Page 35 of Catching My Dreams

“Shit, I didn’t mean that.” He reached for her, but she slapped his hand away.

“Yes, you did.” Her words were so quiet she wondered if he’d even heard them.

“I didn’t. I’m sorry, Ella. I don’t know why I—”

“I need to go to practice.” That numbness she’d felt after the first time they’d slept together was making a reappearance, and Ella was just glad that it kept any tears from forming in her eyes.

“Please wait. I swear I didn’t m—”

“Save it, Warner. I’m done with this conversation, and I’m done with you.” She couldn’t keep making the same mistake over and over again with him. She knew what Noah thought of her, and she needed to remember that the next time he showed her anything but cruelty. “Last night was a mistake, and it’s one I won’t be repeating.”

She didn’t stick around to hear any more excuses, but much as Ella wished she could have left her hurt feelings behind as well, her poor focus during practice was evidence that she’d taken them with her.

“I’m sorry,” Ella said after they’d run through their last cheer and their coach and most of the team had left.

She was a flyer, and she’d worked hard over the years to be as close to perfect as possible, but she’d lost her balance several times, and Ben—the only guy on the cheerleading team and her backspot—had needed to catch her. Being on top of the pyramid was usually a thrill, but that day, it had felt more like an insurmountable challenge.

“It’s okay,” Ben replied with his usual broad grin and a wave of his hand. “We all have bad days.”

“What’s got you so distracted?” Madison asked, butting in where she most certainly wasn’t wanted. The question would have been innocent enough if not for the smirk it was paired with. “Hope you get your shit together before the next game.”

“Thanks for your concern, Madison, but I’ll be fine.”

“I hope so because we don’t need you dragging the whole team down.”

“She said she’ll be fine,” Ben cut in with a roll of his eyes. “Stop trying to stir up drama.”

“I’m just being honest,” Madison argued, looking offended that someone had dared to call her out. “If Ella performs like that at a game, it will be embarrassing for all of us.”

Ella wished she could make a comment about Madison’s lack of talent, but unfortunately, Noah’s ex was really good. She was also a flyer, and that had translated into her always treating Ella like the competition rather than a teammate.

“Can it, Madison,” Jasmine said, her tone dismissive. She and Becca had immediately come to stand behind Ella as soon as they’d sensed trouble. “Ella is a great cheerleader, and you know it.”

Madison crossed her arms. “Is that why she couldn’t get the Scorpion pose down? Because she’s so great?”

“Excuse me for having one bad day,” Ella gritted out. But much as she was angry at Madison, the girl did have a point about her poor performance. “Look, I know I messed up today, and I’m sorry. I’ll try harder at the next practice.”

Madison nodded, but the blonde couldn’t just leave it at that. “Maybe you should spend less time mooning over Noah and more time practicing.”

Ella briefly considered if the consequences of strangling someone were worth it. “And maybe you should spend less time lying to your ex and more time keeping your nose out of my business.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Madison replied, but the sudden shiftiness of her eyes told another tale. As did her rather hasty exit from the dance room where their practices were held.

“What was that about?” Becca asked.

Ella let out a deep sigh. “You don’t want to know.”

After the day she’d had, she needed an appointment with her physiotherapist, a handful of painkillers, and a long bubble bath with a Jane Austen novel. Instead, she’d be heading to the library to finish an assignment. But at least Jasmine and Becca were planning to join her, and Riley had promised to stop by their table when she finished her shift.

It might have felt like someone had punched a hole through her chest and as though she were seconds away from breaking down and crying, but she couldn’t let Noah make her fall apart. She still had her friends. She still had her gran and Archie. She had a lot to be happy about and grateful for. She just needed to remember that.

But that was easier said than done, and when Ella got home that night, she cried herself to sleep.

11

“Okay, what has your panties in a twist?” Chris asked Noah at weight training.

“Not what,” Noah replied, gritting his teeth as he repeated another bench press. “Who.”

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