Good enough, I guess. I shrug in response, careful not to confirm anything. It's not that Kennedy is ugly. She's a pretty girl. But when I constantly see her with Amelia, there is no comparison. Meelz would win, hands down, every time.
“Figures,” he groans. “I finally find a girl I think is cute, and you have a thing for her, too.”
My head whips toward him, and I can't help but smile. “You have a thing for Kennedy?”
“Why are you acting so surprised? So do you.”
“I'm not. I just didn’t expect that. You haven't so much as looked at another girl since Tessa.”
He nods slowly and looks over at his sister and her roommate. “I don't think I'll ever get over Tess, but she's happy. The last thing I want is to stand in the way of that.”
I watch the way he looks at Kennedy, and it feels good to see that glint in his eyes again. “You take her, man.”
“You sure?”
“Definitely.” It's not her I can't get my mind off of, anyway.
Turning my attention back to the girls, Kennedy smiles and waves at Easton. Amelia turns to see who she's waving at, and when she spots me, her eyes roll. Still, I've known her long enough to see her struggling. I might not be able to be with her, but I won't quit until she stops trying to eliminate me from her life.
Call it idiotic. Call it cruel. Call me a sadist. But I need to have her in the only way I can.
Whether she likes it or not, I'm here for the long term.
THE GAME ENDS WITH North Haven University taking the win. The crowd roars as all the cheerleaders shake their pom-poms to celebrate. As the football team runs off the field, Mason winks at Amelia. All her teammates turn to her, and Kennedy nudges her with her elbow, but I'm seeing fucking red. If he knows what's good for him, he'll stay far as fuck away from her.
I've heard stories about that guy, and none of them are good. Apparently, he has a thing for girls who are drunk or high. There are rumors that he’s helped that situation along intentionally sometimes. So help me God, if he tries that shit on Amelia, I'll rip that throwing arm right off his body and beat him with it. Try to be a quarterback with one fucking arm, prick.
Easton and I leave the stadium and head for his car. Waiting for Amelia would be pointless. He and I both know that. The cheerleaders normally leave with the team out a different entrance than the students, and by the time we get over there, she'll be long gone.
“So, after-party?” he questions.
I pull out my phone and see three missed calls from Blade. Fucking lovely. I can only imagine what the fuck he wants. More bitch-boy errands, I'm guessing.
“I'm going to pass on this one,” I tell him. “I've got some shit to do.”
He nods and unlocks his car. “Well, I'll catch you at home then.”
The light bounces off his face, and I notice his expression. It's one I haven't seen in a while, and I couldn't be more relieved to have it back. Maybe he’s not so hopeless after all.
“You're going to hook up with Kennedy, aren't you?”
He smirks, climbing into the driver's side. “I don't know what you're talking about. I'm going to a party.”
I chuckle softly. “You're just as bad of a liar as your sister is.”
“Fuck you, too,” he quips.
Easton pulls out of the parking space, and I climb onto my motorcycle. Always being on campus, I feel like I never get enough time to ride this thing. But tonight is perfect for it. It's not too cold, and traffic isn't terrible.
The engine roars to life, and I pull my helmet over my head.
Now if only I liked the destination.
PULLING UP TO THE abandoned house, Blade is already waiting for me on the porch. He looks pissed, and I don't even have my helmet off all the way before he's storming toward me. His face is an angry shade of red and his fists are clenched by his sides.
“Where the fuck were you?” he sneers.
“Football game.”