works for the Council as a lawyer, and as one of North's key advisors, and has been giving Sage a hard time about being friends with me.
Sage avoids her at all costs.
I'm also going to do what I can to stay away from her psycho-ass. Can you imagine being so involved with your boss that you'd do what you can to interfere with his Bond's friendships?
No thanks.
We're early enough that parking is easy and Sage chats to everyone we see like they're old friends of hers. Stilted, because they all look at her with pity and thinly veiled mistrust, but they all acknowledge her, so it's half a step up from the other students at college.
Sage sighs and points over to a couple. "There's my parents. They're sitting in my spot, waiting for us."
Oh shit.
This feels like a whole lot of pressure right now that I didn't sign up for, but Sage chews on her lip and I'm back in defensive bestie mode because I'm freaking pissed that even her parents aren't a safe space for her anymore. Everyone has turned their backs on her, thanks to something she has no control over.
Then, as if my shitty attitude was a calling sign to him, Riley arrives with Giovanna on his arm and they weave through the small crowd that’s started to form. He's staring at his Bonded like she's set his whole world alight with her beauty and there's this sickening air of smugness around them. As though being together isn't enough, they also have to rub it in everyone's faces.
The moment Riley sees Sage's parents he turns the charm on and schmoozes them like a total creep. They lap it up too, just falling over themselves to speak to him, like he hasn't shoved a knife through their daughter’s heart.
Disgusting, the lot of them.
Sage hesitates for a second before she tugs at my arm to grab my attention away from Riley’s grinning face. “Can we go down to the locker rooms and see my brother? I need some air.”
Yeah, because out here in the open air of the night is freaking suffocating now that her asshole of a Bond is down there looking like an all around stand-up guy.
He’s fucking scum.
I nod and walk back down with her, watching as she talks her way through every barrier with ease, ignoring all of the shitty looks from everyone like a pro. I don’t take it as well and by the time we make it into one of the training rooms, I’m scowling at every person in there like I’m going to make myself their problem.
Sage bumps my shoulder with hers to jolt me out of my savage look as she texts her brother to come out and meet us both. He doesn’t answer her back, but we decide to wait around. Thankfully, it doesn’t take long.
Sawyer looks a lot like Sage, his ash-brown hair is cropped short and a smudge of dirt is already on his face thanks to whatever they’ve been doing for warmups. He’s laughing and joking with his teammates but when Sage calls out to him, he looks over with surprise and real affection.
They’re close, and he’s clearly missed her showing up to watch him.
I honestly don’t care how much shit I catch from North and my other Bonds for being here, I’m going to do everything I can to show up to every game with Sage from now on.
Sawyer frowns a little at me as he approaches us but he pulls Sage into an easy hug. “Braving the storm? I didn’t think you’d cave to Mom.”
Sage scoffs and shrugs. “She wore me down, finally, and I’ve been craving hotdogs all week. How are you feeling?”
I zone out a little while they talk about the stats of tonight’s game, all of the sports jargon flies straight over my head because while I have a general grasp on the sport, I definitely do not understand half of what they’re saying right now.
Instead, I look around the hallway at all of the guys getting ready for the game. Most of them are already dressed and ready for the game, some of them are going through their pre-game rituals, and all of them are grinning wildly.
The quarterback smiles at me, flicking his wet hair out of his eyes, but his eyes linger on Sage for a second before he turns away. He’s definitely older than us, probably a senior, and he’s hot as hell. Sandy blond hair and clear blue