is that Colton will be here, too. I’ll run into him in the hallways. I’ll have a first-class seat to the groupies he entertains. That thought is enough to make me nauseous. A humorless chuckle bubbles up in my throat. It seems ridiculous that I’d actually convinced myself I was over him. Or that I’d moved on with my life when clearly that is not the case.
“It’s fine.” Now that the brightest part of my anger has drained away, guilt rushes in to swamp me. “Sorry for being such a raving bitch and inviting Beck to the party.”
She shakes her head as a groan slips free.
It only makes me feel worse. Mia renting an apartment in the same building as Colton was an unfortunate coincidence. Me inviting Beck to the welcome home party, however, was not.
I clear my throat and add in a hopeful tone, “It’s always possible he won’t show up.”
Mia snorts before leveling a disbelieving stare in my direction. “I think we both know he’ll be there.”
She’s right, we do.
Beck has always had a not-so-secret thing for my bestie. Mia, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with the guy, which is a challenge since they grew up together, live next door to one another, and their parents are good friends, which means they end up spending holidays and vacations together.
As easy on the eyes as Beck is, I can’t blame her for keeping him at a distance. He’s a player, and Mia has experienced enough pain in her life to willingly invite more. I might have been gone for a year, but I can’t imagine that much has changed where Beck Hollingsworth is concerned.
Unlike me, Mia knows better than to try and tame a bad boy.
“We could always look for another apartment and, if we find something, try to get out of the lease,” she says, breaking into my thoughts.
I glance around the newly decorated space. I like what Mia has done with the place. Already, after only being here for two weeks, the apartment looks homey. It would be such a pain in the ass to move again. Not to mention, I really do love that balcony.
Am I really going to allow Colton Montgomery to chase me away from here?
Nope. I refuse to give him the satisfaction. Decision made, I blow out a breath and shake my head.
Mia’s shoulders loosen from around her ears as a tentative smile curves her lips. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll barely see him. You’re busy with dance, and his season is just beginning. You’ll be like two ships passing in the night.”
You know what?
She’s probably right. I’ve got nothing to worry about.
And if Colton has any brains whatsoever, he’ll avoid me like his life depends on it.
Because guess what?
It does.
Chapter Sixteen
Colton
“Montgomery, get your ass off the field!” Coach barks when I fumble yet another pass. “Kwiatkowski, take his place!”
Fuck.
I need to get my shit together before I get pulled permanently from the line-up. Instead of making eye contact with Beck, I stare at the turf and jog off the field. I already know what I’ll find in his eyes, and that’s a—what the hell is going on with you look. I can’t blame him for it either.
The last couple of practices have turned out to be a shitshow. Passes I should be catching with ease are getting dropped, missed, or slipping right through my fingers. On one of the last plays, I actually tripped over my own damn feet. If you didn’t know better, you’d think I had never seen a football, much less held one in my hands.
Ever since I stepped foot on the field when I was a kid, my game has been consistent. I don’t have high-highs or low-lows. I’m a solid player. Dependable. Coaches know this. My teammates know it. Beck knows it as well. I’m always in position, ready to catch whatever my QB throws my way.
Except today.
And yesterday.
Not to mention the day before that.
Now that I think about it, my game has been off for the last week—specifically since my run-in with Alyssa. I can’t stop thinking about her or searching for her. I’m like a stalker, hanging around the building, trying to catch sight of her.
Most people, the ones who know jack about football, think the game is all brute strength and physicality, but that’s not true. There’s a mental component. And that’s where I’m falling short. My head is no longer in the game. It’s wrapped up in my ex. Unless