Page 84 of Hate To Love You

The line for the bathroom was surprisingly short, but most people are still watching the game, so I guess it makes sense.

Unfortunately, the concession stands are all outdoors, so I have to wait in the cold for our food and drinks. I only ordered some popcorn for myself, Lainey’s cheese fries, and Ellie’s slushie, so it doesn’t take too long to before everything’s in my hands and I’m walking back to my seat.

My phone buzzes in my coat pocket but I can’t reach for it with the food in my hands. Setting everything down on one of the empty concession booths, I pull my phone out and see my mom’s name on the screen. I decide to call her back in the morning, hanging up and shoving my phone back in my pocket.

“Hi Gwen,” the familiar throaty male voice sends a feeling of dread down my spine. “Enjoying the game?”

Reluctantly, I look up slowly to see Ashton Davis standing in front of me with his hands in his pockets. His blonde hair is falls in his eyes, and his soft brown eyes look harder, more focused.

My fists clench at my sides and my jaw tenses. I feel my nerves beginning to take over as the last time I saw him replays in my head over and over again. He threatened me.

I don’t really know him, and I don’t know what he’s capable of, but I did find out he’s on the hockey team. I don’t think he’d be stupid enough to risk getting caught doing anything to harm me.

All Ashton wants is to get back at Ryker for embarrassing him at the Halloween party. I’m not sure why he’s decided that targeting me would be his best bet, but here we are.

“I am, thanks for asking,” I say sardonically. Ashton quirks an eyebrow and smirks.

“Good, I’m glad,” his rough voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard. It makes me uneasy, and I don’t like it. I hate that I have no control over this situation. And I hate that Ashton keeps showing up. “You look good.”

Ew. “Thanks,” I retort, grabbing the food and beginning to walk away. Ashton, the stupid prick, steps in front of me, blocking me from continuing to my seat.

Wonderful. Maybe he is stupid.

“Get out of my way, Ashton,” I order. Ashton just laughs it off and shakes his head.

“No need to be so hostile, just having some friendly conversation,” Ashton sneers. I scoff.

“Nothing about you is friendly. Now move,” I demand again, hoping my voice doesn’t sound as shaky as it feels.

Ashton reaches out to grab my arm, and Ellie’s slushie almost falls to the ground before I catch it. I shoot a glare at him.

He can’t do anything here, Gwen. We’re in public. There are people all around us. He can’t hurt you.

I keep repeating this to myself as his face falls into a deep scowl, and even though I’m wearing a coat, I can feel goosebumps rise on my skin.

“I’m sure you told your boyfriend about our chat the other day,” he starts, “It wasn’t smart of you to come down here alone,” Ashton’s voice lowers into a threatening tone. My body shivers involuntarily and I want to run.

I look back to the stands where my friends’ eyes are locked to the guys, and then I look to the field to see if maybe by some miracle Ryker sees me. Not that he can do much since he’s in the middle of a game.

Ashton’s right. It was stupid of me to think I could come down here alone knowing he was out there with his threats. I guess I just assumed they were empty threats and that he wouldn’t act on them.

He must have been really embarrassed about getting knocked on his ass, because he’s taking this revenge thing a bit too far.

I silently give myself a pat on the back for refusing to sleep with him that night because who knows where I’d be now. Ashton is clearly a hot head with impulse control issues, and I can’t imagine how he would have acted if we’d slept together.

“I can handle myself,” I say with fake confidence. I can handle myself in most situations. But I’ve never been in this situation. I’ve gone my whole college career without getting into any trouble, and as soon as I meet Ryker Steele, my world’s turned into something I don’t recognize.

Not all of its bad, but this part? This is bad.

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket again. It’s probably Lainey asking where I am with her food, but I can’t reach it. I have to get out of here.

Moving my gaze from the field to Ashton’s menacing brown eyes, I glare at him so hard I’m surprised lasers don’t come out of my eyes.

“Touch me again, and you’ll regret it,” I threaten, taking some of the control back.

Ashton is twice my size, and I could never actually harm him myself, but I can’t let him believe he has all the power. His eyebrow cocks.

“We’ll see about that,” his grip on my arm loosens and he takes a small step back, but not far enough.

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