NINETEEN
Midterms are happening soon, which means on top of the busy schedule I already have, I’ve got to somehow cram exam prep into it as well. The last thing I want to do right now is study, but I know if I slack off with my academics, I’m going to regret it later.
Any spare time I have is now spent living in the library studying with Cara. Though I have to admit that those sessions haven’t proven to be particularly fruitful due to her rather tempting offers to get me to screw exam prep and pass time at Caffeinated with her.
I knew I should have picked Alex to be my study buddy instead.
Slacking off with training isn’t exactly an option either.
Semifinals are two days away, and while I’m confident Kayden can kick Lee’s ass, he’s still not in the prime shape I need him to be in for his fight against Jax.
And that’s the most important fight of all.
I’m planning another gruesome sparring session soon.
I hope Kayden’s ready for it. I know he will be. He always takes everything I dish out to him. And I need to see that attitude now more than ever.
Back at the apartment to grab all my training gear from my room before darting over to Breaking Point, I’m interrupted by unexpected rattling from the kitchen. Whatthe fuck? My eyes grow wide with alert. My first instinct is to grab the golf club but I squash the thought down, not wanting to repeat what happened two weeks ago. This time, I dart towards the my intruder with my guard up, but when I recognize who it is, I drop my fists, an annoyed expression drags my entire face down.
“Seriously, Evans? I told you the spare key is only for emergencies.”
Evans whirls his head back, pausing the rummaging he’s doing in my cabinets. He already has a few chips stuffed in his mouth. When he sees me, he crunches them and swallows. “This is an emergency.”
“One day I swear I’m gonna take your key privileges away because surely breaking into my apartment to steal Pringles is a violation of the treaty me and Brent agreed to a month ago.”
I watch him as he drops his hands from the cabinets and rests his palms against the edge of the counter behind him.
He looks distraught, his eyes squeezing shut and his chest breathing heavily. I edge closer to him with concern.
“Are you okay?”
“Nope.” He shakes his head, eyeing the keys looped across my finger. “Where are you going?”
“I’ve got a session with Kayden at Point,” I say, going to retrieve my gym bag sitting on the sofa and slinging it over my head. “What’s up?”
Evans pauses. Presses his lips together thinly.
“Tell him you can’t make it.”
“Uh . . . I don’t know if I can do that. Semifinals are this weekend.”
“Please,” he says desperately. “I’m in distress and in severe need of retail therapy.”
Guilt nips at me for bailing on Kayden at the last minute.
I’d been hoping to see him since I haven’t got a chance to catch him all day. But I’m pretty sure he’ll understand if I skip today’s session to console his best friend. Besides, the past week has been hectic and I’d be lying if a half-day out with Evans doesn’t sound appealing. I’ll just make sure to catch up with Kayden later.
“All right . . .” I say, dropping my bag on the dining table.
Evans’s face immediately lights up. “But Kayden’s not going to be happy about this.”
“Kayden’s not happy ninety-nine percent of the time anyway, so I doubt it’ll make a difference.”
“That’s fair.” I shrug. “I guess I’m down for a closet revamp.”
“Cool. You need it, anyway. You have a fifteen-year-old emo kid’s closet and that’s not okay. You’re better than that.”
He clicks his tongue and I gasp at the insult.