“What are you? Rugby police?” I asked.
His eyes darkened in that way that made my thighs clench together in both dread and anticipation. “Now you prefer rugby over football?”
“I’m a Football girl, but that’s not the point. Stop being a jerk to everyone.”
“I’m not a jerk to everyone. I’m a jerk to threatens what’s mine.”
He even posted a pic of my back view as I snuggled in his lap during a game night with the caption ‘Football girl’.
After that incident, and a few others where Aiden and his pack of wolves shut out anyone who breathes in my direction, it’s like I’m being hated all over again.
Only now, it’s for a different reason. They hate seeing me with Aiden and the rest of the football crew. The queen of haters is Silver, but she’s been keeping her claws hidden.
I don’t like the smugness she has on her face whenever she brushes past me and throws one of her ‘peasant’ taunts.
After school, I’m bummed that Aiden has practice and won’t be able to drive me home.
Since Aunt and Uncle work today, I was planning on him staying the night and forcing him to watch a crime thriller with me. I don’t know when I moved on from pleading with him to leave to where I want him to spend the nights.
Everything is a process with Aiden. It’s not easy to look past the surface, but when I do, I can clearly see the little gestures. Like the way he always puts me on top when we sleep. How he prepares breakfast when I wake up. How he runs long hot baths for me. Even his crude night and morning texts can be sweet sometimes.
He’s slowly but surely crumbling any wall I’ve been keeping around my fragile heart.
I even followed him back the other day on Instagram.
Truth is, I never had a choice about whether or not I should let him in. Aiden barged right in and carved his comfy place in my chest.
The thought of plucking him o
ut brings a taste of bitterness and horror.
On my way to the car park to meet Kim, my phone rings. I grin like an idiot when Aiden’s name flashes alongside that picture of our first kiss in Ronan’s house. He changed it for me, but I didn’t remove it.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in practice?” I ask.
“The keyword being ‘supposed’. Coach will kill me if he finds me talking on the phone.”
“Then go. I don’t want you killed.”
“It’s worth it if I get to hear your voice.”
I dig my teeth into my bottom lip to stop myself from grinning like an idiot.
“Where are you?” he asks, his voice dropping a range.
“Heading home with Kim.”
“Don’t let her stay the night. I’m coming to stake my claim after practice.”
“Didn’t you stake your claim already?” Still smiling, I walk slower than needed, kicking imaginary rocks.
“Not even close, sweetheart. I need to stake my claim some more just in case. I don’t like feeling threatened.”
“Oh, the mighty Aiden King feels threatened?”
“If you keep insisting on having the guys watch the games with us, damn straight I feel threatened.”
I chuckle and press the back of my hand against my mouth. “They’re your friends.”