Page 35 of Waiting For Fate

Right to the point, shit, okay.

“Nothing is going on between me and Sawyer.” I cross my arms defensively, unsettled by the look on his face. He takes a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t believe me?”

“I want to. But I mean, come on Leah. That wasn’t nothing.” I suppose he’s not wrong there. That was definitely not nothing, but it’s also not what he’s more than likely thinking it is.

“Clearly he’s lost his mind,” I scoff, but Jackson just stares at me like he’s searching for something.

“So, it’s just a coincidence that the first time we ever tried to go out, he told me not to bother getting too friendly with someone that didn’t belong to me? Which, by the way, seems pretty aggressive.”

“He did what?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“I got the message loud and clear, and I backed off. That’s why I never asked you out again after that night. But then he seemed to disappear, and I thought maybe it was just some weird joke or something, so I asked you out again… And now? He’s threatening me in the middle of a hockey game because I’m here with you.”

Sawyer is the reason Jackson never asked me out again after that night?

I hear him talking, but all I can focus on is the burning desire I have to choke the shit out of Sawyer.

“Jackson, I swear to you I haven’t spoken to Sawyer since I graduated high school. Outside of greetings in front of friends and at weddings, he hasn’t been part of my life in years.” He adjusts his glasses and slides his hands into his coat pockets.

“Well…it’s clear you’ve been part of his. Or at the very least he’s wanted you to be.”

“But I haven’t been!” I croak, getting more upset and confused by the second.

“I believe you, Leah. But I do think someone needs to tell him that you’re not his.” I take a deep breath and try to calm myself down.

“I’ll talk to him and just tell him to mind his own business. I am so sorry about tonight, Jackson.” He shakes his head and smiles at me.

“Did you have a good night?” he asks, placing his hands on the back of both of my arms.

“I did. It was a lot of fun.” I smile up at him as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, leaning in until his lips are brushing mine as he speaks.

“Good. I did too.” Then he kisses me again and it’s a feeling I could really get used to. Even though Sawyer’s face is all I can see when I close my eyes.

I’m definitely going to have to talk to him soon. I can’t keep seeing his face when I’m making out with another guy. That just feels…dirty.

CHAPTER 14

SAWYER

There are plenty of moments in my life when I regret the decisions I make. The mohawk I tried to get away with my freshman year of high school, not telling Leah how I felt about her, then telling Leah—even if it was vaguely—how I felt about her during Thanksgiving, are all things I regret.

However, telling Jackson the woman stealer to keep his hands off my girl, is not one of them. I’ve been waiting for Leah to come to one of my games since I started playing this season, and when I saw her here tonight—I had never felt so excited.

Seeing her in the stands with a sweater on, that was a perfect match for the color of my jersey, with her curls framing her gorgeous face when she smiled and jeans that hugged her in all the right places. She was in her most natural state—which has always been my favorite look on her—and she was absolutely breathtaking. I was already planning out what I was going to say when I found her after the game—then that god forsaken kiss cam found her first and I had a front row seat to the harsh reality that she still isn’t mine.

I could have jumped into the stands and ripped his arms off after he pulled her in for that kiss. My heart twisted and my mind spiraled and I remembered I have only myself to blame for the position we’re in.

But I am done waiting around for the right moment to tell her how I feel. This shit is getting old and I’m tired of playing the waiting game. So tonight, instead of looking for Taylor and Shane like I do after every game, I head straight out the back doors to my truck.

I’m going to get my girl, and there’s nothing that’s going to stop me this time.

Except maybe her not being home.

When I pull up to the curb, I notice her car isn’t in the driveway, the porch light is on but none of the other lights in the house are. I hop out of the truck and run up the steps and knock on the door.

Nothing.

I knock again, going as far as peeking through the window behind the rocking chairs to see if I can catch any movement.

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