Page 59 of Chase Lovett Wants Me

I roll my shoulders back, exhale my anxiety, push through the doors, and inhale the sharp bite of rubberized floor mats and the fresh scent of ice. Music blasts through the sound system, echoing off the high ceilings. My breath puffs out in front of me as I scan the arena for unoccupied seats. I spot three several rows back from the ice in the middle, so I head for those.

Chase gave me a pom-pom toque boasting the university’s hockey team to wear. The seats are full of students, and loads of girls are in full makeup, wearing jerseys, team hoodies, toques, and scarves. Apparently, I need to invest in a team hoodie and all the other things if I want to appropriately represent my boyfriend.

I ask the girls at the end of the row if anyone is sitting in the middle. One girl gives me an appraising once-over. “Not that I know of.”

“Cool, thanks.” I mutterexcuse meas I shimmy past them, to the three empty seats. I drop into the one in the middle and message Tally to let her know what row I’m in, then survey the ice, looking for Chase.

I spot LOVETT across a set of broad shoulders and the number 19 on the back passing a puck back and forth with STILES as they lap the rink. My stomach flips as they pass me. The buzzer sounds and the team skates to the bench, which is to the right of where I’m seated. A whole bunch of girls wearing team hoodies are congregated in the seats closest to the ice. Two girls are wearing jerseys. I imagine they had to get here pretty early to score those seats. The corresponding players bang theirgloves on the plexiglass barrier, giving those girls a chin tip and a wink. They blow kisses.

Maybe those are their girlfriends. I make a mental note to show up earlier. And to learn more of the rules of the game so I know what’s going on.

Chase scans the group, maybe looking for me, his gaze lifting higher. I pull the toque on my head as his eyes pass over me a second time and then stop. My cheeks flame as his grin widens. I lift a tentative hand in a wave and he waves back.

“Shut them down tonight, Steele!” someone else shouts and Gage fist-pumps the air and sends a wink in their direction.

“Woohoo! I hope you score a goal tonight, Lovett!” a girl shouts from behind me.

“Show them how it’s done!” another girl yells.

I go rigid. I swear I know those voices. I pull my hood up and as covertly as possible, glance over my shoulder. I’m right. Barbie and Annabelle are in the row behind me, down a few seats to the left. They’re decked out in school gear, wearing their team spirit in fake tattoos on their cheeks. They’re surrounded by other girls, all pretty like my sister, all dressed in school colors, showing their support.

I might not love Barbie and Annabelle, but they know hockey, and they have a group of friends who share the same love for the sport. And here I am, wearing my usualLotRhoodie and a pom-pom beanie, feeling like a complete imposter. It doesn’t matter that I’m dating Chase, I’m still the weird girl who writes fanfic.

“I heard Lovett has a girlfriend,” another girl says.

“Yeah, he’s dating some weirdo on our floor, but she doesn’t come to his games. She probably doesn’t even watch hockey,” Barbie scoffs.

“Shh. I think maybe she’s in front of us,” Annabelle whispers.

“What? Where?” Barbie asks.

I sink down in my seat.

“She probably calls it sportsball and doesn’t even care about his position,” Barbie scoffs.

“I heard she’s obsessed with hobbits or something,” Annabelle adds.

“Do you mean hermits? I’d never even seen her before Chase made her into a somebody.”

Barbie’s voice rings out above me. “She’s a loser who doesn’t even come to parties because she’s always in her room or something. I don’t even know if she has friends.”

I could move. But then I’d draw more attention to myself. Which I don’t want. I wish Tally would get here so I’m not alone, feeling like I don’t belong here. Like I don’t fit with his friends or teammates.

If I pretend I don’t hear them, what message am I giving? That they can continue to shit all over me? Make fun of me because I don’t fit in with them?

“Hey, guys.” I turn and wave at them. “I didn’t see you at the hockey party last week. Probably because Barbie stole Mac’s jersey and posted pictures wearing it and got banned from his place. Feels like an exceptionally weird thing to do if you ask me.” Apparently that was why they were late-night sprinting out of his house the other week.

Tally, bless her well-timed heart, comes down the row sayingexcuse meandsorryto every person she passes. Her expression is one of concern.

“Tally! Hey!” Annabelle waves manically.

Tally waves and gives them a tight smile.

Barbie pales as I move my jacket for her.

Tally frowns as she takes in my face. She glances at Barbiebelle and the rest of their crew, who all look super uncomfortable, and drops into the seat next to me.

“What just happened?”

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