Page 21 of Forged in Blood

His Adam’s apple, covered by a thick coating of dark stubble, bobs. “I’m not a stalker, I swear. I’m in Galanis.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right next to my building.”

He blows out a breath and blinks. “Yeah, see, not a stalker.”

Am I making him nervous? “Or a creep,” I add, before a smile spreads over my face.

“Glad we got that ironed out.” He settles back in his seat and directs his attention to the field. “They have a new quarterback this year. Caleb Lambert. He’s supposed to be good. Scored four touchdowns in the winning game against the Tigers last year.”

I don’t really know much about football, not high school or college, or even the NFL, but I hum like I’m impressed.

“Fuck knows why he agreed to come to Montridge and play for the Dragons,” he adds.

“Yeah, I heard they’re not very good,” I admit.

He shoots me a sideways glance. “Not very good would be an understatement. And you are…?”

Before I can give my name, a familiar voice behind us growls, “Move it, dickface.”

My heart jolts like I was hit with an electric current, and I spin around to find Xavier and Axl sitting directly behind us.

My companion turns around too. “I didn’t know you were with them,” he says, a hint of terror in his tone.

I shake my head. “I’m not.”

Xavier punches the back of the guy’s seat. “Did you not fucking hear me?”

The guy jumps up and scrambles away without so much as a “see you later, when you’re not being tortured by two giant assholes.” I scowl at my tormentors, but they don’t look at me. Xavier leans backward, his feet resting on the back of the empty seat beside me. He rests his arm around the back of Axl’s shoulders, and they both stare at the field like it’s the most interesting thing in the world.

God, they’re infuriating. “Why the hell did you do that?” I demand.

They ignore me. “You know that new quarterback is an Onyx pledge, right?” Axl says to Xavier.

Assholes! “Why are you sitting here? Go away!” I yell this time.

They go on ignoring me. With an indignant huff, I grab my backpack and stand. If they won’t move, I guess I will. Xavier’s foot darts out, his long leg stretched out to its full length, blocking my path. This is ridiculous. I can’t catch a break. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He finally looks at me, and I almost wish he hadn’t because the danger in the depths of his dark-blue eyes makes my knees wobble. “Sit down, Cupcake,” he orders.

I sling my backpack over my shoulder. “The hell I will.”

Axl twists his neck and glares at me too, flicking his tongue over his sharp fangs. “Sit the fuck down, Ophelia. Now.”

Anger sizzles beneath my skin. A quick glance around informs me that people are already watching this little display of whatever this is. The last thing I want is to draw unnecessary attention to myself. With a huff, I plonk back into my seat and focus on the game. We watch in silence for a few minutes, and I’m actually starting to enjoy myself when the two jackass vampires ruin it once again by opening their fat mouths.

“You fucked that cheerleader, right?” Xavier says.

Axl laughs. “Which one?”

“The perky one with the blond hair and the juicy tits.”

“Dude, half the girls on the fucking squad have blond hair and juicy tits, and they’re all perky. You’ll have to be more specific.”

I roll my eyes and try to tune them out, but my eyes go to the all-girl cheerleading squad on the sidelines. Every one of them impossibly beautiful and toned, they bounce on their toes, pom poms clutched to their chests as they recite simple cheers for the crowd.

“The same one I fucked in the locker room at the end of last season.”

“You fucked them all in the locker room,” comes Axl’s reply, followed by their combined howls of laughter.

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