Page 40 of Snap

"So that's it, is it?" he asked. "Just like that."

“What else is there to say?" I asked. "You. Lied. To. Me."

I clenched my fist tighter with each word.

We lied to each other. Where could we possibly go from that? My heart ached so hard, I wanted to curl up in a ball in the corner and stay there forever. I never wanted to see another man as long as I lived, especially a Rapid.

More than ever, I wanted them to lose the Down Under Bowl. Then Dad would have to sell them and I wouldn't have to think about them ever again.

"I—" Ollie started.

Before he could say any more, my father appeared through the crowds.

"I arranged a car for you," he said. "Will you both be going?" I'll give him this, the man didn't miss much.

Ollie looked like he wanted to say yes.

"No," I said firmly before Ollie could speak. "It will just be me."

Alone.

I was better off that way anyway. There was a good reason why I didn't have many friends. Why I kept everyone at arm’s length. This was what I got for not doing that. I got my heart stomped on and broken into a thousand little pieces.

For all I knew, he really had known who I was. He might have been using me for my father's money. He wouldn't be the first.

He would be the last.

"Will you be okay?" Ollie asked gently.

I gave him a scathing look for asking. After everything, he was still pretending he gave a shit? I knew now what he should do after football. He should definitely become an actor. He was very good at it.

Asshole.

He put his hands up to either side and stood. "I'm sorry for everything. I just?—"

"You should go and mingle," my father told him. "I'll see Rubie to the door."

"Yes, sir," Ollie said. He looked like he thought Dad was just about to throw him off the team.

I almost pitied him for the conversation he'd have with my father later.

Almost.

Dad took my arm and helped me to my feet. As he led me away through the crowds, he asked, "Are you sure you're all right? I feel like I missed something important here. You and Ollie Tucker?"

"It's nothing, Dad," I said wearily. "Nothing at all."

CHAPTER 13

OLLIE

I felt nothing but numb. I made my way to the table the other guys were sitting around and slipped into an empty chair. I sat there probably looking like I'd been hit across the face with a wet fish.

"Ollie, dude," Chase said. "You good? You look like you saw a ghost."

I blinked a couple of times. "Yeah, I'm kinda… No, I just…."

"That's clear," Hawk said dryly. "You want to try that again?"

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