Page 142 of Wicked Games

“Lion’s Head students are going?” I ask.

Matt watches Claire for a second, then turns back to me. “Yeah, well. Depends on who wins and who’s a poor sport. But I’m Caleb’s friend, so I plan on going.”

“I have to take Hanna home after,” Claire says, stepping down. “So…”

I get it. Responsibility is bound to rear its ugly head for her at some point. Hanna pouts, but her older sister ignores it. They both give me a wave and head back to the Lion’s Head side.

Matt pauses beside me. “She’s a junior, huh?”

“A transfer.” I eye him. “You’re friends with Caleb?”

“You betcha.”

“How’s that work during hockey season?”

He coughs. Maybe he’s shocked by my question, because he takes a long moment to answer. “We know to leave our friendship on the benches during a game.”

I’m not surprised to find Caleb’s gaze on me.

“Your school rivalry allows that?” I ask. “The games just… end when the timer reaches zero?”

The teams run onto the field, and the crowds have grown thicker. Matt’s purple-and-black colors stick out like a sore thumb in a mass of gold.

Matt chuckles. “Is that what you’re worried about? You think whatever game he’s playing hasn’t ended yet?”

I purse my lips. I didn’t say that—and I don’t really like having words put in my mouth.

An announcer’s speaker clicks on, and they begin a welcome speech.

“Shit, that’s my cue. See ya around, Margo.”

I go back to Caleb, who’s had a delivery of concessions. He hands me a soda and popcorn.

“Where did this come from?” I ask.

“You and Bonner have a nice conversation?”

I roll my eyes. “I just wondered if he saw Claire in school. And then I asked how you two managed to be friends with the whole rivalry thing.”

“Eh, Matt used to go to Emery-Rose. We were friends before he transferred, and it just stuck.”

“That’s sweet.” I pop a kernel into my mouth. Salt and butter explode on my tongue. “Is Theo gonna go crazy again when he gets here?”

Caleb snorts. “Probably. See the girl with the camera? By the Lion’s Head coach.”

I squint, but then I see her. Her blonde hair is pulled back in a braid, slung over her shoulder. Dark-framed glasses. She’sdrowning in a huge black jacket. There’s a camera around her neck, and she periodically raises it to her eye.

“What’s his problem with her?”

Caleb shrugs. “I don’t know.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t ask. But he might freak out on her.”

Eli turns around. “Might? Hundred bucks says he’ll do something stupid.”

Caleb’s eyes narrow. “Define stupid.”

---