I don’t know what’s in there. All I know is nobody has a right to it but the guys.
I make my way to class, ignoring everyone all morning until Royce saunters over at lunch.
“What’s on your mind, RaeRae?” Royce leans forward to whisper in my ear. “You’re looking a bit tense.”
Captain drops down on the other side of me. “I can help with that.”
“We can help with that,” Royce adds and they both grin.
I roll my eyes.
Maddoc walks up right then, his face blank as he looks between us. He holds my gaze a moment before purposely letting his float across the room. When it pauses, mine decides to follow, finding his on Chloe as she leans over a cafeteria table with a smirk.
A ping that feels a lot like jealousy hits in my ribs, and I look away, but not before he catches me watching.
Maddoc goes to step away and Captain stands to join him. They both look to Royce, who hesitates, but of course he too stands and the three of them walk away, not one glancing back.
Not sure why it bothers me when I never wanted to be interrupted in the first place.
For the rest of the day, not one of them gets in my way. There’s no habitual stares or inappropriate comments. There isn’t a single word in actually, a fact that doesn’t go unnoticed from every other person in this place.
From them, I get stares and whispers and side glances, but I don’t acknowledge their presence – I’m good at avoiding eye contact.
By lunch the next day, I’ve figured it out.
Yesterday, was the start of their public show of release – I’ve finally been “let go” as the groupie.
It’s almost laughable really, how every person picks up on their wordless show.
But it’s whatever, I’m more of a loner type as it is. I didn’t ask for their attention, they forced it on me. I’m happy to be the sideshow.
“Rae!” Bass calls from a few tables over, his feet thrown on the one in front of it.
I tip my chin and he tips his back with a grin, so I slip from my seat and walk his way, feeling several curious eyes on me as I do.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Bishop?”
“Come to the spot tonight, just to kick it. I’m not running the bets, so I get to chill.” He grins. “Chill with me, Rae.”
I laugh lightly, tapping my knuckles on the table. “I might.”
“You might, means you won’t.”
“How do you know?”
He grins. “I speak Raven.”
I laugh and step backward toward the door. “How about a ‘we’ll see?’”
He tosses a piece of a napkin at me. “I’ll take it.”
With a shake of my head, I turn for the exit for some fresh air before the bell rings.
When I look up, my stare locks with Maddoc’s, finding his brows slanted in heavy disapproval. Yet he says nothing.
I leave the cafeteria, annoyed how a single look from the stranger behind me has me feeling fickle.
I brush it off and make my way down the short pathway to the courts where a few younger guys are shooting hoops. I doubt they’re on the team, they’re not all that, but they seem to be having fun.
I laugh when they get excited over a shot made from a few feet in front of the basket with no one around to give them a little run for their money.
The ball bounces and rolls to my feet so I pick it up and toss it back.
The cute guy with shaggy bangs, nods his head with a large smile. “Thanks.”
I shrug, grinning back and he takes that as an invitation to walk over.
I push off the fence to stand straight.
“It’s Rae, right?”
I nod.
“I’m Jeremy.” He reaches out if as he’s going to shake my hand but sees how dirty his is from the ball and pulls it back with a laugh. “Sorry.”
“You’re fine.”
“Right.” He looks behind him, nervously, then back to me and I laugh lightly.
He’s cute, clearly not full of himself, but confident enough to come over here. That’s cool.
“Hey, so now that you’re—”
“Go.”
His eyes fly over my shoulder and my muscles lock, but I don’t look.
I already fucking know who it is.
The guy lifts the ball in the air, then spins around with a tight smile, joining his friends again.
I shake my head with a sigh. “You got a lot of nerve, big man.”