“Sterling. Just the man we were looking for,” Rivera greeted.
I immediately ducked and turn my back to the group that halted in the middle of the path to… I don’t know what, bullshit about a party or some crap. My ears stopped listening and started buzzing.
I didn’t want him to see me. Not now.
“Shit,” I whispered under my breath and darted toward the athletic building’s glass door, only thinking that I had to get away before he noticed me. One confrontation with Sterling a day was my limit, and the last thing I wanted was for any of the guys to recognize me from the photo. If they were friends of his, chances were they had seen the article swirling around campus.
Had Micah seen it?
Josie had, so the probability that Brock had as well was high, and he would have shared it with Micah.
Cool air immediately washed over my flushed body, offering much-needed relief from the heat. I snuck a glance outside to make sure no one noticed my less-than-stealthy escape. I exhaled, relief unfolding in my chest to see no one chasing after me. I should have known better than to drop my guard for even a moment. My nose was still pressed to the glass when a dark head turned toward the door, and I panicked, flattening myself against the wall.
My heart hammered in my chest, threatening to crack a rib.Now what, smarty-pants?
I didn’t have time to properly think. The squeaking of sneakers on linoleum, the shuffling of feet, and the voices that followed from down the hallway drew my attention, presenting a new set of worries. They grew closer and spurred me into motion yet again.
My head flipped left and right, desperate for an escape. Going through the door I’d entered from was not an option, seeing as Sterling still stood with part of the football team.
Why me?I internally groaned, my mind blanking.
Scampering into the first door on my left, I let it softly click shut behind me, pretty sure no one had seen me.
I hoped.
Now all I had to do was wait until they exited the building, and I would creep my ass right back out of here. That was the plan. How could it go wrong?
My fingers were still gripping the handle when I felt it shake. I bit down on my lip hard to keep a shrill of surprise from tumbling off my lips and scrambled away from the door before it burst open. I hadn’t paid attention to where I was in the athletic building until I darted behind a row of lockers.
The second time they tried the handle, it turned, and the door squeaked open as I pressed my back against the metal compartments, taking a deep breath and holding it.
What is even happening right now? How did meeting my boyfriend after football practice turn into me sneaking around the football locker room?
“Are you sure she went in here?” a deep voice asked.
My eyes popped.Shiiiit!
Tiptoeing as quietly as possible, I inched my way down the aisle, putting distance between myself and the door. If they were looking for someone, I was so fucking screwed.
“I could have sworn I saw…” They trailed off, and I went instantly still at the sound of Sterling’s voice.
No fucking way had he followed me inside the locker room. I could only assume it was me they were looking for unless girls sneaking in here was a common occurrence.
Had I made a noise?
I hooked a right at the first corner. It was a goddamn maze of lockers in here. I didn’t even know if I would be able to find my way out, but my immediate concern was just how long I’d be stuck hiding or possibly running into another football player. Most of the guys had already hustled out, but in the distance, I heard at least one shower running, which I planned to stay clear of. I did not need any unexpected peepshows. I cringed at the thought. My reputation couldn’t handle any more hits.
“Who is this girl? Is she the one you wrote about? Because that would be classic, man.”
Their voices were a tad farther away than before, giving me a fraction of space to work with. My behavior bordered on plain stupid. Why was I avoiding Sterling to such a degree? Because of a ridiculous article? Or was it because I feared he might ask me out again? Because he reminded me of a time I wanted to erase?
Yes, to all the above.
I wanted him to just go away.
“She’s someone I shouldn’t have let disappear on me,” the bane of my existence replied.
What the fuck did that mean? Was that regret I heard in his voice?