Page 50 of Keep Me

Then things went quiet, and it was awkward all over again.

“Thanks, Matty.” She looked over her shoulder, then pointed with her thumb. “I, uh, better get back in there. Sienna will kill me if I’m not ready when the second period starts.”

Close-lipped, I nodded. “I’m sureSteele would want to see you out there too.”

I did when I was out on the field. She had no idea how much comfort she brought me when I was playing. After warm-ups, I’d sit on the bench trying to calm my anxiety, and she was the one that was down there, sitting beside me, offering me a supportive smile.

“Yeah.” She swallowed, looking at something over my shoulder. I didn’t bother to find out what. It wasn’t like it mattered anymore. Nothing did. What was the damn point of anything if the only person I was building this world for didn’t want it?

“Guess I’ll see you around, then?”

“I hope so.” Her cheeks were flustered, her eyes were dark, and when she moved in to hug me, I stepped back, bringing the slushy and hot dog to my chest to block her. I didn’t want a pity hug.

She looked down at my full hands and nodded.

“Bye, Matty.” She waved, then I watched her walk away until she disappeared into the crowd.

Shaking my head, I turned on my heel, ready to get back to my seat, but stopped when I noticed the line of guys waiting for peanuts watching me with pity.

This was why I hated having conversations with people in public. Everybody could hear.

“Tough break, man,” one of them said as I walked past, and I appreciated the camaraderie, but I would have preferred to have my heart ripped out of me in private.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, receiving consolatory slaps on the shoulder.

The fully dressed hot dog had gone cold, and the slushy was melting in my hand. One hundred dollars spent on that. I had no appetite and hated sweet shit. Unless it was Britt’s pussy, of course.

By the time I got back to my seat, Jackson was frowning. “What happened to my hotdog?”

His eyes darted between my hand and face. Then I realized I’d squeezed the thing so hard it was a mangled mess in my hand.

“It was all they had left, so I got you this too.” I shoved the sticky drink in his hand along with the hot dog, and even though he huffed, it didn’t stop him from accepting it.

Slurping the slushy, Jackson elbowed me in the side once I was sitting. “Do you think Coach is going to hammer me for having so much sugar before our practice tomorrow?”

“It’ll wear off before then,” Tanner said from the other side while watching the players come back onto the ice.

I, however, was too busy watching what was going on off the ice. As Britt took weary glances around the rink, I knew she had no idea where I was sitting.

Was it bad to hope that her boyfriend would get a black eye or worse, break his leg so he was out for the rest of the season? Yeah, apparently, I was a petty bastard like that.

The mascot started talking to her, and my body relaxed when she smiled. I hadn’t seen her smile since Vegas, but a little bubble of jealousy built in my stomach. I wanted to be the one making her laugh, not some overstuffed fake polar bear.

Erik skated past her, knocking the plexiglass with his glove to get her attention. She rewarded him with a wave, and I was thankful the game started. That scene combined with the sugary slushy smell beside me was making me nauseous.

“Wow, you’re still staring at her? Even after you broke her heart?” Jackson asked.

I didn’t answer. What could I say? Everyone knew I was in love with her. I pushed out an angry breath, hating that it was true. I was in love with Britt. Always had been, but since I’d put her on the sidelines for so long, this seemed like a fitting punishment.

I was too caught up in my own grief and turmoil, berated by my ex, that I never saw Britt standing in front of me.Waitingfor me, no less.

That was about to change. The only thing Britt would soon see was me.

Despite playing, Erik knocked on the glass again but didn’t stay to see Britt’s reaction since the referee called him out on it.

I saw it, though. Britt barely smiled this time. The only reason I knew she was playing it cool was because Sienna was vibrating with excitement next to her.

“Hold up. Is she dating Steele?” Jackson asked in surprise.

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