on his face, the one that makes me feel like I just killed his puppy.
Needing him to know I’m not mad, I move forward, pulling him into my arms and squeezing him to death. “You’re one of my best friends. You know that, right?” I pull back when I feel him nod against my shoulder. Looking into his eyes, I beam at him. “I’m lucky to have a friend like you.”
He smiles at that. “Good, so you won’t kill me when I tell you that the lift is out again?”
I glance at the building behind me, narrowing my eyes with hate. “I really hate this building.”
He chuckles. “I’ll let you get started on your mission. Message me tomorrow when you’re free.”
I nod, waving goodbye before facing my enemy. With one deep breath, I move forward, taking it one step at a time. By the time I open the door to the stair access, I can already feel sweat running down my spine. And I haven’t even walked the first flight yet.
“Please, God, if you can hear me, don’t let me have a heart attack on these stairs.”
With each flight, the worse I feel—and no doubt, look. I’m wheezing and clinging to the banister like my life depends on it.
With the rate I’m going, the others will be back from the game before I reach our floor.
With one more flight to go, I pull my shit together, wiping away the sweat from my forehead and hair that clings to my skin.
When I reach our floor, I’m too exhausted to even cheer for another success in reaching the top. I’d probably collapse if I even showed enthusiasm.
When I burst into the flat, everyone in the kitchen turns to me.
“Oh my,” Milly says, her hand covering her mouth.
I can picture what I look like: a hairy cat that’s soaking wet. Attractive, I know.
I wheeze, putting my hand up to stop her from coming to help me. “I’m fine.”
Rosie giggles, but bless her heart, she does try to cover it. Jordan, however, laughs outright, slapping her thigh.
“She hates exercise,” Rosie informs Milly.
Milly still looks unsure, her feet twitching to come to me. I’d laugh, but unfortunately, I’ve seen pictures of me in this state. It’s not a good look at all.
“But she’s so fit and skinny.”
Jordan scoffs, handing me a bottle of water. “Don’t remind us. If she wasn’t so sweet, I’d hate her.”
Getting my breath back, I glare at my friend. “No, you wouldn’t.”
She laughs, shaking her head at me. “Why aren’t you at the game.”
I point at Milly whilst taking long gulp of water.
“Me?” she asks, sounding confused.
I nod, twisting the lid back on. “Your son. I was mad about him ignoring me and flirting with another girl. Now, I’m too pissed at the maintenance guy. If I wrote fiction novels, I’d totally kill him off in my book.”
The girls laugh, and I’m about to defend myself and explain my reasons, but my ringtone starts playing.
I grab my phone out of my coat pocket. The first mistake I make is not checking to see who it is. The second, is not putting the phone down when I realise who it is.
“Hello?”
“Alison, darling, it’s your mother.” I wince as soon as I hear her voice. Her words sound kind, almost loving, but it’s the bite in her tone that tells me someone is on the other end with her, listening in, and she doesn’t like it.
Probably the new husband who she doesn’t want to let see her true colours until he says, ‘I do’.
Game Over (Whithall University Book 2) Page 13